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[Rodney]

Before you comment on this, please read the document carefully. 2003 - 2005 result can be found on this page. Background of the research program can be found on this page.

http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/release/p-releas/2005/nr043_e.htm

DFO ANNOUNCES FINAL RESULTS OF 2004 SEA LICE RESEARCH PROGRAM AND PROVIDES UPDATE ON 2005 PROGRAM

VANCOUVER – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today provided final results from its 2004 study of sea lice on juvenile pink and chum salmon in the Broughton Archipelago area near the north end of Vancouver Island.  The Department also provided an update on preliminary observations from 2005 monitoring to date.

Sea lice is one of many factors, including commercial fishing, climate change, predation and habitat destruction, that influence wild salmon populations.

Sea lice are naturally occurring parasites found on wild salmon, stickleback, herring and many other species of marine fish.  The source of sea lice on wild juvenile salmon is a complicated question, with factors such as water salinity and temperatures playing a role.  Pacific salmon species have lived with sea lice for centuries and have developed a natural tolerance to this parasite. While salmon farms may contribute sea lice to the environment in the absence of treatment on the farm, the significance of this to the health of wild salmon populations is not clear. Pink salmon escapements in the Broughton and Knight Inlet areas in 2004 were considered to be healthy.

The Pink Salmon Action Plan, which began in 2003, is designed to measure sea lice levels on juvenile and adult salmon in the Broughton Archipelago area and to assess whether corridors for juvenile pink and chum salmon migrating out to sea exist in that region. This work is strengthening the Department’s understanding of the marine ecosystem in the Broughton area and will serve to improve DFO’s management of wild and farmed salmon.

Comparison of juvenile pink and chum salmon infected and non-infected with sea lice in 2004 did not indicate any evidence of impact on the condition or size of these fish.  This is in spite of an increased percentage of infected fish and an increase in the number of lice per fish, as compared to 2003 results.

This year, the Province of British Columbia has set precautionary levels for sea lice limits on farms. Aquaculture operators have complied with these levels and where appropriate their veterinarians have prescribed federally approved safe treatments to minimize risk of infection transfer outside the farms.

Laboratory and field research conducted by DFO researchers in 2005 will attempt to distinguish the effects of sea lice from the many other ecological factors that influence survival of juvenile Pacific salmon, such as environmental and habitat conditions. 

Circulation and oceanography studies of the Broughton area began several years ago.  These experiments have the potential to aid in our understanding of the transport and dispersion of parasitic organisms such as sea lice.  In 2005, additional work to collect current and water quality data to further develop and validate these models will be done.

DFO will continue to fund and support collaborative research in this complex area in order to ensure that the best science possible underpins management decisions on salmon farming. For a full description of the sea lice research being undertaken please read the backgrounder “Scientific Research” attached to this news release.

[Fish Assassin]

Don't want to be skeptical but what credibility does DFO have after claiming all the missing sockeyes were due to warm water conditions. ?

[newsman]

What else would you expect from an organization with a mandate for fishfarm expantion.