WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 69 average sea lice per farmed fish and infestation on wild salmon may not be straightforward. It could be that the total number of sea lice in these fjord systems remains excessively high, rendering adherence to the 0.2 lice per fish limit ineffective due to the sheer volume of fish at each farming site, which cumulatively generates significant infestation pressure. The underlying problem may thus lie in the high density of farmed salmon within these areas and a total ‘sea-louse emission limit’ for each PA may prove to be a more effective regulatory instrument. Other factors tied to farming that could influence infection pressure on wild salmon encompass the spatial arrangement of farm sites, their number and size, along with site specific natural conditions like temperature and currents. In regions burdened by high densities of farm sites, moving some of the open net pens to closed containment facilities could provide an effective solution. Managing lice levels in salmon farming is a nuanced biological challenge, crucial for averting larger outbreaks. Nonetheless, our results cast doubt on the efficacy of a regulatory regime strictly focused on maintaining stringent lice thresholds based on average number of sea lice per farmed fish, suggesting that it may yield more harm than good in some cases. This highlights the necessity of a more comprehensive suite of regulatory measures to enhance environmental outcomes. Notes Mari Lie Larsen, researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway. mllarsen@fni.no This article is based on research conducted in the study Larsen, M. L., and I. Vormedal (2021). The environmental effectiveness of sea lice regulation: compliance and consequences for farmed and wild salmon. Aquaculture, 532, 736000. For further details and in-depth analysis, please refer to the original research paper. References https://www.barentswatch.no/fiskehelse/ https://www.barentswatch.no/nedlasting/fishhealth/lice Institue of Marine Research. 2015-2019. Sea lice infestation on wild salmon [Laskelusinfestasjon på vill laksefisk] https://www.fiskeridir.no/Akvakultur/Tall-og-analyse/ Biomassestatistikk/Biomassestatistikk-etter-fylke U.S. AQUACULTURE SOCIETY Sponsored Publications Request for Proposals The USAS is seeking proposals for publications, including books, conference proceedings, fact sheets, pictorials, hatchery or production manuals, data compilations, and other materials that are important to U.S. aquaculture development and that will be of benefit to USAS members. Individuals wishing to have a project considered for funding by the USAS should prepare a proposal — guidelines are available on the website www.was.org. • CONDITIONS FOR PUBLICATION: The USAS Board of Directors will rate proposals and select projects for publication. The successful applicant will serve as co-author; however, depending on contribution to the publication, the applicant may not necessarily serve as chief or sole author. The USAS will cover general publication and distribution costs for one or more projects up to $5,000 each year. However, special consideration will be given to worthwhile projects that exceed this limit. No compensation will be provided to the authors for their time spent in writing the publication. The publication will be property of the USAS and will be sold through the WAS bookstore. • CONTACT: John Bowzer, Ph.D. • EMAIL: John.Bowzer@ADM.COM • PHONE: 217-451-3963 • MOBILE: 985-377-4480 Trade-offs between the effectiveness of regulations and their broader impacts, particularly on farmed fish welfare, merit careful consideration.
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