A preliminary assessment of indirect impacts on aquaculture species health and welfare in Scotland during COVID-19 lockdown.

COVID-19 led to sudden changes in human activities, mainly due to restrictive measures required to supress the virus. We assess the preliminary evidence for impacts on animal health and welfare in Scottish aquaculture, a key economic activity in remoter areas of the country. We summarise the industr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary and Animal Science
Main Authors: Alexander G. Murray, Stephen C. Ives, Ronald J. Smith, Meadhbh Moriarty
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021
Subjects:
Pandemic
Aquaculture management
Atlantic salmon
Fish disease management
Veterinary medicine
SF600-1100
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2021.100167
https://doaj.org/article/402701a9ee10449bb9d531ff7aec6064
Description
Summary:COVID-19 led to sudden changes in human activities, mainly due to restrictive measures required to supress the virus. We assess the preliminary evidence for impacts on animal health and welfare in Scottish aquaculture, a key economic activity in remoter areas of the country. We summarise the industry structure, explore pathways of vulnerability to aquatic animal disease within a One Health framework that may be accentuated by impacts of COVID-19, and use basic routine data collection on the key welfare indicators of salmon mortality and parasitic sea lice counts. The indicators were published on schedule and provide no evidence of gross impact on health and welfare, at least for salmon, during the period of intensive lockdown restrictions in Scotland. Longer term effects cannot be ruled out and we do not assess impacts on the economic or social aspects of aquaculture production.

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