Fish can have trouble from lice too. We found a large fish louse on a thicklip grey mullet, which was caught in the NIOZ fish trap in May 2015. The louse was situated on the back of the anal fin, the fin which is on the underside closest to the tail.

Fish in trouble

Fish can have trouble from lice too. We found a large fish louse on a thicklip grey mullet, which was caught in the NIOZ fish trap in May 2015. The louse was situated on the back of the anal fin, the fin which is on the underside closest to the tail. Although this was not the first time that such a louse was found by NIOZ researchers on a North Sea fish, the last time was 40 years ago!

Parasite

This time it concerns a parasitic isopod called Nerocila maculata; a female with a length of 19 mm. She had somewhat buried herself into the fish to feed on blood. Female parasites need blood for the development of their eggs, just like mosquitos. Nerocila maculata attaches itself to any available fish, including healthy fish. The louse does not have much of an impact on the host or hostess, and it will not die from it.