The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) is exploring the potential of ultrasound technology in combating the scourge of sea lice.
Sea lice are small marine parasites that hurt growth and mortality rates in fish farms – particularly those farming salmon. The first of the SAIC’s so-called “Rapid Response” projects, the six-month project will bring together aquaculture technology specialist Pulcea with scientists from the University of Dundee and the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling to research the use of ultrasound to dislodge sea lice in a way that is not harmful to fish.
“We’re taking a technique that’s proven successful in human medicine and we’re carefully re-engineering it to explore its effectiveness in advancing fish health,” University of Dundee Reader [Professor] Paul Campbell said.
SAIC has awarded the project nearly GBP 40,000 (USD 58,100, EUR 51,800) to get it off the ground.
“This innovative new project is precisely the kind of initiative that our Rapid Response scheme was set up to support,” SAIC CEO Heather Jones said. “It is small-scale at this stage but, if successful, could have a significant positive impact on the aquaculture industry not just in Scotland but around the world.”
If the preliminary results are positive, the industry-academia partnership intends to upscale the ultrasound-based treatment to a comprehensive marine engineering solution with global reach, SAIC said.
“As sea lice continue to evolve, so too must the industry’s response if we’re to maximize fish welfare, minimise loss and increase the volume of farmed salmon. This project could be another important step towards that, potentially delivering a commercially-viable new sea lice treatment that complements the range of controls already available,” Pulcea Managing Director Ian Armstrong said.
