Estimated salmon lice induced mortality of Atlantic Salmon

Estimated salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) induced mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during post-smolt migration in Norway. The dataset contains river-specific annual estimated mortality in the period 2012-2025. The mortality is estimated using a model approach described in detail in Johnsen et al. (2020). In short, the salmon post-smolts migration from river to the open ocean is simulated and coupled to the salmon lice concentration field provided by Sandvik et al. (2020). Based upon observed level of salmon lice infestation on trawled wild post-smolts the model is calibrated to fit the observed levels. The wild fish, captured by trawl, is genetically assigned to their homing river as described in Harvey et al. (2019). Further, by assuming tolerance to salmon lice in accordance to Taranger et al. (2015) the mortality was estimated from the modelled infestation levels. The mortality was also estimated for fish with assumed migration 10 days earlier and later, and for fish with assumed higher and lower tolerance to lice infestation levels. From the model described in Johnsen et al (2020) the model is updated due to development of the hydrodynamic model system. Further information can be found in Lien et al (2022), Albretsen et al (2022) and Skardhamar et al., (2023).