Dynamic spatial modelling and forecasting of sea lice abundances

I am building an ecological model to describe the abundance of Lepeophtheirus salmonis and forecast their numbers around Scottish salmon farms.

Sea lice populations are managed by fish farms in a variety of manners. To accurately describe the changes in their numbers several factors must be taken into account. These include abiotic factors such as water temperature, biotic factors such as predation and anthropogenic effects such as lice treatments. All these are important when building a model to forecast lice numbers into the future, which will in turn inform management strategies, to reduce the impact of sea lice on farmed and wild salmonids.

Supervisors

Dr Tom Adams, SAMS

Professor Keith Davidson, SAMS

Dr Phil Gillibrand, MOWI

Dr Alexander Murray, Scottish Government

Funders

Co-funded by MASTS/The Data Lab and Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre

University

University of the Highlands and Islands

Start date

Feb 2019