Salmon Lice: An Integrated Approach to Understanding Parasite Abundance and Distribution

The salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis is adapted tosurvive in hostile marine environments of the northern hemisphere,including an ability to parasitize several species of salmon.  Salmonids are some of the most economically important andsought after fish for human consumption, and louse parasitism has asignificant impact both on cultured and wild fish populations. Salmon Lice is a timely collection of the latest research onthe cause and spread of lice infestations and management techniquesbeing designed and implemented to combat this issue.

Salmon Lice provides a thorough single volume review ofLepeophtheirus salmonis, the key parasite standing in theway of sustainable and profitable production of salmonid fishesincluding salmon, trout and charr. Opening with a review of thebiology, morphology, life cycle, and larval behavior of theparasite, Salmon Lice proceeds to review the distribution ofplanktonic larvae of salmon lice, addresses management techniquesused in salmonid aquaculture and capture fisheries, provides apractical assessment of the salmon lice issue and explorespotential solutions to the problem.

With comprehensive coverage of the biology and distribution ofthis harmful and ubiquitous parasite, Salmon Lice will be ofvalue to fish health researchers, aquaculture and fisheriesprofessionals, and seafood industry personnel to inform themanagement of both cultured and wild salmonid populations.

Key Features:

In–depth coverage of a key parasite impacting viability andsustainability of salmonid fisheries and aquaculture Integrates parasite biology and hydrodynamic models in diversecoastal ecosystems Provides a practical assessment of the salmon louse issue

Reviews international salmon louse monitoring and managementtechniques used in salmonid fisheries and aquaculture

List of Contributors vii

Foreword by Bob Kabata xi

Preface xiii

Introduction: Lepeophtheirus salmonis A RemarkableSuccess Story 1
Craig J. Hayward, Melanie Andrews, and Barbara F. Nowak

Part I: The Distribution and Abundance of Planktonic LarvalStages of Lepeophtheirus salmonis: Surveillance andModeling

Chapter 1. Modeling the Distribution and Abundance of PlanktonicLarval Stages of Lepeophtheirus salmonis in Norway 31
Lars Asplin, Karin K. Boxaspen, and Anne D. Sandvik

Chapter 2. Abundance and Distribution of Larval Sea Lice inScottish Coastal Waters 51
Alexander G. Murray, Trish L. Amundrud, Michael J. Penston,Campbell C. Pert, and Stuart J. Middlemas

Chapter 3. Sea Louse Abundance on Farmed Salmon in theSouthwestern New Brunswick Area of the Bay of Fundy 83
Blythe D. Chang, Fred H. Page, Michael J. Beattie, and BarryW.H. Hill

Chapter 4. Modeling Sea Lice Production and Concentrations inthe Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia 117
Dario J. Stucchi, Ming Guo, Michael G.G. Foreman, Piotr Czajko,Moira Galbraith, David L. Mackas, and Philip A. Gillibrand

Part II: Salmon Louse Management on Farmed Salmon

Chapter 5: Salmon Louse Management on Farmed Salmon Norway153
Gordon Ritchie and Karin K. Boxaspen

Chapter 6: Ireland: The Development of Sea Lice ManagementMethods 177
David Jackson

Chapter 7: Salmon Louse Management on Farmed Salmon in Scotland205
Crawford W. Revie

Chapter 8: Sea Lice Management on Salmon Farms in BritishColumbia, Canada 235
Sonja M. Saksida, Diane Morrison, Mark Sheppard, and IanKeith

Part III: Salmon Lice on Wild Salmonids in Coastal Zones:Present Status and Implications

Chapter 9: Present Status and Implications of Salmon Lice onWild Salmonids in Norwegian Coastal Zones 281
Bengt Finstad and P°al Arne Bjørn

Chapter 10: Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Salmonids in theNortheast Pacific Ocean 307
Simon R.M. Jones and Richard J. Beamish

Index 331

Color plates appear between pages 50 and 51.

Richard Beamish is Senior Scientist in the Salmon andFreshwater Ecosystems division at the Pacific Biological Station,Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.

Simon Jones is a Research Scientist in Aquatic AnimalHealth at the Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BritishColumbia, Canada.