Fish Health Inspectorate: Sea lice data reporting guidance

4. Submission of data

4.1. SG will make a submission form available, which will be in a spreadsheet format, and should be used to provide the required information. The information for the reporting week can only be submitted once, although FHI can be notified of corrections. From time to time the spreadsheet will need to be amended by SG, for example when a farm site is transferred between businesses, a new site is developed or an inactive site becomes operational. It is important to ensure that when a new version of the spreadsheet is issued, that it is the one which is used – an older version will not be suitable.

4.2. There is a guidance tab on the spreadsheet which provides instructions on completing the columns for ease of reference.

4.3. APBs should insert their business number, their business name, the year, and the calendar week number at the top of the spreadsheet which will auto-fill the relevant columns. Note the first submission required following introduction of the 2020 Order will relate to data for the week beginning the 29 March 2021 i.e. week 13.

4.4. Once the business number and name have been inserted, a drop down list of sites operated by the business will become available. Sites where fish are present or where it is the first week that a site has become fallow should be selected.

4.5. APBs should insert, into the relevant column, the average number of adult female (gravid and non-gravid) Lepeophtheirus salmonis counted per fish per site in the reporting week, to be calculated by applying the following formula:

Where —

A = the total number of adult female (gravid and non-gravid) Lepeophtheirus salmonis counted on sampled fish in a site in the reporting week, and

B = the number of fish sampled in that site in that reporting week.

4.6. Only one count per site should be submitted.

4.7. Where the weekly reported sea lice levels reach or exceed the increased monitoring level of an average of 2 average adult female sea lice per fish, FHI will continue to follow up as necessary

4.8. Where a count of adult female (gravid and non-gravid) Lepeophtheirus salmonis is not conducted in a reporting week, that column should be left blank. The reason for not conducting the count must be given in the column entitled ‘reason for no count.’ This column provides a drop down list of reasons for not conducting a count. Where the reason for no count is that the site is fallow, no further information requires to be provided in respect of that site until such time as the site ceases to be

fallow. This negates the need to report week after week that the reason for no count is that the site is fallow.

4.9. Acceptable reasons for no cou nts with reasoning and clarification of regulatory expectation are as follows (4.9.1 - 4.9.6):

4.9.1 Broodstock population visually inspected

Reasoning: Large fish may present a health and safety risk to husbandry staff when conducting handling operations. Handling of high value broodstock fish may result in stress, injury and increased mortality, which should be avoided.

Regulatory expectation: Where possible, every effort should be made to conduct sea lice counts on populations of potential broodfish at similar weights to normal aquaculture animal production populations prior to maturation.

4.9.2 Site fallow

Reasoning: Report for the week in which the site becomes fallow.

Regulatory expectation No further reports for the site are required until the site receives stocks and ceases to be fallow.

4.93 Site recently stocked

Reasoning: Fish are susceptible to stress, injury and increased mortality due to handling operations in the period following transfer between marine sites or from the freshwater to marine environments.

Regulatory expectation: Due to the physiological adaptation process when moving between the freshwater and marine environments, fish species may be susceptible to stress, injury and increased mortality. This period may be up to 6 weeks for salmonid species. The period of acclimatisation following transfer between marine sites should be shorter for a successful transfer and sea lice counting should resume as soon as possible following veterinary advice.

4.9.4 Veterinary advice

Reasoning: Husbandry operations such as handling fish to conduct sea lice counts can result in stress, injury and increased mortality, particularly in aquaculture animal populations which are faced with challenges to their health status.

Regulatory expectation: Weekly sea lice counts should be conducted unless veterinary advice has been received to avoid handling of stocks, or through agreed husbandry procedures detailed in the Animal Health and Welfare Plan for the farm site which are previously agreed with the attending veterinarian.

4.9.5 Weather

Reasoning: It may not be possible to undertake a sea lice count if accessing the site or conducting the sea lice count presents a health and safety risk to husbandry staff due to weather conditions.

Regulatory expectation: If weather conditions are favourable at any other point during the week (Monday – Sunday), a sea lice count should be conducted to enable a report to be provided. Veterinary advice may be required on the prioritisation of husbandry operations following periods of inclement weather.

4.9.6 Withdrawal period prior to harvesting

Reasoning: Use of anaesthetics to facilitate the handling of aquaculture animals during a sea lice count will result in a withdrawal period being placed on the stock, which prevents animals being placed on the market for human consumption.

Regulatory expectation: Harvest operations should be planned to allow weekly sea lice counts to be conducted on populations, or part populations of aquaculture animals at a fish farm site. Occasions where no sea lice count can be conducted due to the avoidance of withdrawal periods whilst conducting harvest operations should be minimised subject to the impacts of environmental conditions experienced at a site necessitating changes to harvest plans.