Mowi adapts Thermolicer to treat smaller fish
Mowi Canada East has become the first division of the Norwegian fish salmon giant to successfully treat salmon of 250g using a Thermolicer. Previously, the standard starting weight for this treatment – in which sea lice are rinsed off fish using warm water - was 500g.
Amanda Borchardt, fish health and welfare director for Mowi Canada East, told the company’s InSite newsletter that it was a real step forward for Mowi’s fish health programme.
“We have a range of tools available to us to manage the challenges presented by sea lice but in Canada East, we have found using a Thermolicer to be extremely effective. If we can treat fish so early in their lifecycle, then it means we are giving them the best start to grow and develop into strong healthy salmon.”
Team of five
The Thermolicer has been operating across Mowi’s farms in Canada East since May when it started in New Brunswick. It is a collaboration with 360 Marine, a Newfoundland and Labrador-based service supply company.
Joel McGee, Mowi Canada East’s technical project manager, told InSight: “360 Marine is part of a very small rural community in Newfoundland. The fact that Fabian (Manning, 360 director) and his team were able to step up and provide the support we need is incredible. There is great communication between our farm teams and the team of five that 360 Marine provides to operate the vessel.”
McGee was in charge of installing the Thermolicer on board 360 Marine’s vessel, the 360 Commander, and was also involved in modifying the equipment to enable its use on smaller fish.
So far, the Thermolicer has treated 5,680 tonnes of fish.
