An overview of the Critical Appraisal Tool (CAT) process and the peer-review of a protocol for a systematic map to address “What are the effects of Sea Lice from Net-Pen Salmon farms on wild Pacific Salmon in British Columbia?”– Phase 1

Abstract

Sea lice have been linked to effects on wild salmon. However, there remains uncertainty about the contribution of salmon farms to those effects. The current peer review process reviewed a protocol to develop a systematic map that will be used to address the primary question, “What are the effects of sea lice from net-pen salmon farms on wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia?” A systematic map is an approach that systematically and transparently collects and describes the abundance and distribution of research effort (i.e., research papers and grey literature), and identifies groups of information (evidence clusters) and knowledge gaps. An evidence cluster is a group of studies or cases investigating a similar topic within the broader primary question. The overarching process consists of three phases, culminating in a systematic review(s). The development of a systematic map in Phase I involves searching specialist websites and databases using relevant, pre-defined, and specific search terms. The retrieved records are then screened using pre-defined eligibility criteria for inclusion in ongoing analysis. This process ensures transparency, repeatability, and rigour. The systematic map will provide a collated broad summary of the existing scientific information to assess the effects of sea lice belonging to the genera Lepeophtheirus and Caligus on five species of Pacific salmon (Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, and pink). The systematic map will include lice on wild, enhanced, and farmed Pacific and Atlantic salmon globally to ensure that the most relevant studies are available in determining evidence clusters for the systematic review(s). Once the systematic map is assembled, areas where sufficient evidence exists (evidence clusters) to enable systematic review(s) will be identified. As part of the subsequent systematic review(s), the prioritized evidence clusters will be critically appraised to assess the bias and potential ability of each piece of information to address the primary question. For the systematic map, species of salmon and sea lice will initially be considered separately. Ideally, an evidence cluster will be defined as a group of at least twenty-five similar cases but could be as low as three. If few evidence clusters emerge with more than three cases, species will be grouped. At a minimum, cases will be divided by Pacific and Atlantic salmon, and the sea lice genera of Lepeophtheirus and Caligus. This scientific peer review process provided peer review of the systematic map protocol, and set out directions for the next two phases to address the primary question including: 1. Searching for information on farmed and wild Pacific and Atlantic salmon globally. 2. Searching all species of the sea louse genera, Lepeophtheirus and Caligus. 3. Considering the inclusion of studies beyond the languages of English and French. 4. Guidance on what will constitute an evidence cluster in the subsequent systematic review.