Parasites and diseases remain among the most persistent and costly threats in aquaculture. According to the Global Seafood Alliance, sea lice alone cost the global salmon industry more than $1 billion annually. As resistance to chemical treatments increases and regulators tighten restrictions, fish farmers are under pressure to find more sustainable, future-proof solutions.
Closed-containment systems like Aquafarm Equipment’s Neptune system are leading that transition by offering stronger biosecurity, more stable environmental control, and improved fish health outcomes.
Sea Lice: A Growing Concern
Sea lice remain one of the top operational challenges in salmon farming, both biologically and financially. Traditional mitigation (chemical baths, thermal delousing, and mechanical removal) has become less effective, as highlighted by the Fish Site. This has pushed authorities in countries like Norway and Chile to support technologies that reduce exposure rather than just treat outbreaks.
How Neptune Prevents Infestation
Aquafarm’s Neptune system is engineered to eliminate lice exposure altogether:
- Deep-water intakes access cleaner, cooler water from depths of 25–40 meters below the parasite-heavy surface layer.
- UV treatment and oxygenation maintain high water quality before the water enters the cage.
- Solid fiberglass walls eliminate direct contact with wild fish, cutting off common transmission pathways.
- A sloped bottom and central outflow enable efficient waste capture and removal, reducing pathogen buildup.
These features allow Neptune systems to operate completely lice-free, even in high-risk environments, significantly improving fish welfare and reducing operational costs.
Controlling Broader Disease Risks
Beyond parasites, closed systems are gaining recognition for their ability to reduce bacterial and viral infections. Diseases like AGD, SRS, and Tenacibaculosis often spread through water exchange or contaminated smolt. Aquafarmen mitigates these risks by isolating production units and optimizing internal water quality.
As the Global Seafood Alliance notes, such systems are particularly well-suited to clean smolt strategies and precision health monitoring, critical tools for disease prevention.
Field Results and Industry Adoption
In Norway, Aquafarm’s pilot operations have shown consistent results: low mortality, no lice infestations, and excellent feed conversion.
In Scotland, Mowi is preparing to adopt similar floating containment systems to reduce time at sea and minimize disease exposure. Meanwhile, regions like Chile are exploring semi-closed and closed technologies to address sediment discharge and lice resistance.
Healthier fish mean stronger businesses. In a time of tightening regulations and shifting expectations, the most resilient farms will be those that prioritize prevention rather than just treatment.
Aquafarm’s Neptune system delivers a robust, proven, lice-free solution for the next generation of aquaculture.