Important parasites of dover sole (Solea solea L.) kept under mariculture conditions

Dover sole (Solea solea L.) were examined for parasites at the White Fish Authority (WFA) fish farm at Hunterston, Ayrshire, Scotland. The most important parasites appeared to be the two blood-feeding ectoparasites Lernaeocera sp., a copepod, and Hemibdella soleae, an ichthyobdellid leech, and the haematoprotozoan Haemogregarina simondi. The anaemia and general malaise of the sole investigated was attributed partly to general stress and the debilitating effects of transfer from the wild into an aquaculture system and partly to the impact of the parasites observed.