Report recently found 16 salmon concessions with high levels of lice.
In a press release, Sernapesca reports that they are offering incentives for non-pharmacological treatments, new therapeutic tools and promotion of preventive management plans to fight an increase in sea lice.
The report found that 23 farms had an average load equal to or greater than 3 lice – which is considered high in Chile.
They are part of measures that the authority will incorporate in a new sea lice control program before the country’s summer season starts and temperatures increase.
Sernapesca Assistant Director Marcela Lara said that during the first half of this year there had been an increase in lice particularly in the Los Lagos and Aysén regions.
According to the report of the charges for the month of July, there are currently 16 Salmonid Concessions Groups (ACS) (which include 23 salmon farms) at risk of presenting high loads and increasing their susceptibility to damage.
The situation of this parasite has been affected mainly by the decrease in average efficiencies achieved in antiparasitic treatments. For this reason, Sernapesca, through the Sub-Directorate of Aquaculture, activated measures to prevent a more critical situation in the summer with the increase in temperature and convened a private-public table with the participation of SalmonChile and representatives of all salmon farming companies to expose and address the lice-control strategy.
Marcela Lara explained: “This measure enhances the current strategy of control of caligidosis considering a reinforced surveillance of the loads and the anticipation of the harvests. The results of these plans will be verified through on-site inspections by our inspectors, and also, the incorporation is contemplated of new therapeutic tools, which allow rotation of the treatments.”
