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DAO 57:85-95 (2003)
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Abstract
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Identifying epidemiological factors affecting sea lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis abundance on Scottish salmon farms using general linear models
C. W. Revie1,*, G. Gettinby2, J. W. Treasurer3, C. Wallace4
1Department of Computer and Information Sciences, and
2Department of Statistics and Modelling Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK
3Sea Fish Industry Authority, Marine Farming Unit, Ardtoe, Acharacle, Argyll PH36 4LD, UK
4Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd., Blar Mhor Industrial Estate, Fort William, Inverness-shire PH33 7PT, UK
*Email: crawford.revie@cis.strath.ac.uk
ABSTRACT: The variation in Lepeophtheirus salmonis sea lice numbers across 40 Scottish salmon farm sites during 1996 to 2000 was analysed using mean mobile abundance for 3 important 6 mo periods within the production cycle. Using statistical
regression techniques, over 20 management and environmental variables suspected to have an effect on controlling lice populations were investigated as potential risk factors. The findings and models developed provide a picture of mobile L. salmonis
infestation patterns on Scottish farm sites collectively. The results identified level of treatment, type of treatment, cage volume, current speed, loch flushing time and sea lice levels in the preceding 6 mo period to be key explanatory factors. Factors
such as stocking density, site biomass, water temperature and the presence of neighbours, previously cited to be important correlates of sea lice risk from analysis of individual sites over time, were not found to be important. Variation in mobile
abundance in the first half of the second year of production could be adequately explained (adjusted R2 between 55 and 72%) by the recorded data, suggesting that there is scope for management to control L. salmonis abundance, though much
of the variation remains unexplained.
KEY WORDS: Lepeophtheirus salmonis · Epidemiology · Linear modelling · Atlantic salmon · Fish farming · Expert panel
Full text in pdf format
Published in DAO Vol.
57, No. 1-2
(2003) on December 3
Print ISSN: 0177-5103; Online ISSN: 1616-1580.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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