Aquaculture Industry representatives from around the world are in St. John’s for the Cold Harvest conference, discussing everything from marine safety to pest control—but there may be bigger challenges for fish farmers on the horizon.
Sea lice infestations are a constant problem in aquaculture, and a prominent criticism from its detractors. Today’s conference opened up with a workshop on using cleaner fish—such as conner fish or lumpfish—as promising natural solutions to pests within the industry.
Jennifer Monk of the Ocean Science Centre points out that there are actually no commercial operations raising cleanerfish for use in aquaculture, as they are doing in research at MUN. pic.twitter.com/whDNK8n6iv
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While some have suggested that sea lice were connected with a mass die-off of salmon at a south coast farm owned by Northern Harvest, the company says that is not the case.
Northern Harvest says the mortality was due to an ““environmental event,” with high ocean temperatures depleting oxygen in the water, making it toxic for the fish. It’s a continuing problem as water temperatures increase.
(Photo via Northern Harvest.)
Last month, the Danish government announced it was ending coastal aquaculture development due to oxygen and nitrogen levels in the ocean, moving to an on-shore model.
Northern Harvest says like all farmers, they intend to adapt to the changing environment.
