Effect of thermolicer on salmon welfare
The Thermolicer, developed by Steinsvik AS (steinsvik.no), is a commercially available bath treatment machine for killing and reducing sea lice burdens in salmon aquaculture. It works by pumping fish through a loop containing water at 30-34°C for 30 seconds. Sea lice have a low level of tolerance for sudden changes in water temperature and so they are killed by the Thermolicer treatment.
Salmon skin integrity is often compromised by various stressrors in farming conditions, including sea lice infections, and temperature has previously been shown to be an important factor in skin quality/integrity and the wound healing process (Jensen et al., 2015).
As a pilot study, we would like to test the impact that sudden heat treatment alone (i.e. without sea lice) has on post-smolt salmon (Salmo salar) and their recovery over the following weeks. We would also like to assess whether handling has an additional impact on fish wellbeing.
The stress induced in the animals is expected to be minimal and nothing that is not common to aquaculture practices (handling/thermolicer treatment).
As the physiological and molecular effects of the thermolicer on the salmon are unknown, live animals must be used, although this is a pilot study and so the number of animals is limited. We would like to use 180 fish, 120 of which will not be subjected to heat treatment, but will serve as untouched controls or handling controls.
Salmon skin integrity is often compromised by various stressrors in farming conditions, including sea lice infections, and temperature has previously been shown to be an important factor in skin quality/integrity and the wound healing process (Jensen et al., 2015).
As a pilot study, we would like to test the impact that sudden heat treatment alone (i.e. without sea lice) has on post-smolt salmon (Salmo salar) and their recovery over the following weeks. We would also like to assess whether handling has an additional impact on fish wellbeing.
The stress induced in the animals is expected to be minimal and nothing that is not common to aquaculture practices (handling/thermolicer treatment).
As the physiological and molecular effects of the thermolicer on the salmon are unknown, live animals must be used, although this is a pilot study and so the number of animals is limited. We would like to use 180 fish, 120 of which will not be subjected to heat treatment, but will serve as untouched controls or handling controls.