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AEI 10:49-60 (2018)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00252

Identifying salmon lice transmission characteristics between Faroese salmon farms

Tróndur J. Kragesteen1,2,*, Knud Simonsen1, André W. Visser2, Ken H. Andersen2

1Fiskaaling - Aquaculture Research Station of the Faroes, við Áir 11, FO430 Hvalvík, Faroe Islands
2VKR Centre for Ocean Life, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Sea lice infestations are an increasing challenge in the ever-growing salmon aquaculture sector and cause large economic losses. The high salmon production in a small area creates a perfect habitat for parasites. Knowledge of how salmon lice planktonic larvae disperse and spread infection between farms is of vital importance in developing treatment management plans to combat salmon lice infestations. Using a particle-tracking model forced by tidal currents, we show that Faroese aquaculture farms form a complex network. In some cases as many as 10% of the infectious salmon lice released at one farm site enter a neighboring fjord containing another farm site. Farms were characterized as emitters, receivers or isolated, and we could identify 2 clusters of farms that were largely isolated from each other. These farm characteristics are a valuable input for the development of management plans for the entire Faroese salmon industry.


KEY WORDS: Connectivity · Dispersal · Tidal forcing · Particle tracking · Salmon lice


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Cite this article as: Kragesteen TJ, Simonsen K, Visser AW, Andersen KH (2018) Identifying salmon lice transmission characteristics between Faroese salmon farms. Aquacult Environ Interact 10:49-60. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00252

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