Martin Welch, Salmon Farming.

Kelp frames for use as cleaner fish habitats in salmon farming

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In seeking to reduce the use of chemicals in salmon farming the industry has moved towards the use of cleaner fish, both wild caught and farmed wrasse and lumpfish are used in the management of sea lice in salmon farms.

The purpose of the KelpRing is to replicate the natural kelp habitat of the shoreline and transfer it to the salmon pens. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a special relationship between the wrasse and the kelp which has been observed to nurture and calm them. This natural kelp habitat is therefore expected to reduce stress and mortality levels whilst, importantly, still enabling all farming operations to be undertaken.

The KelpRing will also deliver a synergy to the salmon farms- the cleaner fish protect the salmon whilst the kelp protects the cleaner fish as well as absorbing inorganic nutrients whilst enriching the waters with oxygen, thus benefiting the salmon in return.

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WHAT ARE THE FISH WELFARE BENEFITS?

Provides the cleaner fish with their natural habitat where they live in the wild.

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Optimises health and welfare of the fish

Reduces fish stress.
Passive and non-intrusive; not just effective during specific treatment periods but effective 24/7 throughout the whole period of the salmon cycle
Attracts cleaner fish away from net sides and bottom where they are non-productive and can be impacted by net washing and retrieval devices
Encourages the cleaner fish to stay directly in the lice zone
The kelpring replicates the shoreline kelp forests where they naturally live.
Allows the fish to graze on their natural diet of molluscs etc which will grow on the kelp plants and in return will ensure that the kelp keeps healthy.
A symbiotic relationship exists between the kelp plants and the cleaner fish as noted by the way the wrasse rub themselves against the plants
Natural antibiotic properties have been noted within kelp from research in the Faroe Islands, resulting in enhanced lumpfish health when these fish graze on the plants in Faroese salmon farms

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