Lepeophtheirus salmonis: A persisting challenge for salmon aquaculture

Abstract

• Effective control of parasitic sea lice (including Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus) is a major challenge currently facing sea cage salmon aquaculture. • This difficulty is linked to widespread resistance to different classes of drugs employed by salmon farmers to control the copepod. • Due to drug selective pressure leading to treatment failure, sole reliance on parasiticides can only serve as short-term solutions for the control of sea lice. • For effective sea lice management in salmon farms, there is a need to combine drug rotations with non-chemical strategies.