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Going Green We've lost fish, but we've spent a lot of resources on finding alternative treatments that work. Tat is part of doing business. Some companies are prepared to do that." Halse says bath treatments for the fish are effective, as are feed-based therapeutants like Slice. Te baths require the use of well boats that vacuum the fish into a hold- ing area to be washed with a mixture of seawater and hy- drogen peroxide, a first-aid substance found in nearly every household. Cooke and other companies in Atlantic Canada have invested mil- lions of dollars in well boats, says Halse. Teir efficiency allows operators to use far less chemicals than in the past, thereby limiting envi- ronmental impact. "[Pesticides] become at the species' biology, its spawning behavior and the best diets, the same process Companies are looking at things other than therapeu- tants, which are costly. It's a matter of the industry want- ing to support the research and development in this area. We can easily multi- ply to a large-scale project if need be. I'm hoping we can make this work." When sea lice are removed Cunners are common fish found near almost every wharf in Newfoundland. for any other farmed species. "It's another tool in the less effective the more you use them — it's an accepted agricultural principle," says Halse, adding that every tool in the fight against sea lice has its benefits, citing years of research. "Different treat- ments attack different lifecy- cles of the parasite. We know how to use [pesticides] more effectively now." A researcher at Memorial University in St. John's, New- foundland, has big hopes for the little cunners, which need to be at least 5 or 6 inches in length to fulfill their intended duties. Danny Boyce, facili- ties and business manager at the Dr. Joe Brown Research Aquatic Building, part of the school's Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay, says cun- ner-breeding research is in its early stages, compared to how far along wrasse research has come in Norway. Boyce hopes to know for sure within three to five years whether the species is up to the task and whether it's economically fea- sible to raise in captivity for eventual deployment at the farms. His team is looking toolbox to mitigate sea lice," says Boyce. "If a new bath treatment came out today that was effective, people might shy away from this. by any method, the salmon generally do fine and recover quickly. Human health is not considered to be at risk from sea lice — it's more of a fish-health issue. But if a salmon with a louse attached ever made it to market, it could mean bad publicity. Which happened in Oc- tober when a customer at a Sobeys in Truro, Nova Sco- tia, posted a photo on Sobeys' Facebook page of sea lice on a whole Atlantic salmon on display in the store. Te company pulled all whole Atlantic salmon from 84 Rate Protection Expires December 31, 2012 If you would like to benefit from 2012 advertising rates in 2013, you must reserve your ad program by 12/31/2012. Don't miss out! MARJORIE FERRIS USA (West), Asia, South America +1 (207) 842-5631 | mferris@divcom.com SUE KOGAN USA (East), Europe +1 (305) 598-0757 | skogan@divcom.com Visit us online at www.seafoodbusiness.com December 2012 SeaFood Business 29 Atlantic Canada stores. According to compa- spokesperson Cynthia ny Tompson, only 80 whole fish were removed in to- tal. Te incident prompted Sobeys to take a closer look at its quality-control process- es with its seafood wholesal- ers. Tompson reaffirmed the company's support for the farmed salmon industry, saying in late October that it would be "days" before whole fish return to display cases, not weeks. "It's been a lightning rod for a broader discussion about aquaculture that con- tinues and has been strong in parts of Atlantic Canada," says Tompson. "But aqua- culture is the future. We're going to figure it out." Email Senior Editor James Wright at jwright@divcom.com