DFO Sea Lice Audit Reports for British Columbia Aquaculture

Fisheries and Oceans Canada publishes results of random quarterly sea lice audits at marine finfish aquaculture sites in British Columbia. The data verifies industry-reported lice counts on Atlantic salmon, with DFO staff counting lice on half of the sampled fish. Row and column counts are unspecified.

Use Cases

• Analyze sea lice count trends over time from quarterly audit reports to monitor infestation levels.
• Compare DFO audit results with industry-reported counts to verify reporting accuracy and compliance.
• Assess the effectiveness of sea lice management plans required by licence holders for farmed and wild fish.

Strengths

• Data originates from the authoritative government agency Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• Audit methodology involves DFO biologists and veterinarians conducting independent counts on 50% of sampled fish for quality assurance.
• Data is updated quarterly, with the last update recorded in March 2026.

Limitations

• The dataset's specific size, row count, and column structure are unknown, limiting initial assessment of analytical scope.
• Data coverage is geographically limited to British Columbia marine finfish aquaculture sites.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Random quarterly audits by DFO biologists and veterinarians, with counts performed on 50% of selected fish by DFO staff and 50% by farm staff.

Freshness

Updated quarterly; last updated 2026-03-24.

Geography

British Columbia, Canada (marine finfish aquaculture sites)