Research and analysis

A review of argulus spp. occurring in UK freshwaters

This report consists of a literature review on Argulus spp, a crustacean ectoparasite of fish, in freshwater in the UK.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 1 July 2005

Documents

A review of Argulus spp. occurring in UK freshwaters

Ref: ISBN 1844324656, LIT 2330

PDF, 335 KB, 30 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

At present there is a serious lack of control measures and management strategies against outbreaks of Argulus, particularly in still water fisheries. Improved chemotherapies, which are acceptable environmentally and in terms of human health, may be developed, but prevention through improved management practices is a more favourable option and may well be the most practical option when dealing with a large open water system. However, in order to successfully identify suitable practices a much better understanding of the parasite is necessary. The current study into the population ecology and epidemiology of Argulus in the UK may lead to the identification of risk factors associated with epizootics of Argulus. Although it is probably not practical to totally eradicate or eliminate populations of Argulus in many stillwater fisheries, it may be possible by the removal of risk factors to keep population numbers at a level that will not cause the major problems associated with an outbreak.

Published 1 July 2005