Our contribution to reduced use of antibiotics in the Norwegian Atlantic salmon production

Antibiotic History in Norway

It was the company's introduction of the first injectable, oil based vaccines in the early 1990's that started the true revolution in the field of fish health management in the Norwegian Atlantic salmon production. The oil based furunculosis vaccine was made multivalent in 1992, securing protection against three types of vibriosis in addition to furunculosis. Oil-based injectable vaccines enabled the disease-plagued industry to move from treatment with regular and wide spread use of antibiotics to prevention and protection through routine vaccination. A fifth component against winter ulcer (Moritella viscosa) was included in 1996, and in 1997 the first six component vaccine to fish was launched including an IPN virus component.

Effective vaccines were probably the most important single factor in creating the possibility for the Norwegian aquaculture to grow from 57.000 tons in 1987 to 1.000.000 tons in 2010. By the introduction of predictable vaccines, the Norwegian aquaculture industry has reduced its use of antibiotics by 99.8 % per ton of trout and salmon produced, compared to the 1987 level.

Since the introduction of the oil based vaccine concept nearly 1.5 billion Norwegian salmonids have been injected with vaccines from us.