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Sea lice are “out of control” at salmon farms on the West Coast of B.C. this year because they have become drug resistant, says a new report by two environmental groups.

The groups, Living Oceans and Raincoast Research, also claim that industry regulators have failed to protect wild juvenile salmon and other fish from the parasites.

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The report, “Lousy Choices,” released Tuesday, says sea lice at fish farms on Clayoquot Sound have evolved a resistance to SLICE, an emamectin benzoate drug, approved for use to eradicate the parasite in Canada. The researchers say some resistance to the drug has also been observed at fish farms in the Broughton area.

This has “grave implications” for both the salmon farming industry and wild salmon, the report says.

This year, sea lice are responsible for “considerable losses” to wild salmon in Clayoquot Sound and at least one salmon farming company, Cermaq, the report said.