The poor potential of cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus, to act as cleaner fish in removing sea lice (Caligus elongatus) from farmed salmon in eastern Canada

Abstract

Cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus, were found not to be good candidates for removal of sea lice, Caligus elongatus, from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during seapen trials conducted in Passamoquoddy Bay, N.B. In laboratory trials conducted in 30-gal (~136 L) glass tanks, using one cunner per infected salmon, a significant reduction in sea lice numbers was evident. In seapen trials using 30 cunner to 2000 Atlantic salmon, no significant reduction in sea lice numbers was evident after 12 weeks. Availability of fouling organisms on the seapen net may account, in part, for the lack of cleaning behaviour in these fish.