The price of farmed Atlantic salmon is on the rise because of “one tiny, nefarious little creature,” the sea louse, a parasitic crustacean about the size of an aspirin tablet that feeds on salmon, says Quartz. There were acute infestations in Scottish and Norwegian fish farms last year and Norwegian exports dropped 5 percent.
“All that adds up to a problem that will increasingly put the squeeze on seafood lovers — and raises new questions about how to beat back the scourge of sea lice without hurting salmon, and the people who love to eat them, in the process,” says Quartz. Sea lice are the most expensive problem for the industry that raises Atlantic salmon in ocean water by containing them within giant nets anchored to the sea floor.
The nets create a breeding ground for sea lice, which can latch onto the captive fish and wild fish that swim nearby. Salmon farmers have used a pesticide for years, but sea lice in some regions have developed resistance to the chemical. So some farmers use higher and higher doses of the pesticide. In Norway, hydrogen peroxide baths are used to kill the sea lice. Others use natural predators to attack sea lice and there is research into mechanized control equipment, such as hot-water baths or lasers to zap the pests. Regardless, “consumers are likely to face steeper salmon prices in 2017,” said Quartz.