Medetomidine for use in controlling parasitic crustaceans on fish

Abstract

Medetomidine or a salt thereof for use in controlling parasitic crustaceans, such as sea lice, on fish, e.g. salmon. A method of improving water flow into and out of a cage or net for fish farming, byproviding said cage or net with a surface coating containing medetomidine or a salt thereof in an amount effective to reduce biofouling of said cage or net. The coating is capable of releasing medetomidine or the salt thereof into the water in the cage or net in an amount effective to reduce or prevent parasitic infestation of the fish in the cage or net.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a new application of medetomidine as an antifouling agent for marine environment. Background technique [0002] Fish farming is a form of aquaculture, also known as pisciculture, for the production of food fish in freshwater, seawater or brackish water, usually using enclosures such as ponds, various forms of cages or nets. The most common food fish are carp, salmon, and catfish. [0003] Driven by the ever-increasing demand for fish and fish proteins, aquaculture today represents a large proportion of seafood production (estimated at about 40% in 2005) and is also highly economically affected. There are two types of fish aquaculture, extensive aquaculture (depending on local photosynthetic material production) and intensive aquaculture (depending on external food supply). Offshore farming involves submerged cages or nets with different geometries placed in the sea, the cages containing the fish by metal or plastic frames wit...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, this type of fish handling can also cause stress and damage to the fish and in some cases, loss of production from the fish farm

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