Salmon louse infestation levels on sea trout can be predicted from a hydrodynamic lice dispersal model

The abundance of the parasitic salmon louse has increased with the growth in aquaculture of salmonids in open net pens. This represents a threat to wild salmonid populations as well as a key limiting factor for salmon farming. The Norwegian 'traffic light' management system for salmon farming aims to increase aquaculture production while securing sustainable wild salmonid populations. However, this system is at present solely focusing on mortality in wild Atlantic salmon, while responses of sea trout with different ecological characteristics are not included.

We analyze lice counts on sea trout from surveillance data and use Bayesian statistical models to relate the observed lice infestations to the environmental lice infestation pressure, salinity, and current speed. These models can be used in risk assessment to predict when and where lice numbers surpass threshold levels for expected serious health effects in wild sea trout.

We find that in production areas with the highest density of salmon farms (West coast), more than 50 % of the sea trout experienced lice infestations above levels of expected serious health effects.

We also observed high lice infestations on sea trout in areas with salinities below louse tolerance levels, indicating that the fish had been infested elsewhere but were returning to low-saline waters to avoid lice or delouse. This behavioural response may over time disrupt anadromy in sea trout.

The observed infestations on sea trout can be explained by the hydrodynamic lice dispersal model, which provides continuous estimates of lice exposure along the whole Norwegian coast. These estimates, which are used in Atlantic salmon research and management, can also be used for sea trout.

Synthesis and policy implications: Wild sea trout, spending its entire feeding migration in fjords and coastal areas, is at higher risk than Atlantic salmon to lice infestations from aquaculture. The observed high levels of lice infestation on sea trout question the environmental sustainability of the current aquaculture industry in areas with intensive farming. We discuss the complex responses of sea trout to salmon lice and how the 'traffic light' management system may include data on this species.