Aqua Tromoy Sea Lice Ship
Mowi’s $35 million Aqua Tromoy will revolutionise treatment of sea lice in British Columbia’s waters
By SeaWestNews
The largest and most technologically advanced ship to ever serve the Canadian aquaculture industry is now in B.C. waters to revolutionise the treatment of sea lice in farmed salmon.
Mowi Canada West’s Aqua Tromoy, costing about $35 million, will be used to provide environmentally friendly fish health treatments, and for moving fish from site to site.
“Aqua Tromoy exemplifies Mowi’s commitment to world leading sustainable practices for salmon aquaculture in British Columbia,” said Mowi Canada West Managing Director Dr. Diane Morrison.
“Having a vessel with triple the capacity to our current largest vessel will be a game-changer for our business.
“This vessel is on the cutting edge of aquaculture technology and is a crucially important tool in our integrated pest management strategy allowing treatment with both freshwater bath and hydrogen peroxide, two sea lice treatment methods encouraged by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
Aqua Tromoy dramatically enhances Mowi Canada West’s ability to proactively manage our fish health in an environmentally friendly manner,” said Morrison.
Mowi Canada West (MCW) operates salmon farms and processing plants in British Columbia, Canada, where 600 people work together to raise 45,000 tonnes of sustainable Atlantic salmon each year.
Farm-raised salmon are free of sea lice when they are entered into the ocean, but during the fall adult wild salmon may pass sea lice to farm-raised salmon.
Sea lice are naturally occurring parasites found on many species of marine fish, they pose no risk to humans, but may harm tiny juvenile salmon. Salmon farmers have several ways to reduce or eliminate sea lice on their fish so they are not an additional source of infection during the springtime outmigration of juvenile wild salmon. Management techniques can include medicinal (emamectin benzoate by feed) and non-medicinal (freshwater bath, hydrogen peroxide, water pressure).
A highly-trained crew of nine people will live aboard the vessel with each shift providing 24-hour service for Mowi’s farming operations.
The Aqua Tromoy at a glance
The Aqua Tromoy is a state-of-the art aquaculture vessel. Called a wellboat, it has two large holds that can be filled with water, which are used to move fish from site to site, and to provide environmentally friendly treatments of fish. At triple the capacity of any wellboat in B.C., Aqua Tromoy is the largest and most technologically advanced aquaculture vessel working in Canada.
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