World’s biggest salmon farmer and fish health analyst collaborate on new treatment called LiceAdvisor.
After calibrating SmoltTimer for Chilean conditions, PatoGen and Marine Harvest Chile are now working on new genetic tool that monitors sensitivity in Caligus in order to optimise lice treatments.
The parties have started the validation of the new genetic tool called LiceAdvisor.
“This collaboration has been vital for the expansion of our services to Chile,” said Vidar Aspehaug, Chief of Business Development and cofounder of PatoGen. “As a result, we have now established an office in Puerto Varas, and will be able to support the Chilean industry with new tools to optimize smoltification and Caligus control.”
PatoGen and Marine Harvest have had a close collaboration since before PatoGen was established in 2005, both related to the use of genetic tools to improve fish health and welfare, and R&D.
Read more: Biotechnology company PatoGen establishes unit in Chile
“We have had a very fruitful relationship with PatoGen the last thirteen years. I believe that facilitating the introduction of new technologies to Chile is an important contribution to further development of the industry,” said Gordon Ritchie, Group Manager Fish Health & Welfare, Marine Harvest.
Marine Harvest Chile has been working with PatoGen for the past two years on the new product.
“Our initial focus has been to contribute to the calibration of SmoltTimer for use in Chile and on implementing this new tool in our freshwater sites in Chile. We are very satisfied with using this tool to optimize smolt production, smolt quality and time of transfer of smolt groups to sea,” said Jorge Mancilla, Fish Health & Nutrition Manager at Marine Harvest Chile.
