Use of a mathematical model to describe the epidemiology of Lepeophtheirus salmonis on farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in the Hardangerfjord, Norway

Results using the SLiDESim (Sea Lice Difference Equation Simulation) infection model and a range of biological and production parameters showed that modelling resulted in a better fit to the mobile lice profiles for autumn stocked farms compared to spring stocked farms. Some features of the mobile lice profiles were not captured by the infection model such as the oscillation of the population between months 11 and 18 of the production cycle on spring stocked farms, and a large peak observed in month 19 on autumn stocked farms. Before modelling can be used to evaluate optimal treatment strategies or other management interventions there remains a need to more clearly understand the underlying biological processes associated with the dynamics of sea lice infestations in the Hardangerfjord.