Rationale 4.5

Responsible health management is crucial for the wellbeing of cultured aquatic animals, farm viability, and the protection of the surrounding environment and wildlife. Parasites can harm both farmed stock and native species and may spread disease. However, improper use of parasiticides can lead to resistance and contamination. With proper aquatic animal husbandry, monitoring and treatment, these disease risks can be managed.

In areas with multiple farms, collaborative and coordinated management is necessary to reduce disease transfer and prevent resistance to treatments. Sea lice on salmon farms are a particular concern because their proliferation may lead to negative impacts on native salmon or seatrout123123Costello, M. J. (2009). How sea lice from salmon farms may cause wild salmonid declines in Europe and North America and be a threat to fishes elsewhere. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1672), 3385-3394.. Reducing sea lice burden on salmon farms minimises potential impacts on native fish and also benefits the welfare of farmed fish.

This Criterion focuses on ASC-certified farms minimising the risk of transmission to native salmonids by maintaining low sea lice levels on-farm, collaborating on research on native fish stocks, and monitoring and reporting.

Intent – The aquaculture industry actively manages farm sea lice load to reduce risks to native salmonids.