The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government has invested $358,000 in research to support the growth of the provincial salmon aquaculture industry.
Through the research project, alternative methods for sea lice removal at Atlantic salmon aquaculture sites using cleaner fish, specifically cunners and lumpfish, which are native to the province's coastal waters will be evaluated.
This project involves industry collaboration with Cold Ocean Salmon Inc., a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. which operates a salmon aquaculture facility in St. Alban's, where research will take place.
"This innovative project is expected to reduce costs for the local salmon aquaculture industry while allowing it to maintain healthy fish stocks, offer more environmentally friendly chemical-free treatments for sea lice, and enhance its competitiveness in the seafood market", said Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
A multi-faceted research team is conducting research dedicated to developing a ‘new tool’ for industry to use to mitigate and control sea lice on Atlantic salmon. Cleaner fish are fish that provide a service to other species by removing ectoparasites, such as sea lice.
In 2015, the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association identified sea lice control as a top research and development (R&D) priority for the provincial finfish aquaculture sector. The R&D involves a large-scale field trial using cultured cleaner fish in a sea cage validation trial to test the effective removal of sea lice from farmed salmon. The feeding behaviour of the cleaner fish is harnessed to create a natural defence for the farm. The project will deliver innovative methods and technology needed to produce cleaner fish and will be tested in a real-world environment.
The total project value is $991,000, which includes a $258,000 contribution from the Research & Development Corporation and $100,000 from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
