Even more Robust

One combined solution for fewer sea lice and optimising gill health

"Trials have demonstrated reduced gill damage, with the most pronounced seen post hydrogen peroxide treatments”

AS we enter 2017, farmers in both Scotland and Norway yet again face the ongoing challenge of managing sea lice and having to cope with the increasing economic pressure that this incurs.

In addition, the volumes of medicine treatments used could raise stakeholder concerns both within and outside the industry.

The risks are visible and can range from increased mortality, reduced superior rates at harvest and, in extreme cases, losing production sites for non-compliance with regulations.

Fish welfare is critical – both during a sea lice challenge and as a result of fish handling and effects of treatment on the fish.

Longer term expansion and investment in the industry could be at risk unless improved control is demonstrated. As a consequence, there is a growing demand for additional tools for sustainable sea lice control.

Know your enemy

Since the launch of EWOS ROBUST in 2012, ROBUST has been an integral and established part of strategic Integrated Pest Management Programmes (IPMP) for many sites and production areas. The main benefits of using EWOS ROBUST are as follows: • Up to 30 per cent less sea lice attachment

• Limits the amount of immune-suppressive compounds secreted by the sea lice once attached

• Promotes enhanced fish health

• Strengthens and optimises immune response

• Promotes enhanced fish health When used strategically, EWOS ROBUST reduces lice settlement while also having a significant effect in supporting the fish immune system and supporting the wound healing process - reducing susceptibility to grazing damage from sea lice and the potential from associated viral and bacterial challenge, such as those causing PD, HSMI, CMS and ISA.

In addition, studies have shown that if salmon are pre-exposed to sea lice, mortality can be up to seven times greater if the fish are subsequently challenged with viral pathogens (Bricknell et al 2016). This study demonstrates that sea lice have a wider and sometimes prolonged effect on the overall health of the fish.

Fewer lice and fewer treatments

As well as fewer sea lice, another benefit of using EWOS ROBUST is that it maximises the potential to reduce the overall number or treatments within a production cycle as part of an IPMP.

Even by being able to administer one less treatment in a production cycle can provide the farmer with a lower cost of production and help to maximise earnings.

Using a high performance diet such as EWOS RAPID can further shorten the production cycle by up to four weeks, which could also reduce the need for multiple treatments over the whole production cycle.