Trials Show Treatment Effective on Sea Lice With No Impact

 ST. GEORGE - Field trials conducted over the past month have shown that AlphaMax, a treatment for sea lice on farmed Atlantic salmon, is working and is having no impact on other marine life. 

The New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association met Thursday, August 13 with representatives from various New Brunswick fisheries organizations to provide preliminary findings on the monitoring and research program supporting the AlphaMax® trials in the Lime Kiln, Bliss and Back Bay areas in the Bay of Fundy.

“This meeting fulfills the commitment we made when we met with the fisheries groups in May to share preliminary results as soon as they were available,” said Pamela Parker, Executive Director of the Salmon Growers Association. “We appreciate concerns people can have when new management techniques are introduced so it’s been important to us to talk to people about this program over the past few months. New Brunswick’s provincial vet, Michael Beattie, has also been very supportive by maintaining ongoing communication.”

Regulatory agencies have been monitoring the treatments. Research activity is recording short and long-term impacts of AlphaMax on the marine environment. Preliminary field results show the amount of AlphaMax® being used in salmon cages has no impact on other species and that by the time the treatment is finished, AlphaMax® is virtually undetectable in the water near the cage sites and downstream. The monitoring includes testing the impact on lobster at all stages of development and the lobsters used in the testing will continue to be monitored in a lab for the next four months.

It is essential for industry to have access to a broad range of tools to optimize fish health
management in the prevention of disease and to control parasites. In managing sea lice the salmon farming industry uses natural control measures such as fallowing and temperature variation; however, therapeutants are also necessary at times. Currently SLICE®, or emamectin benzoate, is the only treatment approved by Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate for the control of sea lice while other salmon farming countries have access to up to four different treatment options. Alternating a variety of treatment options helps to ensure optimal benefit from each over time.

“A tremendous amount of research was conducted by the industry and by governments to ensure that AlphaMax® would not negatively impact the environment or marine life,” said Parker.

“We are very pleased that the trials on AlphaMax® supported the findings from other
jurisdictions. I think it’s important to remember that New Brunswick fish farmers have a genuine concern about the environment. A broad diversity of natural species is evidence of a healthy marine environment and it’s important that this be maintained – not just because it’s the best environment for growing healthy fish but because it supports a diversified working waterfront and benefits our neighbors too.”

Key findings released today indicate that:

• Monitoring of all treatments by industry was conducted by both federal and provincial
• agencies
• AlphaMax® was effective in treating sea lice (Lepeoptherius salmonis and Caligus
• elongates) with no effect on non-target species
• No disruption to the normal life-cycle of lobster was observed in the field at all stages of
• the lobster’s development; lab observations will continue over the next four months
• AlphaMax® is not detectable outside the net pen skirting during trials and within 10
• minutes following release of the skirting following treatment
• Concentrations of the therapeutant immediately following removal of skirting was less
• than one half part per billion, well below the target of three
• Active ingredient deltamethrin was undetectable within 10 minutes of release either at
• the farm site or down current from the site

CONTACT:

Pamela Parker, Executive Director
New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association
(506) 755.3526

Slice Receives Full Health Canada Approval

After ten years of rigorous review and study, Health Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) has announced the full approval of SLICE (emamectin benzoate) for control of immature and adult stages of sea lice on farm-raised salmon. 

As has always been the case, under the new approval SLICE® treatment is only available through veterinarian prescription. The approval was granted after the drug met all of Health Canada’s requirements for human safety. Prior to this announcement, SLICE® was authorized for sale to veterinarians on a case-by-case basis through the VDD’s Emergency Drug Release (EDR) program.

SLICE® is a veterinary product available by prescription to minimize the number of sea lice on farmed salmon. The active ingredient in SLICE® is emamectin benzoate, a derivative of
a naturally occurring chemical produced by soil bacteria. Based upon the concentration and form utilized for sea lice treatment, SLICE® is classified as a drug or therapeutant. Other uses for emamectin benzoate include vegetable crops in Japan and the US.

SLICE® treatment is effective against all stages of the sea lice and provides protection from re-infection for several months post-treatment. It is administered to fish by adding it to fish feed.

The active ingredient in SLICE® is not very soluble in sea water and instead has a strong tendency to bind to particles like fish feed or feces or to other organic matter. Released through fish feces, it loses its active properties. It is biodegradable and will eventually be
incorporated into soil components.

SLICE® is tolerated well by salmon and they show no measurable effects at the recommended dose and treatment length. Other animals living in the marine environment adjacent to the fish farms have been studied to determine any impact of the treatment.
Overall, no toxic effects were found; however, marine worms living in the sediment are considered to be slightly sensitive to emamectin particles.

Approval of SLICE® for use in aquaculture required a rigorous and extensive review by the Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD), a branch of Health Canada. In other salmon farming countries – UK, France, Chile, Iceland and Norway - SLICE® has been approved for a number of years. A zero day withdrawal time is common to some countries and has been adopted by Health Canada.

More about Sea Lice, Lobster and Sea Lice Management

• Sea lice are a natural parasite of salmon and other fish species. Sea lice live in saltwater; therefore, farmed salmon enter saltwater free of the parasite and get sea lice from wild fish.
• Sea lice on farmed salmon are monitored and lice are managed to minimize negative impacts from the lice on fish. Slice® is highly effective against all stages of sea lice.
• Any chemical administered in sufficient quantity can be hazardous to living organisms. Once a hazard is identified, it is important to evaluate the risk to susceptible organisms using estimates of the actual level of exposure to the chemical. This risk analysis is still required for the use of Slice® in the treatment of sea lice infestations of cultured salmon.
• Based on current knowledge, it is thought to be unlikely that lobsters would eat enough salmon feed to ingest the high doses of emamectin benzoate used in this laboratory study (0.6 and 0.8 micrograms EB per gram of lobster). In a preliminary 7-day study, lobsters ate relatively little medicated salmon feed, even after they had been starved for 2 weeks prior to being offered the feed.
• Lobsters were used in the study because crustaceans are more sensitive to the drug than are other invertebrates, and because of concerns expressed by fishermen that lobsters may be eating salmon feed and faeces that have collected under fish cages.
• New Brunswick salmon farmers are using Slice® as part of an integrated pest management approach which will include a menu of natural and therapeutic options for the control of sea lice. The integrated pest management strategy includes the Bay Management Areas which ensures only single year class fish are stocked in each area, fallowing of farms, the use of SLICE® and, currently undergoing trials - AlphaMax®, as an alternative therapeutant bath treatment.

NBSGA Contact: Pamela Parker, Executive Director
New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association
(506) 755.3526

Letter to the Editor - Response to Aquaculture Not Eco-friendly

Letter to the Editor - Saint John Telegraph Journal I am responding to the June 17th editorial "By common sense, aquaculture is not eco-friendly" and would like to clarify a few points raised. 

I am responding to the June 17th editorial ‘By common sense, aquaculture is not eco-friendly’ and would like to clarify a few points raised.

The New Brunswick salmon farming industry, with the full support of both federal and provincial governments, is conducting trials on a new treatment for sea lice control called AlphaMax®. AlphaMax® went through a scientific review, with a risk assessment on both
health and environmental impacts before receiving approval for limited use by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. AlphaMax® is licensed in Norway, the EU and Chile
where it has gone through the appropriate approval processes.

The active ingredient in AlphaMax® is deltamethrin which is registered for use in Canada in the agriculture sector. The trials entail an extensive monitoring, surveillance and research
program developed in collaboration with the province, DFO, Health Canada, PMRA, Environment Canada and the New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association. The research studies will ensure that the concentration of the deltamethrin in the water does not exceed
target dosages of 3 parts per billion, determine what if any, concentrations remain 12 hours after release and ensure early warnings of any potential adverse effects on the environment.  There are also studies being conducted on potential impacts of the therapeutant on non-target species such as lobster and mussels, in the water column and on or near the benthos.

The industry is seeking additional treatment options to support an integrated pest management approach which will help to ensure that all treatments will deliver optimal results and to prevent resistance to any one product.

Meetings have been held with area stakeholders to explain this activity and we will meet with them again as soon as we have interim results available from the research.

The salmon farming industry in New Brunswick has changed its operational practices significantly since it began in the 1970’s. Nitrogen and phosphorus are monitored on an on- going basis during operations and farms would be shut down if they exceeded allowable limits. Farms are fallowed on a regular basis as an additional safeguard. Salmon farmers know it is critical to safeguard the ecosystem where their fish are grown – it’s not only the responsible thing to do, it just makes good business sense.

Finally, having been involved in the WWF Salmon Dialogues I’m surprised to read that they have developed screening criteria for standards – to my knowledge they are still collecting
the data necessary to develop those standards with eco-labeling standards not due until 2010.

To learn more about the AlphaMax® trials visit the NBSGA website at www.nbsga.com.

Pamela Parker
Executive Director
NB Salmon Growers Association

NBSGA Chooses New Executive Director

The Board of the New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association (NBSGA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pamela Parker as its new Executive Director.

Pamela Parker is a native of Saskatchewan with a background in organizational and project management and marketing. Most recently Pam served as Managing Director of the BC Pacific Salmon Forum (BCPSF). The BCPSF was appointed by the Premier of British Columbia to provide policy recommendations that would improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of wild salmon stocks and salmon aquaculture on BC’s coast. Following four years of research and dialogue, the Forum released its final report in February 2009. Prior to this role, Pam served as Executive Director for the BC Shellfish Growers Association.

“We are very pleased that Pam will be making the move to the east coast to represent our association’s interests and drive the long-term success of our industry,” said Nell Halse, President of the NBSGA.
 
“Pam’s experience with government, the science community and
community stakeholders as well as her commitment to the sustainability of both wild salmon stocks and the Canadian salmon farming industry, fit well with the objectives of our association. Our Board looks forward to working with her to realize those objectives.”

Pam Parker will assume her new duties as Executive Director on June 1, 2009 replacing Dr. Jamey Smith who left the position at the end of February to accept a new post with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

“Over the past four years of working with the BC Pacific Salmon Forum, I’ve had the opportunity to study the industry from many perspectives and have come to believe that salmon farming can operate in an environmentally sustainable manner while at the same time providing a healthy food choice and much needed economic activity in coastal communities,” said Pam Parker. “The salmon farming industry is always changing and improving and I’m looking forward to working with the members of the NBSGA and other association colleagues to support that evolution and also the growth of the industry in Atlantic Canada.”

The NBSGA represents the majority of salmon production in NB, including large and small producers, a number of service and consulting companies and the majority of the feed production in Atlantic Canada. The salmon farming sector contributes approximately $300 million to the province’s annual economy and is a major employer in Charlotte County.
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For further information, contact:
Nell Halse, President: 506-651-2434
Larry Ingalls, Vice President: 506-755-6192