scottish salmon producers organisation fish health management 2013

Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Limited, Durn, Isla Road, Perth PH2 7HG Tel: 01738 587 000, Fax: 01738 621 454Email: [email protected] Web: www.scottishsalmon.co.uk

Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation

Fish Health Management 2013

The new publications will each contain comprehensive reports including the number of active sites, average sea lice numbers, treatment strategies, fallowing and other pertinent information across the 30 areas.

COnTEnTS

Area Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3Explanatory notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5Badachro to Applecross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Glenelg to Kilchoan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Sunart and Aline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Add and Ormsary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10The Uists - South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Shetland West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Shetland East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

FISH HEALTH MAnAGEMEnT

AREA MAPSImportant note: These Area Maps must be viewed in conjunction with the Area Specific Information and the Associated Explanatory notes. together these documents form the area health management report.The maps in Figure 1 below delineate the areas covered by each Fish Health Management Report. The reporting areas correspond to those used by Marine Scotland Science (previously Fisheries Research Services) in their annually published statistical bulletins (“Statistical Bulletin: Scottish Salmon and Sea Trout Catches”).In a number of cases the delineation of specific areas has been amended, resulting in the creation of new areas. This change to the original delineation of reporting areas has been the result of a formal proposal made to the SSPO by the Association of Salmon Fishery

Boards (ASFB) and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS). The AFSB / RAFTS proposal for amended area has been acknowledged and accepted by the SSPO with the support of Marine Scotland Policy officials. Details of how the original areas have been amended is set out below.SSPO and its members have sought information from proprietors, ASFB and RAFTS, to be collated through ASFB/RAFTS, to match the information that forms the subject of the salmon farming industry’s comprehensive sea lice reports. We believe that it is crucial that such

Figure 1. Fish health management reporting areas.

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FISH HEALTH MANAGEMENT

information is forthcoming to properly inform the ongoing debate around allegations of impacts caused by sea lice.Area code Area Name Notes

25 Hope and Grudie

26-n Inchard to Kirkaig north* Original Inchard to Kirkaig area divided at Clashmore, just north of Enard Bay, to create two new areas (renamed north and South)

26-S Inchard to Kirkaig South

27 Kennart to Gruinard

28 Ewe

29 Badachro to Applecross

30 Kishorn and Carron

31 Loch Long and Croe

32 Glenelg to Kilchoan

33 Morar to Shiel

34-n Skye and Small Isles north* Original Skye and Small Isles area divided from the Point of Sleat to Duntulm to create two new areas (renamed north and South)

34-S Skye and Small Isles South

35 Sunart and Aline * The north part of the Island of Mull (area 39), from Ardmore Point to Craignure, included within this area

36-n Sanda to Creran north* Original Sanda and Creran area divided from Kentallen, across Loch Linnhe, to Inversanda to create two new areas (renamed north and South)

36-S Sanda to Creran South

37 Awe and nell

38 Add and Ormsary

39 Island of Mull * The north part of the Island of Mull, from Ardmore Point to Craignure, removed from this area and combined with the Sunart and Aline area (35)

40 Islay and Jura

41 Carradale and Iorsa

42 Fyne

43 Ruel and Drummachloy

58-E Isle of Lewis East * Original Isle of Lewis area divided from the Butt of Lewis to the mid point of the border with the Harris area (59) to create two new areas (renamed East and West)58-W Isle of Lewis West

59 Harris

60-n The Uists north* Original The Uists area divided between Benbecula and north Uist to create two new areas (renamed north and South)

60-S The Uists South

61 Orkney

62-W Shetland West** Original Shetland area divided from the Point of Fethaland to Sumburgh Head to create two new areas (renamed West and East)

62-E Shetland East

*Area amendment made following request to SSPO from AFSB and RAFTS**Area amendment made by SSPO

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ExPLAnATORy nOTESThese explanatory notes should be read in conjunction with the Area Specific Information as well as the reporting Area Maps. The explanatory notes provide important additional information to facilitate understanding of the content of each report. The information in these explanatory notes uses the same terminology and headings as those used in the reports.SAlmON FARmiNg iN The AReAAn “Active” site is defined as a farm site which is either currently in use or its owner plans to use it in the foreseeable future. Being an “Active” site does not necessarily mean it is stocked with fish, rather it is viewed as a site which will be used to farm fish. At any particular time a company may choose to leave an “Active” site empty or “fallow” due to specific, pre-determined production plans and in order to support fish health management. The percentage of Scottish farm salmon production in the reporting region is based on all active farm sites (whether stocked or not) and on the maximum consented biomass permitted at each site, as defined in CAR licences issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).Area managementThe management and control of sea lice and fish health is facilitated through the adoption of an area-based approach, in which sites operating within defined Farm Management Areas (FMAs) adopt similar and joined up farming practices, for example stocking the same year class of fish and synchronised fallowing of sites at the end of the production cycle. The delineation of Farm Management Areas is set out in the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture (CoGP), the aquaculture industry’s best practice guide for fish farming activities (http://www.thecodeofgoodpractice.co.uk/). Farm Management Areas are determined according to a number of factors including currents and tides, and practical experience of the farming environment acquired over many years. These are reviewed and amended in accordance with emerging information.It is noteworthy that the Scottish salmon farming industry pioneered the principles of Area Management to assist in the management of fish health over twenty years ago. These same principles are now being adopted throughout other salmon producing countries in the world.Currently over 99% of production from the Scottish salmon farming industry is accredited under the Code of Good Practice, with accreditation being a prerequisite of membership of the SSPO. SSPO members are responsible for over 98% of Scottish farmed salmon production.The Code of Good Practice requires that, where multiple companies operate within a Farm Management Area they should develop a Farm Management Agreement (FMAg), which outlines agreed production practices targeted at maximising fish health and welfare, notably the co-ordination of activities such as stocking, fallowing and the use of medicinal treatments. Where there is no Farm Management Agreement each company within the area is required to prepare a Farm Management Statement, a declaration of the company’s approach to production. Similarly, in single operator areas Farm Management Statements would also be the norm. Farm Management Statements are available to other companies operating within an FMA. Farm Management Agreements and Farm Management Statements promote and assist the area-based management and control of sea lice, and fish health more generally, and are viewed as dynamic agreements, able to change in response to changing conditions at a local level.In some cases, Area Management Agreements (AMAs) may exist alongside FMAgs. Such agreements, previously established under the auspices of the Tripartite Working Group (TWG; http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/TWG), may also include references to production practices relating to sea lice and fish health management.

In some cases FMAs, as defined above, extend across two Fish Health Management reporting regions. Unless otherwise stated, the information provided relates only to the sites that exist within the reporting region.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaSiNgle YeAR ClASS PRODUCTiON: farming a single year / age class of fish on individual farms and across a Farm Management Area helps to break the life cycle of lice, minimising the risk of transfer of lice between different year or age classes of fish and minimising opportunities for lice to become established on farmed fish. FallowingSiTe FAllOwiNg: Leaving a site unstocked or “fallow” at the end of a production cycle helps to break the life cycle of the sea lice and is a proven tool in lice and fish health management. The Code of Good Practice requires that a minimum fallow period of 4 weeks be applied at the end of each production cycle. AReA FAllOwiNg: As well as fallowing each site at the end of a production cycle, the Scottish salmon farming industry adopts a practice of fallowing entire Farm Management Areas once they have been harvested, to further aid sea lice and fish health management. Determination of area fallow periods in these reports is based on FMAs containing more than one active site (n.B. for FMAs with only one active site, a site fallow is equivalent to an area fallow).Fish health and monitoringMonitoring lice on salmon held on salmon farms is a vital part of effective lice management. By monitoring the different stages which form the complex life cycle of sea lice at weekly intervals, Scottish salmon farmers are able to tailor lice management strategies to effectively control lice numbers over both the short- and long-term. For example, a thorough understanding of the different life cycle stages, the number of lice in each stage, overall lice numbers and the relative sensitivity of the lice to approved veterinary medicines allows the veterinary surgeons and farmers responsible for the care of the fish to make decisions on which of the licensed sea lice medicines to apply and when to apply them. Detailed and standardised lice monitoring procedures are defined in the national Treatment Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice on Scottish Salmon Farms (nTS) and CoGP. All salmon farming companies within SSPO have adopted these procedures. To further improve the effectiveness of lice management within Farm Management Areas and more widely, companies have been encouraged to share information on lice management and control measures with their farming neighbours. In addition, through the TWG initiative, a considerable volume of detailed information has been shared at a local level with those representing the wild salmonid industry.

information exchangeThe SSPO manages a dedicated Fish Health Management System designed to assist the industry in managing fish health, including sea lice, through the generation, analysis and exchange of information across Scotland. Using the Fish Health Management System, information can be exchanged between both companies and individual sites at intervals which suit those concerned. The exchange of fish health information and production information greatly enhances the short- and long-term approach to the management of fish health.

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Treatment of lice using approved veterinary medicinesThe use of sea lice medicines is targeted towards treating sea lice on individual farms and, in a wider context, towards the synchronous treatment of multiple sites within a Farm Management Area. Synchronised treatments are of value in managing lice throughout the year, but they are also applied strategically at specific times each year, for example in the period leading up to the wild salmon smolt seaward migration in the spring, where farmed fish are treated on a precautionary basis. Agreement to carry out spring treatments was reached with representatives of the wild salmonid fishery industry around the time of the inception of the national Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice on Scottish Salmon Farms (nTS) in 1998. Coordination of the nTS is administered via the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture and wild fish industry representatives have been consulted on this at each revision of the CoGP.

The use of medicinal treatments serves two purposes:1. The removal of lice from farmed fish to safeguard their health and

welfare. Sea lice which infest clean, farmed fish ultimately originated from wild fish. All farmers and fish veterinarians have an ethical responsibility to protect the welfare of the fish in their care. They therefore monitor lice numbers on their farmed fish and treat with medicines according to veterinary advice to ensure that the health and welfare of their fish is maintained.

2. To prevent lice from reproducing. It is good farming practice and common sense to target and kill female lice before they reach the stage where they are able to reproduce. Indeed the main focus of the national Treatment Strategy is to control sea lice by targeting them before they reproduce. By closely monitoring the numbers of lice on their fish, farmers are able to intervene and treat fish before female lice produce viable egg strings. Both the nTS and the Code of Good Practice suggest treatment thresholds for the application of medicines to achieve this. The suggested thresholds are 0.5 adult female lice (Lepeoptherius salmonis) per fish between February and June and 1.0 adult female lice (L. salmonis) per fish between July and January. These thresholds came about in discussion with wild salmonid industry representatives.

Currently there are six licensed medicines used in the control of sea lice, which can be applied topically (as a “bath”) or within the feed. Whenever treatments are used, best farming practice dictates that all fish on a site be treated over the shortest practicable timeframe, to avoid lice from untreated fish transferring back onto recently treated fish. Wherever possible, medicines should be rotated to ensure the products remain effective.

Notification to marine Scotland Science of successive delousing treatment failuresThe Healthier Fish and Shellfish Working Group was established as part of “A Fresh Start: The Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture” in 2009 (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish/18364). The remit of this group was to build on existing good practice in the field of fish health and biosecurity. As part of this initiative the Healthier Fish and Shellfish Working Group recommended that successive delousing efficacy failures should be reported to Marine Scotland. This recommendation has been incorporated into the CoGP, compliance is verified through independent audit, and reports of successive delousing failures are reported by industry.

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BADACHRO TO APPLECROSSOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Badachro to Applecross region is in the Wester Ross region of the Scottish Highlands. It extends from north Erradale down to Applecross, encompassing Loch Gairloch and Loch Torridon. There are no fish farming activities in Loch Gairloch, but there are several salmon farms in Loch Torridon.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were three active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by two companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 2% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementOne Farm Management Area, identified as “M-17: Torridon” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exists within this reporting region. All sites within the area are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.Two companies operate within the Farm Management Area M-17. They have developed and signed a Farm Management Agreement covering key activities and operate in accordance with the terms of this agreement. Furthermore, an AMA, previously established under the Tripartite Working Group and signed by all operators, remains in place.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period all three sites within the region were stocked with fish.All farms were stocked with a single year class of fish.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: All sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period. Prior to stocking they had all applied a fallow period of between 5 and 21 weeks (average fallow 12 weeks), much longer than the four weeks required under the CoGP.AREA FALLOWInG: Prior to restocking the Torridon FMA, an area fallow of 5 weeks was applied.Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System reveals that, throughout the current reporting period, lice numbers across the Badachro to Applecross region remained, on average, below the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice per fish as set out in the national Treatment Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice and the CoGP. During the current reporting period in the Badachro to Applecross region, adult female lice counts were: information exchangeThe two companies operating within the Torridon FMA exchange fish health information on a weekly basis, using the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System.Treatment for lice with approved veterinary medicinesDuring the period all farm sites within the area underwent a co-ordinated lice treatment in late October. Four further targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites. Different medicines were rotated so that no one product was used more than once in succession.Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.

month Average number of adult female lice

October 0.25

november 0.34

December 0.25

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GLEnELG TO KILCHOAnOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Glenelg and Kilchoan region is in the Scottish Highlands. It extends from just north of Glenelg down to Mallaig, encompassing Loch Hourn and Loch nevis. There are fish farming activities in both lochs.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were four active salmon farm sites in the area operated by two companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 2% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementTwo Farm Management Areas, identified as “M-22: Loch Hourn” and “M-23: Loch nevis” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. All sites within the Glenelg and Kilchoan region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.One salmon farming company operates in each of the FMAs within the Glenelg and Kilchoan region.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period all four sites within the region were stocked with fish.Each farm site within the Glenelg and Kilchoan region contained just one year class of fish. Both FMAs contained a single year class.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: One site in the Glenelg and Kilchoan region was stocked during the current reporting period. In this case the fallow was for 15.1 weeks, much longer than the minimum four weeks defined in the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period, with all applying a fallow period in excess of four weeks. The fallow period for these sites ranged from 7.8 to 29.6 weeks (average fallow 15.4 weeks).During the current reporting period, two sites within the Glenelg and Kilchoan region became fallow as fish were harvested.AREA FALLOWInG: One FMA containing only one active site was restocked during the current reporting period. The second FMA was restocked prior to the current reporting period following an area fallow of 4 weeks.Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System reveals that, during October, lice numbers across the Glenelg and Kilchoan region remained, on average, below the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice per fish as set out in the national Treatment Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice and the CoGP. During november and December lice numbers were, on average, slightly above the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice per fish. During the current reporting period in the Glenelg and Kilchoan region, adult female lice counts were:Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesDuring the current reporting period there were no treatments used for lice in the “M-22: Loch Hourn” FMA. All farm sites within the “M-23: Loch nevis” region underwent a co-ordinated lice treatment in early november. Four further targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites.

Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.


October 0.74

november 1.14

December 1.20

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SUnART AnD ALInEOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Sunart and Aline region is in the Scottish Highlands. It extends from Ardnamurchan Point to Rudha an Ridire at the mouth of Loch Linnhe, and also includes the north west Isle of Mull, from Ardmore Point to Craignure. It encompasses Loch Sunart and the Sound of Mull. There are fish farming activities in both of these areas.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were seven active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by two companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 4% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementTwo Farm Management Areas, identified as “M-34: Sunart” and “M-35: Sound of Mull” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. All sites within the Sunart to Aline region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.One FMA contains sites operated by one farming company. The second FMA contains sites operated by two salmon farming companies.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaAll seven sites within the region were stocked with fish during this reporting period.Each farm site within the Sunart and Aline region contained just one year class of fish. Both FMAs were single year class areas.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: Two sites in the Sunart to Aline region were restocked during the current reporting period. The average fallow for these sites 10.9 weeks, much longer than the minimum four weeks defined in the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period, with all applying a fallow period in excess of four weeks. The fallow period for these sites ranged from 7.9 to 14.3 weeks (average fallow period 10.3 weeks)One site within the Sunart to Aline region became fallow as fish were harvested.AREA FALLOWInG: One FMA was restocked during this period following an area fallow of four weeks. The second FMA was restocked prior to the current reporting period following an area fallow of 6.7 weeks.Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System reveals that lice numbers across the Sunart to Aline region remained, on average, below the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice per fish set out in the national Treatment Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice and the CoGP. During this period adult female lice counts were:Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesDuring the current reporting period there were no treatments within the region.


October 0.11

november 0.19

December 0.31

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ADD AnD ORMSARyOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Add and Ormsary reporting region is found in the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland. It extends from Craobh Haven to Borgadalemore point on the Kintyre peninsula. The area includes sea lochs and bays which contain salmon farms, including Loch Craignish and the Sound of Gigha.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were seven active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by two companies.If stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 2% of the Scottish production of farmed salmon.Area managementTwo Farm Management Areas, identified as “M-40: Loch Melfort/Craignish” and “M-46: Gigha” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. M-40 extends out with the reporting region. All sites within the Add and Ormsary area are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.Two companies operate in the Add and Ormsary region. One of the FMAs in the region is a single operator areas i.e. one company owns and operates all sites in the area. no Farm Management Agreement is required for this FMA, although each site in the area are required to have a Farm Management Statement. The second FMA contains two operators. However, within the confines of the Add and Ormsary region only one of these companies has active sites (n.B. the FMA extends outwith the region). At present no FMAg exists for this area, although each site is required to have a Farm Management Statement. An AMA, previously established under the Tripartite Working Group and signed by all operators, remains in place between the operators. This is the Lower Lorne AMA.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period five of the active sites within the region were stocked with fish. Each FMA in the region was stocked with fish. In this reporting period, each farm site within the region contained just one year class of fish. One FMA was stocked with a single year class of fish. The second area was stocked with more than one year class of fish.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: One site was restocked during the current reporting period. In this case the fallow was for 21.1 weeks, considerably longer than the minimum four weeks defined in the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period, with all applying a fallow period in excess of four weeks before restocking. The fallow period for these sites ranged from 8.9 to 70.8 weeks (average 25.5 weeks).AREA FALLOWInG: no FMA was restocked following an area fallow during the current reporting period. However previously, for the FMA which resides fully within the Add and Ormsary region, an area fallow of 10.6 weeks was applied prior to stocking.Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the application of the SSPO Fish Health Management system reveals that during the current reporting period in the Add and Ormsary region, adult female lice counts were:

Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesIn response to changing lice numbers in the region six targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites. Different medicines were rotated so that no one product was used more than once in succession.Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.

month Adult female lice average

October 1.07

november 2.11

December 1.88

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HARRISOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Harris reporting region is in the Western Isles. It encompasses the Isle of Harris, from the Kyles of Scalpay in the south east to Uig in the north west. It covers several sea lochs which contain salmon farms, including Loch Seaforth, East Loch Tarbert, West Loch Tarbert and Loch’s Stockinish and Grosebay.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were 12 active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by three companies.If stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 7% of the Scottish production of farmed salmon.Area managementFive Farm Management Areas, identified as “W-6: Loch Seaforth”, “W-7: West Loch Tarbert”, “W-8: East Loch Tarbert”, “W-9: Stockinish/Grosebay” and “W-10: Sound of Harris” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. All sites within the Harris region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.Three of the FMAs in the region are single operator areas in that one company owns and operates all of the sites in the area. no Farm Management Agreements are required for these FMAs, although each site is required to have a Farm Management Statement. Two companies operate within each Farm Management Area W-6 and W-8. In each FMA the companies have developed and signed a Farm Management Agreement covering key activities and operate in accordance with the terms of this agreement. Furthermore, two AMAs, previously established under the Tripartite Working Group and signed by all operators, remain in place. These are the West Loch Tarbert AMA and the East Lewis and Harris AMA.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period nine of the active sites within the region were stocked with fish.Each farm site within the Harris region contained just one year class of fish. Each FMA in the Harris region contained sites that were stocked with fish and each FMA was stocked with a single year class of fish.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: All sites in the Harris region were stocked prior to the current reporting period. However, prior to stocking they had all applied a fallow period. The fallow period for all sites was much longer than the four weeks required under the CoGP, and ranged from 9.4 to 54.4 weeks (average 25.0 weeks).During the current reporting period, one site within the Harris region became fallow as fish were harvested.AREA FALLOWInG: no FMAs were restocked during the current reporting period. However, prior to the current reporting period all FMAs in the Harris region had applied an area fallow before restocking. The area fallows in the Harris region ranged from 8.6 to 22.6 weeks (average 17.9 weeks).Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the application of the SSPO Fish Health Management system reveals that adult female lice counts were:information exchangeTwo of the companies operating within the Harris Region exchange fish health information on a weekly basis, using the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System.

Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesDuring the current reporting period there were three co-ordinated area treatments, which occurred across two FMAs. These took place in late October and mid november for one FMA, and in late november for the other. Fifteen further targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites. Medicines were rotated so that no one product was used more than once in succession.

Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.

month Adult female lice average

October 1.32

november 1.82

December 1.09

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THE UISTS - SOUTHOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Uists South region is in the Western Isles. It encompasses all islands and lochs between Barra in the south and Benbecula. It covers several sea lochs which contain salmon farms, including Loch Uiskevagh, Loch Carnan, Loch Skipport and Loch Boisdale,Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were 11 active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by three companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 5% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementSix Farm Management Areas, identified as “W-15: Loch Uiskevagh”, “W-16: Loch Kilervagh”,”W-17: Loch Carnan”, “W-18: Loch Skipport”, “W-20: Loch Boisdale” and “W-21: north Barra” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. All sites within The Uists South region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and the operators are all members of the SSPO.Within The Uists South region, each FMA contains sites operated by a single salmon farming company.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period six of the 11 active sites within the region were stocked with fish. Furthermore, four of the six FMAs were stocked with fish.In this reporting period, each farm site within The Uists South region contained just one year class of fish. All FMAs that were stocked with fish were single year class areas.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: One site in The Uists South region was restocked during the current reporting period. In this case the fallow period was 55 weeks, considerably longer than the minimum four weeks required under the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period, with all applying fallow periods which ranged from 7.8 to 29.6 weeks (average fallow period 25.5 weeks).During the current reporting period, no sites within The Uists South region became fallow.AREA FALLOWInG: no FMAs were restocked during the current reporting period. However, prior to the current reporting period all FMAs in The Uists South region had applied an area fallow before restocking. The average area fallow period in the The Uists South region was 14.9 weeks (range 12.9 to 17.0 weeks). Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the application of the SSPO Fish Health Management system reveals that during the current reporting period in The Uists South region, adult female lice counts were as follows:Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesIn response to changing numbers of lice, five targeted treatments were used against lice on specific sites. Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.


October 0.11

november 0.19

December 0.31

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SHETLAnD WESTOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Shetland West region encompasses the coastline (and associated islands) to the west of Shetland, from the Point of Fethaland to Sumburgh Head. It includes a number of sea lochs and voes which contain salmon farms, including Ronas Voe, St. Magnus Bay and Scalloway bay.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were 31 active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by three companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 13.5% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementFive Farm Management Areas, identified as “S-7: Ronas Voe”, “S-8a: Magnus north”, “S-8b: Magnus South”, “S-10: Walls” and “S-11: Scalloway” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. All of the sites within the Shetland West region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and are members of the SSPO. Three of the FMAs contain only one farming company. The remaining two FMAs each contain two companies.Of the two FMAs which contain two operators, Farm Management Agreements (FMAgs) have been developed and signed for one of the areas, S-11: Scalloway. For the second FMA, discussions on the development of a Farm Management Agreement are ongoing, with the principles of synchronised stocking and production in place and this is due to be implemented for the next cycle of production in the area. Each site within the area will also have a Farm Management Statement. Farm Management Agreements are not required for the FMAs containing only one operating company, although each company will have a Farm Management Statement.

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period 24 sites were stocked with fish.In this reporting period, each farm site within the Shetland West region contained just one year class of fish. All five FMAs contained sites that were stocked with fish and each FMA contained just one year class of fish on the stocked sites.FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: Two sites in the Shetland West region were restocked during the current reporting period. The fallow period averaged 10.4 weeks (range 9.0 to 11.7 weeks), considerably longer than the minimum four weeks defined in the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period. The fallow period for those sites was on average, 25.5 weeks in duration.During the current reporting period, three sites within the Shetland West region became fallow as fish were harvested.AREA FALLOWInG: no FMAs were restocked during the current reporting period. Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the SSPO’s Fish Health Management System reveals that, during October, lice numbers across the Shetland West region were, on average, slightly above the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice per fish as set out in the national Treatment Strategy for the Control of Sea Lice and the CoGP. During november and December lice numbers were, on average, below the suggested lice treatment threshold of 1.0 adult female lice

per fish. During the current reporting period in the Shetland West region, adult female lice counts were as follows:information exchangeThe three main companies operating in Shetland also operate within the Shetland West region, and all exchange fish health information regularly through monthly Fish Health and Production meetings. At these meetings, current and future production schedules are discussed in detail and lice management information is exchanged. Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicines In response to changing lice numbers, there were 12 treatments for lice within the Shetland West region during the current reporting period. These included two co-ordinated area treatments, one within the S-8b area in late October and a second in the S-7 area in mid-December. These treatments subsequently coincided with changes in the average lice counts for the region, as reported above. Eight further targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites across the region as a whole. Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.


October 1.15

november 0.28

December 0.44

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SHETLAnD EASTOCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2012Important note: The following information should be read in conjunction with the explanatory notes and reporting area map. Together these documents form the area health management report.Area descriptionThe Shetland East region encompasses the coastline (and associated islands) to the east of Shetland, from the Point of Fethaland to Sumburgh Head. It includes a number of voes which contain salmon farms, including Dales Voe, Dury Voe and Wadbister Voe.Salmon farming in the areaOver the period of this report there were 44 active salmon farm sites in the area, operated by six companies.When stocked, the farm sites in the region account for approximately 19% of Scottish farmed salmon production.Area managementSeven Farm Management Areas, identified as “S-1: Balta”, “S-2: Uyea/Belmont”, “S-3: Mid yell”, “S-4: yell Sound”, “S-5: Dury”, “S-6: Out Skerries” and “S-9: Wadbister” in Part 3 (Farm Management Areas (FMAs)) of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, exist within this reporting region. Thirty eight of the sites within the Shetland East region are accredited to the Code of Good Practice standards and of these 36 are members of the SSPO. The six active sites that are not accredited to the CoGP standards are accredited to organic standards. Unless otherwise stated, the information provided herein relates to the sites that are accredited to CoGP standards.Two of the FMAs in the Shetland East region contain companies that do not operate in any other areas of Scotland. Two further FMAs contain only one farming company. The remaining three FMAs each contain two companies, although during the current reporting period one of these FMAs had sites stocked by just one company.Of the three areas which contain two operators, Farm Management Agreements have been developed and signed for two for the areas, S-3: Mid yell and S-5: Dury. For the remaining FMA, discussions regarding a Farm Management Agreement are ongoing, with the principles of synchronised stocking and production due to be implemented for the next cycle of production in the area. Each site within the area is required to have a Farm Management Statement. (Farm Management Agreements are not required for the FMAs containing only one operating company, although each site is required to have a Farm Management Statement).

AReA mANAgemeNT wiThiN The RegiONCurrent production in the areaDuring this reporting period 33 (CoGP accredited) sites were stocked with fish.Each of these 33 farm sites within the Shetland East region contained one year class of fish. Three of the FMAs contained one year class of fish. FallowingSITE FALLOWInG: Four sites in the Shetland East region were restocked during the current reporting period. The fallow period ranged from 9.0 to 34.0 weeks (average fallow 17.4 weeks), exceeding the minimum four week period required under the CoGP. The remaining sites were stocked prior to the current reporting period. The fallow period for those sites was, on average, 20.2 weeks in duration.nine sites became fallow as the fish were harvested.AREA FALLOWInG: no FMAs were restocked during the current reporting period. Fish health and monitoringInformation gathered through the application of the SSPO Fish Health Management system reveals that during the current reporting period in the Shetland East region, adult female lice counts were:

information exchangeThe three main companies operating in Shetland, and consequently within the Shetland East region, exchange fish health information regularly at monthly Fish Health and Production meetings. At these meetings, current and future production schedules are discussed in detail and lice management information is exchanged. Treatment for lice using approved veterinary medicinesIn response to changing lice numbers, 21 treatments for lice took place within the Shetland East region during the current reporting period. This included two co-ordinated area treatments within the S-9 area. These took place in early november and early December. Thirteen further targeted treatments against lice were used on individual sites across the region as a whole. Notification of successive delousing treatment failures in accordance with hFwg recommendationsThere were no reports of successive treatment failures during the reporting period.


October 2.80

november 1.18

December 0.52

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Area Name Area codeAdult female count

Oct. 2012 Nov. 2012 Dec. 2012

Hope and Grudie 25

Inchard to Kirkaig north 26-n

Inchard to Kirkaig South 26-S

Kennart to Gruinard 27

Ewe 28

Badachro to Applecross 29 0.25 0.34 0.25

Kishorn and Carron 30

Loch Long and Croe 31

Glenelg to Kilchoan 32 0.74 1.14 1.20

Morar to Shiel 33

Skye and Small Isles north 34-n

Skye and Small Isles South 34-S

Sunart and Aline 35 0.11 0.19 0.19

Sanda to Creran north 36-n

Sanda to Creran South 36-S

Awe and nell 37

Add and Ormsary 38 1.07 2.11 1.88

Island of Mull 39

Islay and Jura 40

Carradale and Iorsa 41

Fyne 42

Ruel and Drummachloy 43

Isle of Lewis East 58-E

Isle of Lewis West 58-W

Harris 59 1.32 1.82 1.09

The Uists north 60-n

The Uists South 60-S 0.10 0.08 0.06

Orkney 61

Shetland West 62-W 2.80 1.18 0.52

Shetland East 62-E 1.15 0.28 0.44

SUMMARyImportant note: The following must be viewed in conjunction with the Area Specific Information, Area Maps and the associated Explanatory notes.

The table below provides a summary of the monthly lice averages (adult females) for each reporting region.

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The industry has demonstrated its on-going commitment to effective sea lice management since the launch of the national Treatment Strategy in 1998.

Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation Limited, Durn, Isla Road, Perth PH2 7HG Tel: 01738 587 000, Fax: 01738 621 454Email: [email protected] Web: www.scottishsalmon.co.uk

scottish salmon producers organisation fish health management 2013

Documents

original areas

area code area

kirkaig area

creran area

amended area

kirkaig north

creran north

creation of new areas