Use of therapeutants
Fisheries and Oceans Canada makes information available to the public on the annual use of therapeutants at marine finfish aquaculture facilities in British Columbia.
The deposits of drugs and pesticides are reported to the Department as a requirement of the Aquaculture Activities Regulations (AAR). More information on site-specific deposits and requirements of the AAR can be found on the National Aquaculture Public Reporting Data page.
Use of antibacterials
Use of antibacterials
This graph shows the use of antibacterial agents in medicated feeds, represented as grams of active antibacterial per tonne of salmon produced (not the amount of drug administered). All antibacterial treatments are prescribed by a licensed veterinarian and administered following the policies and guidelines of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia.
All treatments must be reported to DFO, and detailed records must be kept on site and available for review by DFO biologists and veterinarians. Details on individual treatments, including veterinary diagnoses can be found in DFO’s Fish health events report.
There has been a general decline in antibacterial use in BC and in other salmon farming regions of the world. This is attributed to the introduction of more effective vaccines for bacterial diseases and other advances in health management.
The blue line denotes tonnes of salmon produced and is calculated using the annual Aquaculture production quantities and value report.
Graph: Use of antibacterials at marine finfish aquaculture facilities in British Columbia, 1995 - 2021
Long text version
Use of antibacterials at marine finfish aquaculture facilities in British Columbia, 1995 - 2021
| Year | Grams of antibacterials per tonne of salmon produced | Round weight of salmon produced (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| 2101012021 | 52 | 83973 |
| 2001012020 | 50 | 91474 |
| 1901012019 | 94 | 88790 |
| 1801012018 | 139 | 86853 |
| 1701012017 | 56 | 85349 |
| 1601012016 | 51 | 90511 |
| 1501012015 | 156 | 92416 |
| 1401012014 | 88 | 62493 |
| 1301012013 | 94 | 65930 |
| 1201012012 | 69 | 74000 |
| 1101012011 | 42 | 83000 |
| 1001012010 | 73 | 79000 |
| 0901012009 | 67 | 76300 |
| 0801012008 | 68 | 81400 |
| 0701012007 | 109 | 78886 |
| 0601012006 | 102 | 81406 |
| 0501012005 | 227 | 70590 |
| 0401012004 | 337 | 61800 |
| 0301012003 | 340 | 72700 |
| 0201012002 | 242 | 85400 |
| 0101012001 | 165 | 67600 |
| 0010012000 | 342 | 49400 |
| 0009011999 | 268 | 48100 |
| 0008011998 | 383 | 43700 |
| 0007011997 | 516 | 37375 |
| 0006011996 | 336 | 27600 |
| 0005011995 | 456 | 27370 |
Use of delousing therapeutants
Use of of delousing therapeutants
This graph shows the use of delousing therapeutants in BC salmon aquaculture–including ivermectin, emamectin benzoate, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)–as a proportion of harvested biomass. Emamectin benzoate and ivermectin are administered as in-feed treatments and H2O2 is delivered as a bath treatment, usually in a well boat. Under the Integrated Pest Management Act (IMPA) and Regulations, a Pesticide Use Permit must be obtained from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy for use of H2O2 treatment. .
The use of the prescription drug ivermectin was discontinued after the year 2000, when emamectin benzoate, the active chemical of the in-feed product commercially known as SLICE®, became available. SLICE has been approved by Health Canada and is deemed to present little risk to the health of fish, humans and the environment. It is administered to farmed fish under veterinary prescription. At this time, SLICE is the only practical and available in-feed drug to manage sea lice on farmed salmon in BC.
Government and salmon producers are implementing a more sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to sea lice management in BC. IPM emphasizes area-based management and the use of non-medicinal alternatives, such as low-risk freshwater baths and mechanical removal techniques, to manage sea lice in aquaculture facilities while protecting adjacent ecosystems and species.
Graph: Use of delousing therapeutants at Atlantic salmon aquaculture facilities in British Columbia, 1996 - 2021
Long text version
Use of delousing therapeutants at marine finfish aquaculture facilities in British Columbia, 1996 - 2021
| Year | Grams of active Ivermectin per tonne of salmon produced | Grams of active Emamectin Benzoate per tonne of salmon produced | Kilograms of H2O2 per tonne of salmon produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2101012021 | 0.256 | 12.345 | |
| 2001012020 | 0.397 | 12.539 | |
| 1901012019 | 0.386 | 3.633 | |
| 1801012018 | 0.242 | 3.138 | |
| 1701012017 | 0.297 | 3.346 | |
| 1601012016 | 0.234 | 1.938 | |
| 1501012015 | 0.347 | 0.572 | |
| 1401012014 | 0.383 | 0.313 | |
| 1301012013 | 0.301 | ||
| 1201012012 | 0.186 | ||
| 1101012011 | 0.263 | ||
| 1001012010 | 0.266 | ||
| 0901012009 | 0.167 | ||
| 0801012008 | 0.214 | ||
| 0701012007 | 0.147 | ||
| 0601012006 | 0.214 | ||
| 0501012005 | 0.345 | ||
| 0401012004 | 0.208 | ||
| 0301012003 | 0.127 | ||
| 0201012002 | 0.122 | ||
| 0101012001 | 0.000 | 0.074 | |
| 0010012000 | 0.006 | 0.062 | |
| 0009011999 | 0.002 | ||
| 0008011998 | 0.011 | ||
| 0007011997 | 0.014 | ||
| 0006011996 | 0.029 |
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