According to the Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL) more than 30,000 metric tons of the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide were utilized on marine fish farms in Norway last year, which is quadruple the amount used in 2013.
Use of other medicines, such as emamectin and flubenzurons, also increased in 2014, but in less quantity than for hydrogen peroxide.
Diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron, which were administered via feed to retard crustaceans such as lice forming a protective shell, increased by around 50 percent.
“We don’t like this trend, but at present it is a necessary evil," said Ketil Rykhus from the Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL).
"One reason for the increase is that we’ve seen alternating use of other medicinal preparations, or that usage of the means hasn’t had any effect, and thus had to use other means. This is among other things a consequence of the requirement to maintain lice levels below 0.5 lice,” said Rykhus, adding that FHL has warned about this trend previously.
