– Mortality has an upward trend, we are on the wrong course. Something must be done about this, says director Edgar Brun of the Veterinary Institute. On Tuesday, the Veterinary Institute presents the annual fish health report in Bergen. New is a comprehensive review of the cause of mortality in Norwegian farms. In recent months, news has reported that the farming industry has major challenges with mass deaths of fish, lung and heart diseases, listeria outbreaks, major lice challenges and the discovery of self-dead salmon. Every sixth fish in Norwegian farms dies of disease. Last year, 62.8 million salmon and 2.5 million rainbow trout died with great suffering. The Veterinary Institute has now mapped which diseases the fish die from. The main conclusion is that 38 percent die from infections and around 32 percent die from wounds. LESSONS LEARNED: Fisheries and Oceans Minister Cecilie Myrseth (Ap) believes the industry must work actively to reduce mortality and disease, by learning from those who succeed. Photo: Ministry of Industry and Fisheries – There is far too much mortality. Now the industry must take action and do something about this, says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Cecilie Myrseth (Ap). Sjømat Norge will not comment on the development until they have read the entire report. These diseases wreak havoc with the fish. Mortality is highest in Western Norway. In the area from Karmøy to Sotra, as many as 25 percent of the fish die. The lowest mortality is in Northern Norway. The five most common infectious diseases are: Winter sores, fissure of the heart (cardiomyopathy syndrome), gill disease and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation and a bacterial disease pasteurellosis. – Lice treatments and stressful handling can weaken the fish and make it more susceptible to infectious diseases, and infections make it less resistant to lice treatments. In this sense, it is a vicious circle, says Brun. WOUNDS: Wounds are one of the most common causes of suffering and death in farmed salmon Photo: Are Nylund / UiB Winter wounds are the biggest health and welfare challenge for salmon. The number of facilities that have major challenges with this is increasing. What is new is that much damage to fish is now caused by jellyfish, this is among the ten most common causes. In addition, bacterial kidney disease increased sharply last year. Here it is believed that the infection occurs through the transport of infected fish or on well boats. Unused knowledge The Veterinary Institute believes that the industry could combat the problems better by using existing knowledge. – There is a lot of research and knowledge about the industry that is not used. There is great potential here, says Brun. INJURIES: One in six farmed fish dies from injuries and infections. Photo: Norwegian Food Safety Authority – Infectious diseases are an extensive problem for fish welfare and survival in the sea. There is a lot of knowledge about how the risk of infection can be reduced and there is great potential for improvement. It requires that the knowledge is put to use and translated into action in the farming industry. This is low-hanging fruit, says Brun. The Minister of Fisheries also believes that the industry must obtain knowledge from those who are involved in research and experience. – There are many breeding companies that succeed with low mortality. This shows that it is possible to make it happen, and here the other companies must obtain knowledge from so that they can reduce mortality and improve fish health. The government will contribute with policy to improve development, says Myrseth.
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Salmon die from infections and wounds – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
