Thursday, January 18, 2018

18/01/2018: Benchmark solution allows salmon farmers to delouse without affecting the environment

Image courtesy of - antonalfred @Flickr 
Caption - "Salmon farms - Salmon farms somewhere on Eysteroy"
CleanTreat cleanses the treatment water after delousing in well boats, and the water is clean before it is released back into the fjords. The solution allows salmon farmers to use medical treatments against sea lice without affecting the environment. 

Malcom Pye, CEO of Benchmark commented, "Chemical based bath treatments that are released into the fjords is one of the biggest objections to the salmon farming industry. CleanTreat solves this environmental challenge. 

The solution can be applied during delousing on regular well boats. 

Prevents resistant sea live
 Mr Pye continued, "CleanTreat is a purification unit that removes all medical components from the water before it is released back into the sea. It also prevents all removed live from returning to the sea, so that they will not spread resistance to the treatments."

 The solution will continuously be developed further together with the industry. The next step is scalable trials in partnership with Norwegian salmon farming companies. CleanTreat can be used with most licensed bath treatments. 

A tool box with sea lice solutions
 The aquaculture industry needs various solutions to be able to keep low levels of sea lice. 

Mr Pye explained, "The future lies in the preventative methods against sea lice, and Benchmark is currently developing such solutions. However, CleanTreat makes is possible to use medical treatments without affecting the environment in situations where is necessary, and until we have developed sufficient preventative methods."

A holistic approach to the challenge 
 Benchmark first started working with the aquaculture industry in 2004 through Fish Vet Group. Salmobreed, Stofnfiskur and INVE are also part of the Benchmark group. The aim is to find sustainable solutions to the industry's challenges.

Malcom Pye stated, "We have great faith in aquaculture as an important and efficient source for food in the decades to come. We are tackling the industry's challenges from many angles, such as breeding and genetics, fish health, advanced nutrition and knowledge services. That gives us the opportunity to find holistic solutions. 

He is optimistic regarding the industry's future, saying, "Aquaculture is a young industry. In our work with the agriculture sector we have also seen challenges that looked impossible at first glance. However, there are always solutions. It is only a question of time before we find them."

Read more here.

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