Researchers put anti-lice fence to the test
Project will examine how electric field affects parasite
A research project is to investigate how electric fences for salmon pens can affect sea lice and function as an effective measure to reduce lice infestations on farmed salmon. The BioSeaLice project is led by the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre in collaboration with electric fence developer Harbor AS.
The BioSeaLice project is funded by FHF (Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Funding) and aims to provide the necessary biological knowledge that can improve operating routines and contribute to more sustainable production of salmonid fish.
Harbor AS has developed an electric 'fence' as a barrier to sea lice on sea cage farms. This barrier has been tested in large-scale trials on commercial salmon farms and has shown promising results in terms of reducing sea lice infestations.
Still much to understand
“We have further developed electric fence systems in recent years, but there is still much to understand about how electric fields affect sea lice and other organisms at a biological level. By increasing our biological understanding, we can optimise the settings for electric barriers for more effective and environmentally sound use in different marine environments,” says Tarald Kleppa, R&D manager at Harbor AS.
The electric fence has been developed by Harbor AS to create a barrier between infective sea lice larvae from the surrounding environment and salmonids in cages. Such a fence will have a two-way effect in that it also helps reduce the spread of viable sea lice larvae from infested fish in cages and out into a fjord or coastal environment, where they could potentially infect wild migrating smolts.
Sustainability goals
“BioSeaLice aims to support the aquaculture industry’s sustainability goals. Reduced infection pressure with sea lice benefits wild salmonid populations, which is crucial for preserving Norway’s natural marine biodiversity,” says project manager Helena Hauss, research manager at NORCE Marine Ecology.
The BioSeaLice project will investigate how electric fields affect early life stages of sea lice and their ability to survive and infest salmon. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers in fish health, genetics, animal behaviour, and marine biology. The project will conduct experimental trials to investigate the effectiveness of electric fields on sea lice larvae. This includes:
- Describe mortality in sea lice larvae that have been exposed to varying degrees of electrical effect.
- Investigate whether sublethal effects can affect the development and behaviour of surviving sea lice larvae to the extent that it affects the ability to attach to salmon (host).
- Assess the effect of electric fields on mortality of other non-target plankton species.
The experiments will also test the extent to which seasonal and geographical conditions such as varying salinity can affect the effectiveness of electric fences used as a barrier against sea lice.
Oversubscribed share offer
Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no, reported last month that Harbor had completed a successful rights offering, which was oversubscribed by 30%, following what the company calls good results from tests on the string jellyfish – a species that has caused major losses to the Norwegian aquaculture industry. The tests show that an electric shock can trigger stinging nettle venom in the jellyfish, rendering them harmless before they reach the fish.
Last week, Kyst.no reported that Harbor had recently signed contracts with family-owned companies Marø Havbruk and E.Karstensen Fiskeoppdrett, who farm in partnership, for the delivery of its Harbor Fence.
Earlier this year, Harbor signed a contract with Alsaker Fjordbruk for the delivery of a Harbor Fence and has now entered into a new agreement for delivery to a second Alsaker location. A contract for delivery to Bremnes Seashore to a location in Bømlo was also signed earlier this year.
