The development of a sustainability assessment indicator and its response to management changes as derived from salmon lice dispersal modelling

Abstract Aquaculture is providing an increasingly larger proportion of the world’s protein for human consumption; however, its environmental impact a bottleneck sustainable expansion. In Norway, government has enacted framework where salmon lice-induced mortality in wild salmonid populations used assessing sustainability production zones. Direct measurements level on salmonids are difficult to acquire, thus comprehensive assessments based set evidence-based proxies. One such proxy infestation pressure from bio-hydrodynamic model, which we develop index that summarize aquaculture terms lice infestation. This areas with elevated loads, and novel approach investigate how could be achieved through scenario testing different management strategies. The analyses identified mismatch between legal levels, but also beneficial effect reducing levels farms. study’s demonstrated models might assess predict necessary reduction larvae farms classify entire Norwegian industry as environmentally sustainable.