No resistance found
by Dr. Sonja Saksida, Letter to the Editor, Courier-Islander, Jan. 12, 2011
I would like to add comment to the letter "It's time to change" (January 7, Courier-Islander) which brings up the question of increasing resistance of sea lice to chemical controls (SLICE®) used in BC salmon farming. The letter's authors are correct that resistance to therapeutants, such as SLICE®, has been seen in other salmon farming jurisdictions and it is important to recognize that BC is not necessarily immune to this problem. There are, however, many significant differences between the circumstances in BC and those experienced elsewhere. While it would be incorrect to say that resistance could never develop, it is appropriate to say that current circumstances in BC do not support development of resistance.
Our facility, the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, has conducted research including analysis of treatment records (results of which have been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Fish Diseases), as well as laboratory testing, which subjects actual sea lice taken from farmed salmon to various levels of SLICE®, and has found no resistance. This testing is ongoing to ensure that, if there are any changes in sea lice susceptibility to SLICE®, these changes are monitored and responded to appropriately.
Dr. Sonja Saksida,
Executive Director,
BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
Letter to the Editor from Watershed Watch
It's time to change
By Craig Orr and Stan Proboszcz, Courier-Islander, January 7, 2011
Like tides - or the annual return of wild salmon - it is ever the same pattern. New science linking net-cage farms with environmental impacts bolsters the weight of evidence (New study says salmon farms amplify sea lice numbers, Courier-Islander, Dec 31, 2010). Said science, and much more like it, is "met with quick criticism" (but scant scientific evidence) from the salmon farming association. The public wearies. Problems persist.
Ms. Walling claims that the idea that SLICE is becoming less effective has been proven incorrect. Interesting comment, since she attended Sea Lice 2010 in Victoria, where many prominent scientists cited example after example of increasing resistance in sea lice to chemical controls - worldwide. On what basis do we expect BC to be immune from the problem?
Then there's the usual jibe at "anti-farm campaigners". Better to lob an ad homonym grenade and hope people duck from the facts. Best not let on either that many ENGO groups, including ours, work with the farming industry to monitor lice and conduct collaborative science to assess and reduce negative impacts.
Though the status quo has its champions, the evidence is clear: it's time to change the way we do business.
Craig Orr and Stan Proboszcz.
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
