High levels of sea lice are a huge problem for Chilean fish farmers, leaving their stock vulnerable to disease and reducing their profit margins.
In its latest SpareBank1 Markets report, SBM has revealed sea lice levels among Chilean stock has reached its highest rate since 2013.
Average data collected showed there were more than 13 sea lice per fish in Chilean salmon stock in July. That’s up on 11 in June and 10 in May.
If the farmers cannot bring the sea lice levels down, it may mean they are forced to further harvest early which means they may have less tonnage to sell, be left with greater production costs and subsequently a reduced profit margin.
That all adds to what the report describes as a “demanding biological situation”.
