canadian aquaculture r&d review 2013

INSIDE: Intensive production of Tilapia and Coho Salmon in a Recirculating Aquaculture System Development of novel RNA-based treatments against ISAV Detecting SNP association with resistance to sea lice in Atlantic Salmon Developing a carrying capacity framework for Baynes Sound, BC Support for the development of a draft sediment monitoring program for freshwater Aquaculture Association of Canada Special Publication 23 cage aquaculture Canadian Aquaculture R&D Review 2013 The Canadian Aquaculture Research and Editors: D. John Martell, Johannie Duhaime, and AAC Special Publication #23 Development Review has been published with G. Jay Parsons ISBN: 978-0-9881415-3-7 support and funding provided by Fisheries and Produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Oceans Canada – Aquaculture Research and Aquaculture Association of Canada Printed by Imprimerie Plantagenet Printing Development Program (ACRDP) and support © 2013 Aquaculture Association of Canada from the Aquaculture Association of Canada Design by Co. & Co. Printed in Canada (AAC). Submitted materials may have been Cited as: DJ Martell, J Duhaime, and GJ Parsons Front Cover: Juvenile Atlantic Salmon, edited for length and writing style. Projects not (eds). Canadian Aquaculture R&D Review 2013. courtesy of Ted Sweeten (DFO) included in this edition should submit material Aquaculture Association of Canada Special Back cover: Oyster raft in Bayne’s Sound, BC, in time for the 2015 edition. Publication 23 (2013) courtesy of DFO (Linda A. Fear) CONTENTS

Finfish: Freshwater 3 Shellfish: mussels 56

Finfish: Salmon 16 Shellfish: oysters 64

Finfish: Marine 20 Shellfish: other 70

Sea lice 25 Miscellaneous 80

Fish Health 31 Organizations 91

Environmental interactions 39 Glossary 96

CIMTAN 48 INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the fifth edition of the biannual Canadian Aquaculture R&D Review. The review is an ongoing compendium of the aquaculture research and development projects that have been underway over the past two years from all across Canada. The review contains over 220 project descriptions detailing an impressive range of topics, disciplines, species and geography. Projects include marine and freshwater species, and range in topic from fish health, production, husbandry technology, nutrition, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, environmental interactions, and more. This is the second issue of the review that has been produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in partnership with the Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC). This partnership is ideal, highly relevant, and mutually beneficial to our roles in the area of knowledge mobilisation at both the AAC and DFO. This collaboration has allowed us to produce this 2013 edition as an AAC Special Publication. Since the beginning of the 21st century, aquaculture has played an increasingly important role in human nutrition, with aquaculture products now heavily involved in the food distribution chain. Development of responsible aquaculture not only presents biological, technological, and environmental challenges, but also requires inter-sectoral approaches where the economy, the legal system and the broad area of social sciences are increasingly called upon to intervene. The AAC wants not only to showcase advances in aquaculture in Canada, but also provides information to its members for an expanded dialogue on present and future challenges for this industry. This publication falls within AAC’s mandate of disseminating knowledge and it should be of interest to a wide audience. Likewise, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a mandate to enable the sustainable development of Canada’s aquatic resources, including aquaculture, and to provide access to information on its scientific activities underway within the department and elsewhere in Canada. Publication of ongoing research in the AAC Bulletin is one important tool towards achieving our shared mandates and to reach out to interested stakeholders and the public. We would like to take the opportunity to recognize and thank several people who contributed significantly to the production of this Review. First, Dr. John Martell (DFO) undertook the overall coordination of this project and was singularly instrumental in seeing this project through to completion from beginning to end. Johannie Duhaime provided key support in reviewing and editing all submissions. Tara Donaghy, Patricia Hunter, and Emily Nelson were also actively involved in various aspects of this project including editorial review as well as design, print, and online coordination. We would also like to thank Gail Ryan, the AAC Executive Director, for overseeing AAC’s part in its publication.

Jay Parsons, PhD Céline Audet, PhD Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector President Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquaculture Association of Canada FINFISH: FRESHWATER Striped Bass seedstock production and grow-out Ovarian fluid influences sperm performance Evaluation of ration reductions on the growth, Effect of a shrimp by-product to replace fishmeal in Lake Trout feed conversion, pigment retention and somatic in diets of Arctic Charr at early stage Development of hatchery and advanced indices of Rainbow Trout Sex-linked markers for Arctic Charr fingerling innovations to compliment North Strategies to prevent off-flavours in fish raised Shore Fish Farms Ltd. advanced indoor Yellow in closed-circuit aquaculture system Sturgeon: Canada’s diversified freshwater Perch recirculating aquaculture system and aquaculture industry Phase 2 Histological observations on vertebral bone grow-out technologies remodelling upon the appearance, recovery and Development of an automatic distribution The effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) on reproduction, deterioration of a vertebral anomaly in cultured system for live feed, microdiets and prophylactic growth development and stress response in Rainbow Trout fed a diet low in phosphorus treatments for sturgeon larvae and early juveniles Rainbow Trout Genetic and ecological impacts of Brook Trout Pre-commercial assessment of the zootechnical Effect of composition of diet and the dynamic stocking: issues affecting the ecological and performance and bioassay of Arctic Charr of digestion and absorption of amino acids economic sustainability of the aquaculture cultured in brackish water on efficiency of utilization of dietary protein industry in Quebec Sub-clinical effects and metabolism of the in Rainbow Trout Study of the Brook Trout in terms of the functional feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol Characterize the response of vertebral bone and physiological genomic bases of performance (DON) in Rainbow Trout tissue with a phosphorus deficiency in cultured characteristics, hybrid vigour and interest for Sperm quality of hatchery-reared Lake Trout Rainbow Trout through transcriptome analysis aquaculture throughout the spawning season Development of strains of Arctic Charr, Brook Construction and evaluation of a new sludge Development of techniques for accelerated Trout and their hybrids capable of effectively and floating materials concentrator by use of growth, maturation and egg development for synthesizing linseed oil into polyunsaturated sedimentation and mechanical recuperation cultured Shortnose Sturgeon fatty acids (omega-3) suitable for fish farming Optimization of commercial feed adapted for the Determination of geosmin and Design and validation of a new generation Manitoba – Canadian Model Aqua-Farm 2-methylisoborneol concentrations in Rainbow of rearing pond that permits rapid recovery Trout by in-vivo sampling using solid phase of fish waste Intensive production of Tilapia and Coho Salmon microextraction in a land-based, indoor, mixed-cell raceway, Nanaimo land-based Steelhead model aquafarm Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) — Corn gluten meal and muscle pigmentation The effect of dietary intake of phosphorus on Phase 1 Tilapia in Rainbow Trout P status and bone metabolism of Rainbow Trout Effects of feed restriction on nutrient partitioning: Strategy for improving the beneficial properties Research to improve the quality of eggs and priorities between body compartments in two of cultured fish for human health: inclusion of a early development of the Yellow Walleye for size-classes of Rainbow Trout new vegetable oil in the diet of trout aquaculture in Quebec Establishment of a pedigreed Rainbow Trout Optimization of omega-3 content and antioxidant Implementation of commercial mode broodstock using recirculating aquaculture capacity of flesh of strains of cultured charr zootechnical measures for maximizing rearing technology and genotyping productivity of Arctic Charr

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 3 FINFISH: FRESHWATER FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Striped Bass seedstock production and grow-out Effect of a shrimp by-product to replace fishmeal in diets of Arctic Charr at early stage The objective was to evaluate the effect of a shrimp process residue meal (SPRM) on performance and health of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) at early stage fed low fishmeal diets. The SPRM was obtained from shrimp by-product sludge in a seafood processing plant. The sludge was dried to produce the SPRM, which contained high concentrations of beneficial nutrients (71% proteins, 14% lipids, omega-3 (30% of lipids), >60 μg/g vitamin E). One practical (control) and three experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of shrimp by-product to replace 25, 50, and 100% of fishmeal. One commercial starter feed for salmonids was also used for comparison. Arctic Charr (0.90 g) were allocated to 30 100–L tanks. Growth and feed efficiency (FE) were higher for the fish fed the control and experimental diets than for those fed the commercial. At the end of the eight-week trial, fish fed 25% and 50% SPRM had significantly higher growth (TGC=0.127, final body weight top left: Nine day post hatch larva showing inflated swimbladder and orange Artemia in gut. Photo: Paul MacIsaac =5.7 g) and FE (1.2) than fish fed 100% SRM (Dalhousie U.). bottom left: Juvenile farm-reared striped bass (Scott Jeffrey and student Yuan Fan). Photo: Jim Duston or commercial feed (P≥0.05). Fish fed the (Dalhousie U.). right: Two kilogram Striped Bass on a balance. Photo: Jim Duston (Dalhousie U.) control diet had higher performance overall The good market potential for farmed Striped date. Ongoing work aims to further improve (TGC=0.130, FE=1.3 and FI=4.0 g/fish). SPRM Bass is evident, but has not been exploited in spawning success, define salinity requirements represents a valuable candidate ingredient in Atlantic Canada due to difficulties spawning and during the late-larvae/early juvenile stage, feeds for carnivorous fish. uncertainty on grow-out methods. We produced and determine optimum stocking densities for broodstock from eggs collected from the wild grow-out. apr. 2012 – june 2012 Funded by: Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and since 2010 have achieved reasonably and Fisheries of New Brunswick co-funded by: Regional predictable and successful tank spawning, and may 2007 – ongoing Development Corporation of New Brunswick; New high percent swim bladder inflation among Funded by: Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation Brunswick Innovation Foundation (2009); NSDFA (2010) larvae. Juveniles are fully euryhaline and have project lead: André Dumas (CZRI) project lead: Jim Duston (Dalhousie U.) no early sexual maturity problems. Several Project team: Claude Pelletier, Gilles David, Project team: Paul MacIsaac, Scott Jeffrey Sylvie Levesque (CZRI) thousand seedstock have been provided to (Dalhousie U.) a local farmer to assess grow-out potential in Contact: [email protected] collaborators: North River Fish Farms Ltd. net-pens in man-made freshwater ponds. Food (Mike Cameron) conversion and health of fish has been good to Contact: [email protected]

Sex-linked markers for Arctic Charr This project integrated hormonal sex 4) produce all-female population of Arctic Charr manipulation into a major breeding program for broodstock of known pedigree and good growth Arctic Charr in Atlantic Canada to produce all- performance. female population. The specific objectives were to: 1) masculinise experimental families coming dec. 2009 – mar. 2013 from F4' generation of Arctic Charr from the Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Merlin Fraser strain; 2) identify microsatellite molecular Fish Farm Ltd. markers useful for identifying genetic sex in project lead: Brian Glebe (DFO) the experimental families of Arctic Charr to Project team: Tillmann Benfey (UNB); Moira Ferguson identify genotypic females in the masculinised (U. Guelph) experimental families for future broodstock; collaborators: Paul Merlin (Merlin Fish Farm Ltd.) Shrimp process residue meal (SPRM). Photo: André Dumas 3) fertilize eggs from normal females using Contact: [email protected] indirect feminization techniques; and

4 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Sturgeon: Canada’s diversified freshwater Development of an aquaculture industry Phase 2 automatic distribution staging, spawning, and harvesting. The project system for live has successfully resulted in the development feed, Microdiets and and implementation of a safe and efficient prophylactic treatments holding and handling method for moving large animals within the Target Marine facilities. The for sturgeon larvae and methods and equipment were implemented early juveniles and evaluated during the sorting of maturing female fish destined for caviar production. The handling equipment will be fundamental for sorting different stages of production fish and handling broodstock into the future. It Sturgeon technician Andrew Obermeyer relocates will also be used for harvesting the caviar fish. a mature White Sturgeon weighing ~100 kg. Photo: Target Marine Hatcheries Ltd. Under the highest environmental performance and traceability, Canada can become a new Twelve years of Target Marine’s investment competitor in the global farmed caviar trade, in and developing White Sturgeon culture has while easing the pressure on endangered wild successfully grown sturgeon from egg to over stocks. 100 kg in size and has resulted in essential expertise required to increase the diversification apr. 2011 – Mar. 2012 View of the Carters Point Sturgeon hatchery. of the Canadian freshwater aquaculture Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Photo: Cornel Ceapa (Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc.) Access Program (AIMAP) industry. The large size and nature of the project lead: Justin Henry (Target Marine Hatcheries Ltd.) One of the major constraints in developing a animals required an investment in developing Project team: Justin Henry, Robert Haines (Target Marine viable sturgeon aquaculture industry in Canada and implementing improved innovative fish Hatcheries Ltd.) is larval rearing and early juvenile production. handling techniques. Collaborators: Joel Van Eenennaam (U. California Davis); Most sturgeons are fed a natural diet, usually The objective of this project was the Faculty and staff members (VIU — Int. Centre for Sturgeon Artemia (brine shrimp), for the first 3 to 4 weeks Studies) implementation of a safe and efficient handling of their life following which they are gradually Contact: [email protected] method for large sturgeon during sorting, weaned on the artificial microdiet. Those www.northerndivine.com technological operations are labour intensive; the diets are very expensive and overfeeding impacts tank hygiene and implicit survival. Pre-commercial assessment of the zootechnical In order to address and solve the problems performance and bioassay of Arctic Charr cultured related to live feeding, prophylactic (salt) in brackish water treatments and weaning on artificial micro diets, Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar purchased and The project objective was to assess the sept. 2011 – apr. 2012 modified an automated microdiet dispenser pre-commercial zootechnical performance and Funded by: NB DAAF Co-fundED by: IRAP; CZRI; (AMD) system from the Department of Fisheries, bioassay a batch of Arctic Charr (Fraser strain) Marc Cormier; the town of Shippagan. Western Australia, with the goal of optimizing grown in brackish water (average salinity of 12.5 project lead: Claude S. Pelletier (CZRI) the feeding and treatment processes, and ppt). The fish had an average initial weight of Project team: Caroline Roussel, André Dumas, increasing sturgeon juvenile production. 60.7 g and were kept at an average temperature Joël Cormier, Gilles David, Claude Landry (CZRI) of 9°C for over seven months. The average final collaborators: Michel Desjardins (MAPAQ) This technology will have important positive impacts that include: improved general weight of the fish was 765.8 ± 215 g at 2028 Contact: [email protected] degree-days. The feed conversion rate was 1.07 productivity; improved tank hygiene and with an average feed ration of 1.33 percent, survival; improved growth and quality of the whereas the overall thermal growth coefficient live sturgeon produced for sale and for our was 0.26. Over the course of the project, the own stocks; reduced labour costs; and reduced mortality rate was at the low level of 1.6 percent. effluent pollution by reducing overfeeding.

In a sample of 83 Arctic Charr with an average apr. 2011 – mar. 2013 weight over 1 kg, no maturity was observed. The Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Arctic Charr condition index was 1.84, whereas Access Program (AIMAP) Co-fundED by: National Research the yield after evisceration was 88.8 percent. Council (NRC-IRAP); Skretting. project lead: Cornel Ceapa (Acadian Sturgeon These results allow us to conclude that the and Caviar Inc.) brackish water used in the project is well suited Arctic Charr grown in brackish water. Project team: Paymon Roustaian (Acadian Sturgeon to the commercial farming of Arctic Charr. Photo: Joel Cormier (CZRI) and Caviar); Nick King (Skretting); Sagiv Kolkovski (Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia) Contact: [email protected] www.acadian-sturgeon.com

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 5 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Sub-clinical effects and metabolism of the feed- Sperm quality of hatchery- borne Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) reared Lake Trout in Rainbow Trout throughout the Contamination of feeds with mycotoxins is an MS will be utilized to determine the pattern of spawning season issue of increasing importance in aquaculture metabolites in these species with particular focus due to the use of plant ingredients. In a previous on the glucuronide conjugate and de-epoxy study, we found that Rainbow Trout are DON (DOM-1), a widely studied metabolite extremely sensitive to low dietary levels of the of DON detoxification produced by ruminal Fusarium mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON). and/or intestinal microbes. Elucidation of the Consequently, this study will seek to determine sub-clinical effects and characterization of the basis of this sensitivity by examining detoxification processes associated with DON the sub-clinical effects and metabolism of exposure are critical for the development of DON in Rainbow Trout. The effects of diets nutritional mitigation strategies, preventative containing low, graded levels of DON from screening programs and suitable in vivo naturally contaminated and purified sources on biomarkers of exposure. pathological changes of various tissues/organs will be examined. Following the development sept. 2010 – sept. 2013 of a robust enzyme assay, the contribution Funded by: Biomin (B.R.A.I.N program) Lake Trout broodstock. Photo: Ian Butts (U. Windsor) of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT), a project lead: Dominique P. Bureau phase II conjugative enzyme, to species-specific Project team: Jamie M. Hooft, Rudolf Krska, Michael Sulyok, E.J. Squires, John Lumsden, Dominique P. Bureau The objective of this study was to investigate sensitivity will be investigated in Rainbow Trout (U. Guelph) variation in sperm quality metrics (motility, and common carp, a highly tolerant omnivorous Contact: [email protected], [email protected] velocity, linearity, longevity, and density) species. Hepatocyte cell cultures and LC-MS/ of hatchery-reared Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush, throughout the spawning season. Seasonal variation in sperm quality was investigated using both a regression and Development of techniques for accelerated growth, repeated-measures approach. Sperm was maturation and egg development for cultured collected from the same 16 individuals over Shortnose Sturgeon four sampling periods, separated by 3-week intervals, spanning the natural spawning Breviro Caviar is the only commercial producer enhance the economics of Shortnose and other season. Regression analyses showed that 7 of Shortnose Sturgeon caviar and meat products sturgeon culture in Canadian environments. to 27% of the variation in sperm traits could in the world. The company operates three be explained by seasonal variation, indicating hatchery and grow-out facilities located in St. apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 that seasonality can have a significant impact Andrews, Pennfield, and Charlo, NB. Several Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Charlo Salmonid on the quality of sperm. Significant positive years of sturgeon production and directed Enhancement Centre linear relationships were found for percent research at the Pennfield and St. Andrews sites project lead: Jonathan Barry (Breviro Caviar Inc.) motility and linearity at 5 s post-activation. has indicated that growth, maturation, and egg Project team: Jonathan Barry, David Cassidy, A. Kinney, Significant negative quadratic relationships development of Shortnose Sturgeon could be W.E. Hogans (Breviro Caviar Inc.); Onassis Sanchez Diaz were found for velocity at 5 s post-activation, enhanced significantly by maintaining the fish (SilkStevens Engineering); Michel Belanger (Charlo Salmonid Enhancement Centre) longevity and density, while a positive continuously in elevated water temperature Contact: [email protected] quadratic relationship was found for linearity and high oxygen/ low nitrogen environments. at 10 s post-activation. Repeated measures Currently, the culture infrastructure at Breviro ANOVAs showed a significant effect of season sites does not allow economical heating of for percent motility and linearity at 5 and 10 s the water to produce optimal temperature post-activation, velocity at 10 s post-activation environments and relies only on conventional and longevity. The present study is important for oxygen infusion equipment. optimizing fertilization protocols for hatchery This project proposes to build a commercial- production and can also be used to understand scale recirculation system in Charlo, NB, to reproductive biology and ecology of wild Lake study and subsequently commercialize this Trout stocks. system. The objective of the AIMAP project is to compare the growth, maturation rate and egg jan. 2010 – june 2011 development of Shortnose Sturgeon held in Funded by: NSERC; Ministry of Research and Innovation two recirculation systems. It is suggested that postdoctoral fellowship grant the high temperature/oxygen environments Project lead: Trevor E. Pitcher (U. Windsor) will allow much more rapid progression of these Project team: Katelynn Johnson, Ian A.E. Butts Breviro technician, Bill Wentworth holds a juvenile (U. Windsor), Chris C. Wilson (Ontario Ministry biological parameters which are essential to Shortnose Sturgeon. Photo: Breviro Caviar Inc. of Natural Resources, Trent U.) Contact: [email protected]

6 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Optimization of commercial feed adapted for the Manitoba – Canadian Model Aqua-Farm The project seeks to adapt and validate a WellWater Aqua Ltd. located in Warren, commercially available feed and optimize its Manitoba, is the site of the ongoing MB – formulation for use in the newly constructed CMAF project, including a comprehensive MB – CMAF, a state of the art recirculating environmental monitoring program onto which aquaculture system. Feed formula adaptation this project proposal is directed. Skretting centres on the addition of an ingredient that acts Canada collaborates to provide support for to stabilize and improve feces consistency thus diet development and Canadian Aquaculture improving solids removal from the system and Systems provides engineering and operational ensure optimal water quality. Although economic logistical support. Université Laval provides analysis of feeding Skretting’s BioTrout diet has technical expertise and support for diet demonstrated significantly reduced feed costs, development and testing. preliminary tests revealed significantly lower stability of feces from trout fed this diet. Given apr. 2011 – mar. 2013 these results, there would be considerable risk Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) feeding this diet to fish in recirculating systems; project lead: Rudy Reimer (Well Water Aqua Ltd.) increased suspended solids would affect growth Project team: Daniel Stechey (Canadian performance and fish health, but also negatively Aquaculture Systems); Grant Vandenberg (IPSFAD); impact biofiltration efficiency. Addition of Cameron Robinson, Jeff Eastman (MAFRI) ingredients that stabilize feces to the BioTrout collaborators: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and diet permits the utilization of a cost effective feed Rural Initiatives (MAFRI); Skretting Canada; Canadian in recirculation systems. Aquaculture Systems; U. Laval Contact: [email protected] Production system at the Manitoba – Canadian Model Aqua-Farm. Photo: Jeff Eastman (MAFRI)

Intensive production of Tilapia and Coho Salmon in a land-based, indoor, mixed-cell raceway, Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) — Phase 1 Tilapia This project aims to convert and utilize a production costs seen by the expert design former mushroom composting building for team. the multi-species production of live market The improved recirculating aquaculture system Tilapia initially and the additional production of mixed-cell technology design combines the Coho Salmon and other species (Arctic Charr) advantages of hydraulic performance of round ultimately. The 70,000 square feet building has tank designs, with the advantages of better 12 large enclosed concrete “tunnels” that are use of floor space and harvesting efficiencies ideally suited for use as the raceway portion of of traditional raceway configurations. The a mixed-cell raceway, recirculating aquaculture proposed design provides efficient water use/ production system. Phase One will establish the reuse, zero environmental discharge off site initial conversion and commercial production (filter solids are managed via tank containment of two tunnels for the production of live market and “Geotube” dewatering), high security Tilapia, for sale into Toronto Asian markets. F1 indoor containment for biosecurity and A unique aspect is the design version of the development of new commercial species with mixed-cell raceway for each tunnel that can minimal ecological risk, and low head pumping be operated (with slight modifications) for and bio-filtration technologies plus efficient either warm or cold water species in separate on-site oxygen generation for minimal energy raceways, despite operating temperature input. requirements. This enables multiple species to be produced with a common design, and apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 further enables switching of species mix Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Sand Plains should market conditions warrant. Further, as Community Development Corp. a result of new engineering developments that project lead: Kathryn Barbon (E&E McLaughlin Ltd.) utilize low head oxygenation and new biofilter Multi-cell raceway stocked with Tilapia. Project team: Kathryn Barbon, Ewart McLaughlin, Photo: Mandy Mielke (DFO) designs, recirculation is provided via a single Chris Hiney (E&E McLaughlin Ltd.); Gary Chapman recirculation circuit. This, along with more (North American Tilapia (NATI) Inc.); John Holder (JLH Consulting) energy efficient oxygen generators, provides improved operating and cost efficiencies, collaborators: North American Tilapia (NATI) Inc. particularly energy use, with some of the lowest Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 7 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Establishment of a pedigreed Rainbow Trout broodstock using recirculating aquaculture technology and genotyping While pedigreed broodstocks in aquaculture Effects of feed restriction on nutrient partitioning: Cross-section of a trout fingerling, posterior to the dorsal fin. Various may already be well established in the United organs are visible, including the white and red muscles (whose fibers were measured), vertebrae, kidney, and intestine. States and other countries, the targeted Photo: Guillaume Salze development of a selected pedigreed Rainbow Effects of feed restriction on nutrient partitioning: Trout broodstock constitutes a significantly innovative initiative for Canadian freshwater priorities between body compartments in two size- aquaculturists. With this project, Lyndon Fish classes of Rainbow Trout Hatcheries Inc. will continue to develop the Regardless of being in the wild or in culture are deposited in the muscle under different first pedigreed Rainbow Trout broodstock conditions, food or feed restriction is quite nutritional regimens, which may impact final in the country, which will ultimately work to common in fish. Causes include seasonal product quality. Fingerlings of Rainbow Trout reduce the vulnerability of Canadian growers variations, dominance behaviour, poor water adapt to feed restriction by recruiting fewer who rely on eggs and fingerlings from selected quality, nutrient deficiencies, diseases, etc. Fish muscle fibers while enlarging existing ones. broodstocks out of the United States. Lyndon’s have remarkably flexible growth, as they actively Restricted juvenile strive to maintain body broodstock is characterized by a wide genetic adapt and prioritize resources to meet their protein content, whereas fingerling attempt to base enabling year-round spawning and has metabolic targets. However, these priorities maintain their protein and lipid contents. Taken been mass selected to improve production traits remain poorly understood and may change together, these results highlight the different for approximately 20 generations with Canadian according to life stage. The goal of this project priorities between life stages, and sheds light grow-out conditions in mind. was to quantify nutrient deposition in four into the orchestration of growth processes of The main goal of this project is to identify groups of organs in two size-classes of trout. different organs. individual broodstock across the entire Lyndon This information is important to understand strain spawning cycle that has a superior better the coordination of nutrients deposition/ aug. 2009 – dec. 2011 growth genotype. This will be achieved using mobilization, hence better predicting growth Funded by: NSERC a combination of molecular genetic pedigree processes and nutrient utilization in a wider project lead: Guillaume P. Salze, Dominique P. Bureau analysis and quantitative genetic evaluation (U. Guelph) set of conditions. We show that restricted methods. The marketable product for the collaborators: Hélène Alami-Durante (INRA, Pôle fish mobilize nutrients from mostly the white d’Hydrobiologie); Shai Barbut, Massimo Marcone industry will be superior growing progeny from muscle, and preserve the red muscle as well (U. Guelph) selected broodstock. Additionally, funding has as the viscera. Moreover, specific proteins Contact: [email protected] been obtained to look at coldwater disease susceptibility. A portion of the families created Ovarian fluid influences sperm performance over the 2012/13 spawning season will also be in Lake Trout evaluated for their resistance to coldwater disease. presence and concentration of ovarian fluid apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 affects sperm traits; and, ii) variation in sperm Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market traits is due to male identity, female identity, Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC – IRAP); Natural Sciences and and/or male × female interactions in Lake Trout. Engineering Research Council (NSERC Strategic); Ministry Sperm from four males were activated in both of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) water and ovarian fluid from four females at two project lead: Lynn Rieck (Lyndon Fish Hatcheries Inc.) concentrations (10 and 15%). Results showed Project team: Lynn Rieck, Clarke Rieck (Lyndon Fish that the presence of ovarian fluid influenced Hatcheries Inc.); Amber Garber (HMSC); Cheryl Quinton, Roy Danzmann, John Lumsden (U. Guelph) sperm traits; however, no significant differences Contact: [email protected] were detected between 10 and 15% ovarian fluid concentrations. Furthermore, sperm traits varied www.lyndonfishhatcheries.com depending on male and female identity, such that some males perform better in the ovarian fluid of all females and that some females have ovarian fluid in which sperm traits are higher for all males. Sperm motility traits were analyzed using the HTM-CEROS sperm analysis system. Photo: Ian Butts jan. 2011 – aug. 2012 Studying interactions between gametes and Funded by: NSERC; U. Windsor; Ministry of Research and Innovation postdoctoral fellowship grant their associated fluids can provide insights into PROJECT LEAD: Ian A.E. Butts (U. Windsor) the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of Project team: Patrick M. Galvano, Katelynn Johnson, mating systems and can improve fertilization Trevor E. Pitcher (U. Windsor); Chris C. Wilson (Ontario protocols for hatchery production. The objectives Ministry of Natural Resources –Trent U.) Aerial view of Lyndon Fish Hatcheries. Photo: National aerial view (Lyndon Fish Hatcheries Inc.) of this study were to determine whether: i) the Contact: [email protected]

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Development of hatchery and advanced fingerling innovations to compliment North Shore Fish Farms Ltd. advanced indoor Yellow Perch recirculating aquaculture system and grow-out technologies North Shore Fish Farms Ltd. (NSFF), located in These innovations generated an immediate southern Ontario, has and continues to advance increase in sustainable production output of land-based indoor recirculating culture methods Yellow Perch at different size classes (fingerling, for sustainable production of Yellow Perch. As a advanced fingerling and market size). result of the AIMAP funding, NSFF has been able Additionally, successful execution of this multi- to proficiently and successfully design, construct, tiered land based rearing system will accomplish troubleshoot and implement two additional reduced operating overheads that can be used isolated recirculating aquaculture systems that as an economically viable operating model for will aid in promoting and supporting early life urban aquaculture across our country. stage development of Yellow Perch. apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 Each independent system/process was Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market designed to control conditions that promote Access Program (AIMAP) growth at specific life stages (fry and advanced project lead: Frank Causarano (North Shore fingerling), in addition to providing opportunity Fish Farms Ltd.) of supplemental cohort group separation within Project team: Frank Causarano, John Causarano, Christine each specific stage of growth cycle to optimize Causarano, Alex Causarano, Nicholas Causarano, Mark Night, Dale Tiessen (North Shore Fish Farms Ltd.) development rates and efficiencies. Yellow Perch ready for market. Photo: Dale Tiessen Contact: [email protected] (North Shore Fish Farms Ltd.)

THE EFFECTS OF BISPHENOL A (BPA) ON REPRODUCTION, GROWTH Effect of composition of DEVELOPMENT AND STRESS RESPONSE IN RAINBOW TROUT diet and the dynamic of Bisphenol A (BPA) has been measured in the of markers that will predict these effects, will be digestion and absorption Grand River, and the muscle of fish inhabiting useful tools for Canadian government managers of amino acids on efficiency this water body. While the accumulation of this monitoring the aquatic environment, and for of utilization of dietary chemical in the fetus leads to multi-generational industry environmental toxicologists. protein in Rainbow Trout effects in mammals, we know very little about This study will provide insight into the mode of long-term effects of BPA exposure in fish. Here action of BPA. Moreover, candidate genes that Fish feed formulation is increasingly relying we are proposing to test the multi-generational are targets for BPA will be identified and will assist on a variety of plant protein sources. These effects associated with BPA accumulation in with the development of molecular markers economical protein sources often have poor fish eggs. The rationale behind this paradigm during early life stages for predicting long-term digestible essential amino acid (EAA) profiles. is that contaminants such as BPA, which effects, including reproductive success. The Closer attention need to be paid to adequately accumulate in tissues, are transferred to the research conducted as part of this study could be meeting the essential amino acid requirements eggs from the mother. This may have huge used to assess the long-term impacts associated of fish. It has been suggested that dynamic of implications in developmental programming with maternal transfer of chemicals commonly digestion of protein and absorption of amino events. Here we are asking the question found in Canadian fresh waters, such as those acids and metabolic interactions between whether BPA accumulation in eggs of Rainbow released from agriculture and urban runoff. The amino acids may have a significant influence on Trout, mimicking maternal transfer, can lead to study will not only establish the phenotypic traits the efficiency of amino acid retention by fish. phenotypes compromised growth and stress that are disrupted by chemical exposure during The focus of the project is on enhancing our responses in the F1 generation. A multi-tiered a critical period of development, but will also understanding of the dynamics of digestion, approach comparing genes in trout phenotype identify mechanisms that will result in long-term absorption and utilization of amino acids as a along with changes in genome and metabolic effects in fish and in their offspring, to better function of dietary amino acid composition. The pathways (termed “OMICs” in this proposal) predict the impact that chemicals and numerous project involves a series of feeding trials and in the F1 generation will be undertaken. Such xenobiotics have on aquatic populations. elaborate sampling protocols to look at amino “OMICs” responses will be compared with other acid digestion, absorption and retention. A model physiological measures, including changes in jan. 2011 – feb. 2013 integrating information derived from the feeding hormone levels and their action, in response Funded by: NSERC Strategic Grant co-funded by: Ontario trials and sampling protocols will be developed to growth and stress, as indicators of altered Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to describe the complex issue of the dynamic fish performance. Collectively, the results will project lead: Richard D. Moccia (U. Guelph) of digestion and absorption and efficiency of allow us to develop novel risk assessment tools Project team: Alma Aquaculture Research Station retention of amino acids in Rainbow Trout. that will increase our capacity for predicting (U. Guelph) population-level damage. The knowledge and collaborators: Matt Vijayan, Oana Birceanu (U. Waterloo) sept. 2010 – apr. 2014 understanding of generational effects induced by Funded by: NSERC Strategic Contact: [email protected] BPA accumulation in eggs, and the development project lead: Dominique P. Bureau (U. Guelph) www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre Project team: Afshin Gholami (U. Guelph) Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 9 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Characterize the response of vertebral bone tissue with a phosphorus deficiency in cultured Rainbow Trout through transcriptome analysis

FIGURE 1: Distribution of individuals sampled (n = 120) at week 4 (end of the short-term FIGURE 2: Distribution of the number of contigs obtained by de novo assembly experiment) according to their status and phosporus diet. Red: P-deficient diet; (Newbler 2.6) along their length (bp). Credit: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) Green: P-sufficient diet. Credit: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval)

In production, phosphorus (P) must be (Figure 2). Analysis of these results will be used internationales de recherche et d’innovation (PSIIRI) co-funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative supplied through feed in sufficient but not in to build the first reference gene catalogue and Research and Development Program (ACRDP); Société excessive quantity to ensure the animal’s health to characterize genes specific to bone tissue. de recherche et de développement en aquaculture and to prevent pollution. The overall objective of Quantifying the expression of these genes continentale (SORDAC); NSERC – Programme de bourse FONCER; U. Laval – Programme de bourse du Bureau this study is to understand P metabolism at the through sequencing (HiSeq2000, Illumina) will International molecular level in bone tissue so that it can be then make it possible to determine which ones project lead: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) better managed. The administration of two diets, are involved in the demineralization process and Project team: Marie-Hélène Deschamps, Claude Robert, one P-sufficient and the other P-deficient, over the development of various types of anomalies. Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) a period of 27 weeks led to differences in the P The use of molecular tools will be useful not collaborators: Dominique Bureau (U. Guelph); Ann status of the fish (Figure 1) and the occurrence only in formulating new diets consistent with Huysseune, Eckhard P. Witten (Universiteit Gent); Arnaud Droit (CHUL, Canada); Jean-Yves Sire (Université Paris 6, of various types of vertebral anomalies. The environmental standards, but also in identifying France); Chantal Cahu, Dominique Mazurais (IFREMER, alignment of some 610,000 sequences obtained individuals with lower phosphorus requirements. France); Kenneth Overturf, Ron Hardy (University of through vertebral sequencing (454, Roche) Idaho); Tom Hansen, Anna Wargelius, P.E. Fjelldal (Havforskningsinstituttet, Norway) yielded the assembly of roughly 22,000 contigs jan. 2011 – dec. 2013 Funded by: Programme de soutien à des initiatives Contact: [email protected]

Development of strains of Arctic Charr, Brook Trout and their hybrids capable of effectively synthesizing linseed oil into polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3) The development of this type of product information, we will be able to identify the represents an undeniable element of economic strains or families with the greatest potential diversification for this agri-food industry. It for maintaining a good long-chain omega-3 would give producers the advantage of lowering profile from a diet based on vegetable oils. The production costs while substituting fish oils proposed project is intended to contribute to with vegetable oils. This would also help reduce the sustainable development of aquaculture in pressure on wild stocks used in the production Canada. of aquaculture feed and thus reflect a vision of sustainable development, and so-called jan. 2012 – dec. 2014 “organic” production. Funded by: NSERC; RAQ project lead: Pierre U. Blier (UQAR) To this end, the variability of the two enzymes Project team: France Dufresne, Bernard-Antonin Dupont responsible for the desaturation of fatty acids Measuring development of Arctic Charr at the rearing Cyr, Véronique Desrosiers, Arianne Savoie (UQAR); Grant facility. Photo: Pierre U. Blier (UQAR) and the synthesis of long-chain omega-3 Vandenberg (U. Laval); Nathalie Le François , Emiko Wong (i.e., delta-6-desaturase, elongase), will be (Biodôme de Montréal); F. Dupuis (Aquaculture Gaspésie The purpose of the research is to produce the Inc.); M. Cantin (Aquaculture des Monts-de-Bellechasse characterized in three groups following a Inc.) tools and information needed to develop strains diet based on animal and vegetable oils. The Contact: [email protected] of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus), Brook Trout correlation between the expression (mRNA) (S. fontinalis) and their hybrids that would be of both types of enzyme and the omega-3 highly capable of synthesizing omega-3 from a concentration will be evaluated. With this diet based on vegetable oil (linseed oil).

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Determination of geosmin Corn gluten meal and Strategy for improving the and 2-methylisoborneol muscle pigmentation in beneficial properties of concentrations in Rainbow Trout cultured fish for human Rainbow Trout by in-vivo The characteristic red or pink colour of health: inclusion of a new sampling using solid phase salmonid fish fillets results from the deposition of vegetable oil in the diet of microextraction carotenoids pigments, mainly astaxanthin, within trout muscle fibers. This quality trait dramatically The presence of off-flavours in farm-raised fish influences costumers’ perception and Over the next few years, 97% of the world represents one of the most significant economic willingness to pay. Therefore, in order to satisfy supply of fish oil (FO) will be used in aquaculture problems encountered in aquaculture related costumers’ pigmentation standards, carotenoids feed. Adding vegetable oil to replace some or all to product quality. The presence of undesirable pigments must be added in formulated diets of the FO in trout feed does not typically affect odours or tastes (predominately geosmin and since salmonids (salmon and trout) cannot growth rate or feed conversion. However, oil 2-methylisoborneol) in fish may cause a major synthesise them de novo. Dietary astaxanthin derived from plant sources does not contain reduction in the consumption of the products, supplementation normally accounts for about polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e., long-chain or make them unsuitable for sale. The main 5-20% of total ingredient cost of feed. omega-3 [n-3 LCPUFA]), whose properties objective of the project is to develop strategies are beneficial to heart health in humans. Corn gluten meal (CGM), a highly digestible to monitor the occurrence of geosmin and MIB Soybean varieties high in stearidonic acid (SDA) by-product of the corn wet milling process with in recirculating aquaculture systems using in vivo were recently produced and could help the high protein (60% crude protein) content, is sampling method. aquaculture industry tackle this problem. Adding widely included in formulated diets for many soybean oil (SO) high in SDA to trout feed would This will improve the organoleptic quality, the different fish species. Anecdotal evidence from increase the n-3 LCPUFA content in fish flesh. image and the economic value of aquaculture aquaculture feed manufacturers suggests Consumption of such fish would result in positive products, which contribute to the development that high CGM dietary incorporation levels indicators for heart health. More specifically, of aquaculture in Canada. This highly-innovative may negatively affect flesh pigmentation in the project objectives are to: 1) document the approach (SPME in vivo sampling) has a clear salmonid fish as a result of its relatively high zootechnical performance of trout fed a diet high potential to generate new knowledge in levels (100-500 ppm) of yellow xanthophyll in SDA-rich SO; 2) quantify the bioconversion of collaboration with Canadian companies and carotenoids (mainly lutein and zeaxanthin). SDA to n-3 LCPUFA in trout fed a diet based on government organizations, with a high potential The main objectives of this project are: 1) to SDA-rich SO; and 3) characterize the impact of to have an industrial impact. assess the effect of natural occurring yellow fish consumption on heart health indicators in carotenoids from CGM on Rainbow Trout muscle apr. 2012 – nov. 2012 hamsters. pigmentation and astaxanthin deposition; and Funded by: NSERC Strategic Grant co-funded by: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 2) to develop cost-effective techniques for apr. 2012 – apr. 2015 reducing yellow pigment content of CGM. project lead: Richard D. Moccia (U. Guelph) Funded by: Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FRQNT); Merinov; Société Project team: Janusz Pawlisyn (U. Waterloo); may 2008 – ongoing de recherche et de développement en aquaculture Grant Vandenberg (Laval U.) continentale (SORDAC); RAQ; PIDDAED Funded by: National Science and Engineering Council collaborators: Alma Aquaculture Research Station (NSERC); Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources project lead: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) (U. Guelph) Project lead: Patricio Saez, Dominique Bureau (U. Guelph) Project team: Yvan Chouinard, Hélène Jacques (U. Laval) Contact: [email protected] Project team: El-Sayed M. Abdel-Aal (U. Guelph) Contact: [email protected] www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

Optimization of omega-3 content and antioxidant capacity of flesh of strains of cultured charr The ultimate goal of the project is to develop quantification of antioxidant enzymes, their jan. 2013 – dec. 2015 strains of Arctic Charr, Brook Trout, and their activity and the omega-3 content of the flesh, Funded by: Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature hybrids with a higher content of polyunsaturated this first genetic parameter might prove to be et les technologies (FQRNT); RAQ fatty acids (omega-3) and high antioxidant a valuable tool for the industry. It will enable project lead: Pierre U. Blier (UQAR) capacity. The project will enable us to determine, quick and simplified identification of strains Project team: France Dufresne, Véronique Desrosiers, first and foremost, whether incorporating an and individuals with the best endogenous Felix Christen (UQAR); Nathalie Le François (Biodôme exogenous antioxidant (astaxanthin) into the antioxidant defense capacities and the highest de Montréal); Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval); Alain Leclerc (Merinov); Aquaculture Gaspésie Inc.; Aquaculture des diet of fish will stimulate their endogenous omega-3 content as part of a strategic selection Monts-de-Bellechasse Inc. antioxidant defenses and, at the same time, plan. The project is a preliminary step in Contact: [email protected] serve as additional protection for the integrity the establishment of strains from Canada’s of membrane fatty acids. Secondly, we will be aquaculture industry recognized as functional able to determine the organoleptic properties food that supports cardiovascular health. This of astaxanthin as well as its effectiveness in would enhance the nutritional status of fish and improving preservation period of fillets. If a could act as a lever for Canada’s aquaculture correlation is discovered between the mRNA industry.

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 11 FINFISH: FRESHWATER

Evaluation of ration reductions on the growth, feed conversion, pigment retention and somatic indices of Rainbow Trout In aquaculture, feeding is crucial to viability day-to-day variations in appetite and these pigmentation, dress-out yield and fillet yield. and success. As a rule, fish farmers rely on feed variations are very difficult to predict. As a result, Feed can account for approximately 40–60% manufacturers to provide well balanced diets many trout farmers rely on feeding to near- of a Rainbow Trout farm’s operating costs for their operations. While the farmer generally satiation with modifications being made to allow depending upon the type and size of the farm has little input into the composition of the for ambient environmental conditions to achieve and the feeding husbandry practices followed. diet, they determine the ration that is offered optimal feeding rates (the rate that results in Given this fact, significant cost savings could the fish to promote good growth and minimal the best growth and feed conversion ratio). be realized if the farmer was able to reduce the waste. Underfeeding results in poor growth Feeding to near-satiation may not be the best daily feeding rate without compromising fish and production, while overfeeding results in strategy utilized, if feed costs and environmental health, growth, size variation, pigmentation wastage and water quality deterioration. The concerns are considered. The use of expensive levels and carcass yield. ration size is normally calculated as a percentage trout diets would suggest greater financial of the biomass present and feeding charts are returns are possible if reduced feeding rates are feb. 2012 – dec. 2012 widely available for Rainbow Trout. However, utilized to maximize the feed conversion rate Funded by: Martin Mills Inc. co-funded by: Ontario it is difficult to predict with any accuracy the even at the expense of growth rates. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs project lead: Richard Moccia (U. Guelph) exact biomass of the fish to be fed. Furthermore, The objectives of this study is to feed Rainbow many physiological factors (size, reproductive Trout varying feeding rates from near-satiation Project team: Mark Wagner (Martin Mills Inc.) condition, social stressors, nutritional to 67% of near-satiation to determine the collaborators: Alma Aquaculture Research Station (U. Guelph) requirements, gastro-intestinal evacuation, etc.) effects of reduced daily ration on growth, Contact: [email protected] and environmental factors (oxygen availability, condition factor, size variation, and feed www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre waste metabolite concentrations, temperature, conversion efficiencies, as well as such photoperiod, water velocity, etc.) result in economically important processing traits as

Strategies to prevent off-flavours in fish raised in closed-circuit aquaculture system Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol have been associated with off-flavour problems in fish and seafood products, generating a strong negative impact for aquaculture industries. Detection of geosmin producers in the fish flesh is normally based on chemical analysis (SPME–GC–MS). However, chemical analysis could not be used to prevent the occurrence of off-flavours. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method on water samples, we were able to detect and quantify geoA sequences that encode a germacradienol synthase involved in geosmin synthesis during Streptomyces development. To compare the influence of diet on off-flavour development in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), Rainbow Trout were fed with two commercial diets (Diet 1: high quality nutrient- dense diet; Diet 2: standard extruded diet known to produce friable feces). We found that the type of diet can influence the performance of Rainbow Trout and the appearance of off-flavour in a RAS. Some parameters such as suspended solids and oct. 2009 – oct. 2012 phosphate concentration were involved in the Funded by: NSERC co-funded by: Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS); Interprovincial process of proliferation of geosmin producers. Partnership for Sustainable Freshwater Aquaculture The presence of gene geoA was confirmed Development (IPSFAD); RAQ; Société de Recherche et de much earlier in RAS containing fish fed with diet Développement en Aquaculture Continentale (SORDAC Inc.); PIDDAED 2 than diet 1 (56 and 140 days, respectively) project lead: Richard Villemur (INRS-Institut and chemical detection of geosmin in trout Armand-Frappier) was observed 28 days after the gene detection. Project team: Yves Comeau (École Polytechnique de TOP: Concentration of geosmin in Rainbow Trout flesh for Montréal); Janusz Pawliszyn, Sanja Risticevic, Ziwei Bai Our results show the advanced capacity of the the 252 days study period, for Diet1 (Solid line) and Diet 2 (U. Waterloo); Grant Vandenberg, Alexandre Pilote, gene-based method for the early-monitoring of (Dotted line). * = significant difference with p < 0.05. Credit: Daniel Proulx, Émilie Proulx (U. Laval); Marc Auffret, Richard Villemur (INRS). Bottom: Trout feces’ appearance off-flavours in fish reared in RAS. Karla Vazquez, Roger Dubuc (INRS-IAF) for Diet 1 (left side) and Diet 2 (right side). Photo: Richard collaborators: Kevin K. Schrader (US Dept Agriculture) Villemur (INRS) Contact: [email protected]

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Histological observations on vertebral bone Genetic and ecological remodelling upon the appearance, recovery and impacts of brook trout deterioration of a vertebral anomaly in cultured stocking: issues affecting Rainbow Trout fed a diet low in phosphorus the ecological and Vertebral anomalies are known to be a serious economic sustainability of may 2012 – may 2014 problem in salmonid culture. In 2011, some Funded by: Ministère du Développement économique, the aquaculture industry experiments conducted on juvenile Rainbow de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation (MDEIE) – Programme in Quebec Trout showed that a prolonged dietary deficiency de soutien aux initiatives internationales de recherche et d’innovation (PSIIRI); DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative The overall objective of this project was to of phosphorus over a period of 27 weeks led Research and Development Program (ACRDP); Société to the occurrence of vertebral anomalies in de recherche et de développement en aquaculture help implement new stocking guidelines put in most individuals (~ 90%). One of the factors continentale (SORDAC); RAQ – Programme de formation place by the Quebec Ministère des Ressources orientée vers la nouveauté, la collaboration et l’expérience naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF), which is complicating this type of study is that the en recherche (FONCER); U. Laval – Programme de bourse appearance of these anomalies is not uniform du Bureau International responsible for managing the stocking of farmed in all individuals (high phenotypic plasticity). project lead: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) Brook Trout raised by private producers in During these experiments, the caudal vertebrae Project team: Noémie Poirier Stewart, Marie-Hélène Quebec. The guidelines are intended to preserve (V31-V47) of trout evolved predominantly in Deschamps, Grant W. Vandenberg (U. Laval); Ann the genetic integrity of native populations while Huysseune, Eckhard P. Witten (Universiteit Gent) four ways: 1) development and maintenance ensuring the harmonious development of the of a normal phenotype (17%); 2) development Contact: [email protected] area as well as the economic and ecological and maintenance of biconcave anomalies sustainability of the aquaculture and tourism (16%); 3) development and recovery (from industries, which depend directly on stocking. biconcave to normal phenotype, 24%); and 4) Given this overall goal, four objectives were development and deterioration (from biconcave targeted. First, we used the latest genomic to compressed phenotype, 16%). The goal of tools to highlight the extent of adaptive genetic our study is to identify the cell types found in differences between farmed trout and wild individuals with extreme phenotypes and to trout. Next, we quantified the level of genetic quantify their respective activities in vertebrae contamination and phenotypic change caused having undergone different morphological by stocking and showed how the level of genetic developments. We will thus have a better changes in wild populations was significantly understanding of the cellular mechanisms related to the scope of past stockings and involved in the response to a phosphorus the habitat quality of the water bodies where Histological view of the inner part of a salmon vertebrae deficiency and their potential roles in vertebral (Salmo salar). Credit: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) stockings had taken place. We also showed bone remodelling leading to the occurrence of that introgression of certain domestic alleles vertebral anomalies. of growth-factor genes was accelerated by natural selection in natural populations. Lastly, we developed a predictive model of economic Study of the Brook Trout in terms of the functional consequences for the aquaculture industry based on the findings and their possible and physiological genomic bases of performance application. characteristics, hybrid vigour and interest for aquaculture jan. 2008 – dec. 2012 Funded by: NSERC – Strategic Subvention Diversifying and improving the performance the heritability of growth and stress response, Project team: Louis Bernatchez, Rémy Lambert, of new species used in aquaculture are priorities and demonstrated that it varied depending on Amandine Marie, Fabien Lamaze (U. Laval); Dany Garant that will enhance our ability to compete. The the strain and the breeding environment. In (U. Sherbrooke) Brook Trout is native to eastern Canada, with addition, we demonstrated the occurrence of collaborators: Aquaculture Forestville; RAQ; FQGZ, SÉPAQ, MRNF Quebec as the world’s largest Brook Trout hybrid vigour in Brook Trout for the first time (up Contact: [email protected] producer. The main objectives of this research to 88% more growth). However, growth varied program were to: 1) clarify the physiological depending on the breeding environment and and genomic characteristics of importance the strains used to make hybrid crosses. for aquaculture production; and 2) document the mechanisms of hybrid vigour and assess jan. 2006 – dec. 2011 its value in Brook Trout production. We Funded by: NSERC; Aquaculture Forestville; RAQ; Société de recherche et de développement en developed more than 300 single-nucleotide aquaculture continentale (SORDAC) polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers located Project leaders: Louis Bernatchez (U. Laval); in the coding regions of the genome to produce Céline Audet (UQAR) the first genetic map for the Brook Trout. This Project team: Louis Bernatchez, Nicolas Derôme, allowed us to identify quantitative trait loci for Christopher Sauvage, Marie Vagner, Bérénice Bougas, Amélie Crespel, Mathieu Caron, Sarah Granier (U. Laval); characteristics relating to reproduction (sperm Céline Audet (ISMER, UQAR); Daniel Cyr (INRS); Dany concentration and egg diameter), as well as Garant (U. Sherbrooke) growth and stress response. We also quantified Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

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Construction and evaluation of a new sludge and Design and validation of a floating materials concentrator by use of sedimentation new generation of rearing and mechanical recuperation suitable for fish farming pond that permits rapid membrane and it is therefore costly to use in recovery of fish waste accumulation tanks to filter all water over a The goal of this project was to construct and long period. This new type of concentrator is evaluate a new generation of rearing pond that innovative in its ability to automatically manage allows for both water recirculation and the rapid floating materials that form on system surfaces, recovery of wastes. To reduce construction thereby providing a better ratio of waste costs and optimize waste recovery, the project concentration. Waste diluted in washwater was carried out in two phases. The aim of the (400 m³/d) at the entry of the concentrator first phase was to model the parameters of the will be recovered in concentrated sludge pond using the computational fluid dynamics (estimation at 9.6 m³/d), which will be directed software Fluent. This made it possible to design into the accumulation tank. The amount of time and modify the parameters to determine the that the sludge spends in the accumulation tank movement of the waste without having to invest Sludge concentrator. Photo: André Drapeau (DFO) will therefore increase from 24 hours to over time and money in the construction of one or 20 days. more pilot units that would require numerous Ferme piscicole des Bobines proposes the changes or improvements. The aim of the apr. 2011 – oct. 2012 construction and evaluation of the effectiveness second phase was construction and validation. of a new type of concentrator to reduce the Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Société de In combination with the simulation results, an volume of washwater diverted to commercial recherche et de développement en aquaculture optimally configured pond was constructed. In fish farmers’ recirculating accumulation tank. continentale (SORDAC) actual use with cultured fish, this work resulted The effectiveness of mechanical treatments project lead: Normand Roy (Ferme Piscicoles in an 8% increase in phosphorus recovery. A des Bobines Inc.) involving the use of drum filters currently being comparative evaluation of costs concluded used is evaluated at approximately 60 to 65%. Project team: Clément Roy (Ferme Piscicoles des Bobines Inc.) that the investment pays for itself in less than 5 These treatments clarify water by continuously collaborator: Dominic Marcotte (MAPAQ) years. Although the modelling was performed removing dumped waste. However, large using a specific rearing unit, the expertise Contact: [email protected] volumes of water are needed to clean the developed for aquaculture could certainly be www.lesbobines.com/pisciculture.htm used in all other Canadian rearing systems.

apr. 2011 – oct. 2012 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Nanaimo land-based Steelhead model aquafarm Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Société de recherche et de développement en aquaculture By innovatively applying proven recirculation use, and a 20% reduction in total pumping head continentale (SORDAC) aquaculture techniques, Taste of BC Aquafarms when compared to existing technology. The project lead: Serge Gilbert (Pisciculture Gilbert) Inc., in collaboration with PR Aqua Ltd. and project is designed to recirculate almost 98% Project team: Serge Gilbert (Pisciculture Gilbert); Vancouver Island University (VIU), will design of system volume, increasing environmental France-Line Dionne (l’École Polytechnique de Montréal); Dominic Marcotte (MAPAQ) and construct a new land-based freshwater performance by improving water conservation collaborators: Musandji Fuamba, Yves Comeau production system, based on the concept of the and reducing discharge volume. Furthermore, (Département des génies civil, géologique et des mines Canadian Model Aqua Farm. This will be the first when combined with the continuous stocking de Polytechnique – Université de Montréal) model farm in British Columbia for stimulating program, the applicant anticipates that it will Contact: [email protected] growth in the freshwater aquaculture industry. effectively double the production capacity of the It will be the first circular tank dual-drain farm. recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) model farm in Canada. Proposed is a novel approach APR 2012 – mar. 2013 to a production Steelhead farm, incorporating Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: IPSFAD; a number of innovations in RAS technology, BC Ministry of Agriculture and innovative operational approaches to a project lead: Steve Atkinson (Taste of BC Aquafarms Inc.) freshwater growout facility. Project team: Janet Atkinson (Taste of BC Aquafarms This farm will be fully operational by the spring Inc.); KC Hosler (PR Aqua Supplies Ltd.); Mark Noyon, Don Tillapaugh (VIU); Daniel Stechey (Veridis Aquatic of 2013, with a targeted 100 tonne annual Technologies); Grant Vandenberg (IPSFAD) production. By incorporating the latest water collaborator: PR Aqua Ltd. recirculation technologies, the applicant Contact: [email protected] anticipates a 15% net reduction of overall energy

Rearing pond with faeces recovery system. Photo: André Drapeau (DFO)

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The effect of dietary intake of phosphorus on P status Research to improve the and bone metabolism of Rainbow Trout quality of eggs and early New bone metabolism markers need to be help establish the mechanisms involved in the development of the Yellow developed to understand the development of metabolism of phosphorus and bone tissue, Walleye for aquaculture skeletal abnormalities resulting from nutritional as well as the best indicators for preventing in Quebec deficiencies in intensive salmonid culture. the occurrence of vertebral anomalies in the The Yellow Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) is Experiments conducted in 2011 showed formulation of new more effective and less a freshwater fish native to North America. In that a diet highly deficient in phosphorus (P) polluting feed. Canada, its range includes the tributaries of the does not necessarily affect growth. However, jan. 2011 – dec. 2013 St. Lawrence River in Quebec. The production of it greatly reduces the P status of fish (blood, Funded by: Ministère du Développement économique, this species is always dependent on the natural scales, carcasses, and vertebrae) as well as the de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation (MDEIE) – Programme environment. Problems associated with egg biomechanical performance of the vertebrae, de soutien aux initiatives internationales de recherche et quality problems as well as embryonic and larval which leads to the occurrence of anomalies in d’innovation (PSIIRI); DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP); Société development of eggs from captive brood fish ~ 50% of 5-week-old individuals and ~ 90% of de recherche et de développement en aquaculture remain a major issue. Experimental trials have 15-week-old individuals. Despite an increase continentale (SORDAC); RAQ; FONCER; U. Laval – Programme de bourse du Bureau International shown that eggs from captive brood fish are of in the production of circulating hormones lower quality than those from wild brood fish. (calcitonin and parathyroid hormone-related project lead: Grant Vandenberg (U. Laval) This problem may be attributable to the brood protein) that stimulate bone mineralization and Project team: Marie-Hélène Deschamps, Nadia Aubin- Horth, Claude Robert (U. Laval); Dominique Bureau fish diet. The project aims to improve Yellow remodelling in the second week of deficiency, (U. Guelph); Ann Huysseune, Eckhard P. Witten Walleye production by developing various the mechanical stresses and low P levels in (Universiteit Gent); Jean-Yves Sire (Université Paris 6); Chantal Cahu, Dominique Mazurais (IFREMER); Kenneth kinds of diets for captive brood fish to identify the blood lead to the development of spaced, Overturf, Ron Hardy (U. Idaho); Tom Hansen, Anna nutritional needs and obtain optimal quality compressed and biconcave vertebrae. Wargelius, P.E. Fjelldal (Havforskningsinstituttet, Norway) eggs and good embryonic development. An Samples will be analyzed shortly for morphology, Contact: [email protected] appropriate sampling system will be developed histology and genomics. Correlations will on an industrial site to study the link between brood fish feed, egg quality, embryonic development and larval survival. Batches of eggs from brood fish on different diets will be Implementation of commercial mode zootechnical separated and monitored until the larvae can measures for maximizing rearing productivity of Arctic feed themselves. The project will develop new Charr stock management techniques that will promote strategies leading to greater diversification of The domestication characteristics of the aquaculture operations. The recommended fish production in Quebec. Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus), especially its measures are aimed at improving reproduction disease resistance, its growth performances at (spawner pairing) and nursery (water velocity) sep. 2011 – dec. 2013 low temperatures, its tolerance to crowding and conditions. The specific objectives are: 1) to Funded by: Société de recherche et de développement its association with a high-end market, make estimate the genetic variability of available en aquaculture continentale (SORDAC); RAQ; it a species with high potential for aquaculture Nauyuk strain in Quebec for possible use in a Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FQRNT) diversification in temperate and northern genetic improvement and a strain development Project leader: Réjean Tremblay (UQAR) climates. The emergence of commercial program; 2) to identify, through assessing the project team: Céline Audet (UQAR); Grant Vandenberg production of this species on a national scale level of relatedness between spawners, optimal (U. Laval); Marco Blanchet (station piscicole Trois — Lacs) has long been stymied by differences in growth pairings/crosses based on the work of Ditlecadet Contact: [email protected] rates and variations in the supply of juveniles of et al. in 2006 and 2009 and likely to result in good quality and in sufficient numbers. A 2001 growth gains; and 3) to apply, during the initial project report makes several recommendations development stages, an experimental velocity to to remedy the situation and promote Canadian significantly improve growth. aquaculture diversification as a result. Among its recommendations is the development june 2010 – mar. 2011 of selective breeding programs focused on Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: improving growth performances and assessing Aquaculture Gaspésie inc. the genetic variability within broodstock project lead: Nathalie Le François (UQAR) populations in major commercial strains. The Project team: France Dufresne, Pierre Blier (UQAR) primary objective of this project is to implement collaborator: Francis Dupuis (Aquaculture Gaspésie innovative zootechnical measures in terms of inc.) the productivity of commercial Arctic Charr Contact: [email protected]

Yellow Walleye captured to be used as brood fish. Photo: Sahar Mejri

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 15

FINFISH: SALMON

’Namgis land-based Atlantic Salmon Effects of inshore and within-cage hypoxia recirculating aquaculture system pilot project on Atlantic Salmon

Reduction of ammonia and solids from Reproductive confinement for the safe Chinook Salmon culture facilities cultivation of genetically improved lines of Atlantic Salmon Genetic tools for development of northern Chinook Salmon in culture Health of juvenile salmon during early seawater residency and migration past salmon farms Development of an innovative biosecure recirculation facility for sustained production Comparison of saltwater rearing with standard of high quality raw material and smolt freshwater methods for salmon

Performance selection and broodstock development program for Atlantic Salmon for use in commercial saltwater aquaculture production on the East Coast of Canada

16 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: SALMON

’Namgis land-based Atlantic Salmon recirculating Reduction of ammonia and aquaculture system pilot project solids from Chinook Salmon culture facilities Metabolic processes in farmed fish, as with all animals, produce wastes. Some of these are nitrogenous, principally ammonia, and they are released into the environment. Increases in nitrogen can occur with a decrease in the efficiency with which feed is utilized by the fish for growth and maintenance. The release of nitrogenous wastes into the environment can ‘Namgis land-based recirculating aquaculture system under construction. Photo: Jackie Hildering (K’udas Limited Partnership) have implications for both the ecosystem and for the fish farming facility from which it is being The ‘Namgis Closed Containment Project Project planning and system design was released. Excess nitrogen release represents a will produce Atlantic Salmon in a land-based, initiated in 2010. AIMAP supported Phase 1 potential economic loss in that it is an indication biosecure, closed containment recirculating during 2011–12 which completed the system that feed is not being fully utilized by the aquaculture system (RAS). The SOS Marine design, finalized performance measurement cultured fish. The excess release can also result Conservation Foundation and Tides Canada are criteria, acquired key innovative component in regulatory consequences for culture facilities. project partners. technologies, and initiated construction. Regulators and industry alike are looking for The goal of the Project is to evaluate the best practices to help reduce the greater levels APR 2011 – mar. 2012 commercial viability of RAS as an alternative to (Grow-out trials will continue through 2014) of these compounds that can be found near raising Atlantic Salmon to table-size in net-pens. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market farm sites. Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Tides Canada’s The first smolts will enter the facility in January Salmon Aquaculture Innovation Fund; Sustainable This project will explore how feed regimes 2013. The first harvest is planned for early 2014. Development Technology Canada; ’Namgis First Nation; designed to stimulate compensatory growth* Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada may be used to reduce nitrogen excretion This project will enable production costs and Coast Sustainability Trust; The Ritchie Foundation; biological and technical assumptions to be BC Hydro (Power Smart) into the environment during Chinook Salmon production. Adequately exploiting confirmed. The data collected will enable the project lead: Garry Ullstrom (K’udas Limited Partnership) compensatory growth using alternating periods optimal design and construction of a full-scale Project team: George Speck, Eric Hobson, Robert (5-module) commercial facility. (Bob) McKenzie, Diane Cornish, Chief Bill Cranmer, Per of feed deprivation and re-feeding has the Heggelund, Catherine Emrick, Andrew Wright, Jackie potential to reduce the excretion of nitrogenous Module One will grow-out three cohorts of Hildering (K’udas Limited Partnership Board); Cathal Dinneen (K’udas Limited Partnership) wastes from the fish in culture facilities into salmon from smolts (100 g) to market-size the environment while increasing better feed collaborators: SOS Marine Conservation Foundation; salmon (5-6 kg) in commercial scale densities Tides Canada; The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater utilization by the cultured fish. (50 kg/m3); producing a total of 470 MT of Institute *Compensatory growth is the increase in growth salmon annually. Grow-out trials for this pilot Contact: [email protected] project will continue through 2014. that occurs when an animal is fed at normal levels www.namgis.bc.ca/CCP/Pages/default.aspx following a period of environmentally-induced slow growth (from feed deprivation, low temperature, Genetic tools for development of northern Chinook exposure to light or photoperiod, etc.). The physiological causes underlying compensatory Salmon in culture growth in salmon are not fully understood. The industry partner, Creative Salmon, We identified eight polymorphic microsatellite maintains a Chinook Salmon strain derived from markers to enable cost-effective kinship analysis oct. 2012 – may 2014 wild Yukon River Chinook Salmon and samples in northern BC and Yukon Chinook Salmon Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: of cryopreserved milt from wild Yukon males strains. Analysis of the Creative Salmon Yukon AgriMarine Industries Ltd. (collected upon strain founding, 1993 – 2004) strain indicated that although individual year project leads: Ian Forster (DFO); Lawrence Albright and ‘domesticated’ males reared since 1995. classes had low diversity, the combined live (AgriMarine Industries Inc.) We surveyed two year classes of live fish and all broodstock (all year classes) and domesticated Contact: [email protected] cryopreserved milt with twelve microsatellite frozen milt inventory was as diverse as other loci used on wild fish. Stock identification domesticated strains. A sufficient genetic analysis indicated a stock composition of base exists for an effective pedigreed selective founder fish for the Creative Salmon Yukon breeding program to improve the Creative strain of 60% Mainstem spawners (closest Salmon Yukon strain. spawning population to collection site at Minto) and 40% river spawners from Yukon tributaries APR. 2010 – mar. 2012 upstream from Minto. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) Individual year classes of domesticated Yukon project lead: Ruth Withler (DFO) fish had reduced genetic diversity but a high Project team: Janine Supernault (DFO); Barb Cannon level of diversity in founder males indicated that (Creative Salmon); Bruce Swift (TriGen Fish the diversity loss occurred during domestication Improvement Ltd.) not as a ‘founder effect.’ Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 17 FINFISH: SALMON

Development of an innovative biosecure recirculation Performance selection and facility for sustained production of high quality raw broodstock development material and smolt program for Atlantic The Newfoundland salmonid aquaculture Salmon for use in apr. 2011 – dec. 2012 sector, including Northern Harvest Sea Farms Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market commercial saltwater NL Ltd., is reliant upon smolt importations. Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Federal aquaculture production on This negatively impacts competitiveness Government (ACOA); NL Government (DFA) of Newfoundland-based farms and poses a project lead: Aaron Craig (Northern Harvest Sea Farms the East Coast of Canada NL Ltd.) biosecurity risk by requiring farms to often take The Atlantic Salmon performance selection delivery of smolt at sub-optimal sizes and times Project team: John Gale (FracFlow Consultants); Don Downer (Centre of Environmental Excellence) and broodstock development program is a of the year due to the constraints imposed by multi-element, science/industry collaboration collaborators: Fracflow Consultants Inc.; Silk Stevens the logistics of long-distance fish transport. Ltd.; Centre of Environmental Excellence (Grenfell whose general objectives are: 1) to examine The project consists of the development of a College, NL) genetic variability of traits chosen by industry land-based recirculation technology-based Contact: [email protected] that will improve commercial viability; 2) to hatchery and broodstock facility with full control www.northernharvestseafarm.com select individuals displaying improvement in of production parameters, temperatures and those traits; and, 3) to establish a pedigreed water chemistry. line of Atlantic Salmon specifically selected for farming within commercial conditions The proposed effluent handling system and the employed by three Atlantic Canadian fish structure of the site will be different from current farming companies (Northern Harvest Sea recirculation systems by having ground water Farms, Gray Aqua Farms, and Admiral Fish used in the recirculation systems returned to Farms). Genetic variation and heritability for ground by first separating the waste products bacterial kidney disease, sea lice, growth, fillet from the discharge. The use of denitrification yield and deformities will be studied. This will systems will reduce volumes of discharge water be completed by: tagging individual fish and requiring treatment, reduce the amount of conducting challenges; tagging individual fish organics needed to be filtered out stored and to create two breeding nuclei that will result in disposed of, and reduce energy requirements the future broodstock for industry partners; and through reduced heating. While denitrification communal rearing of families in commercial systems are in use in aquaculture, they are not sea cages on farms in New Brunswick and used for smolt production and not in North Newfoundland & Labrador for harvest America for this purpose. This approach should Recirculation unit. Photo: Joan Strickland (Northern assessment of growth, fillet yield, and incidence materially reduce the environmental footprint of Harvest Sea Farms NL Ltd.) of deformities (fish will be assigned parentage the facility. by using molecular markers). This program will further increase the potential for traceability by allowing identification of salmon from ‘egg to Effects of inshore and within-cage hypoxia plate’. To date, families have been created for on Atlantic Salmon the first two year classes, salmon progeny have The goal of this project was to determine how oxygen tensions. The non-specific and specific been PIT tagged, the initial sea lice challenge reduced oxygen (natural and culture-induced immune systems were examined simultaneously completed, the BKD challenge is underway, and inshore hypoxia) affects Atlantic Salmon growth establishing how metabolic stress, induced by various data points have been recorded on each and immune system function. hypoxia affected disease resistance and immune fish over time. physiology. The experiment also established The objectives required to achieve this goal oct. 2010 – Oct. 2015 vaccine efficacy while the fish was grown under were: Funded by: ACOA – AIF co-funded by: New Brunswick environmental stress. Experiments controlled Innovation Foundation (NBIF) To grow Atlantic Salmon post-smolts and older for all environmental conditions. project lead: Amber Garber (HMSC) pre-market salmon in the laboratory under Project team: Susan Hodkinson, Bill Robertson (HMSC); reduced oxygen conditions to quantify the effects sep. 2009 – mar. 2012 Aaron Craig (Northern Harvest Sea Farms); Robin of hypoxia on growth and metabolic systems Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research Muzzerall (Gray Aqua Farms); Chris Rayner (Admiral Fish (incl. protein and lipid production and quality) and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Cooke Farms); Brian Glebe (DFO); Jane Tosh (U. Guelph); Ben Aquaculture Inc. Forward, Tony Manning (RPC); Dan MacPhee (Maritime over 90 days, simulating farming conditions Vet Services); Mike Beattie (NBDAAF) project lead: Brian Glebe (DFO) by controlling for all remaining environmental Contact: [email protected] parameters, stock density and stress. Project team: John Martell, Steve Leadbeater, Nellie Gagné (DFO); Katja Anttila, Patricia Schulte (UBC) www.huntsmanmarine.ca To challenge Atlantic Salmon post-smolts and collaborators: Keng Pee Ang (Cooke Aquaculture Inc.) older pre-market salmon to ISAv under reduced

18 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: SALMON

Reproductive confinement for the safe cultivation Health of juvenile salmon of genetically improved lines of Atlantic Salmon during early seawater residency and migration past salmon farms Recently, reports have suggested that poor returns of salmon in BC are caused by infections of juvenile salmon with sea lice and other pathogens acquired from salmon farms. There are few data that allow us to understand how and when sea lice infections develop on juvenile salmonids following entry into sea water. In addition, there have been no systematic studies of the overall health of juvenile salmon during their early seawater residency. Without this information it is impossible to predict what, if any, role salmon farms play as a source of sea lice or other pathogens for infection of juvenile Transgenic vs non-transgenic siblings. Photo: AquaBounty Technologies wild fish. This project builds upon ongoing collaborative programs between DFO, the There is a general need for the reproductive which will facilitate the culture of reproductively aquaculture industry, and the Pacific Salmon confinement of aquaculture populations in sterile Atlantic Salmon with performance Foundation, which are studying several aspects order to prevent gene flow to wild populations, equivalent to, or better than, the fertile diploid of juvenile salmon health in BC. The overall undesirable colonization of new habitats, loss of strains currently used. The results of this goals of these programs are to provide the energy to gonad development, and protection project will have application to the reproductive background data necessary to asses what role, if of intellectual property and proprietary confinement of commercial lines of salmon and any, salmon farms play as a source of pathogens genetics. Reproductive confinement is also rapid-growth AquAdvantage transgenic salmon, for wild juvenile salmon. Within the Strait of a prerequisite for the application of genetic and will also inform approaches to reproductive Georgia and Johnstone Strait, development improvement by transgenesis to aquaculture confinement of finfish in general. of sea lice infections on juvenile Pink Salmon, species. Induction of triploidy (addition of Chum Salmon, and non-salmonid hosts, will one extra set of chromosomes) has been jan. 2009 – ongoing be investigated and characterized, yearly for evaluated as a promising approach to sterility, Funded by: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency-Atlantic Innovation Fund (ACOA – AIF) co-funded by: AquaBounty a period of 3 years starting in 2010. Levels of particularly in salmonids. However, the Technologies; NSERC; Canadian Foundation for sea lice will be monitored from early seawater performance of triploids is generally thought to Innovation (CFI); Research and Development Corporation entry until the time that the fish enter Queen be inferior to that of diploids, their production (RDC); Innovation PEI; Biotalent Canada Charlotte Sound. For Muchalat and Esperanza is labour intensive, and current procedures project leads: Debbie Plouffe, Dawn Runighan (AquaBounty Technologies) Inlets increased sampling effort during sea lice cannot guarantee 100% of triploidy. Thus, Project team: John Buchanan (AquaBounty Technologies) surveys will obtain samples of Chum Salmon improvements are needed to fully realize the suitable for histological and microbiological economic potential of sterility relating to the collaborator: Tillman Benfey (UNB); Brian Glebe (DFO); Santosh Lall, Darrin Reid, Mike Reith, Sean Tibbetts analysis starting in 2011. culture of Atlantic Salmon. The ultimate goal (NRC); Matt Rise (MUN) of this project is to generate technology, using Contact: [email protected] oct. 2010 – may 2014 traditional and genetic selection techniques, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. Comparison of saltwater rearing with standard project lead: Stewart Johnson (DFO) freshwater methods for salmon Project team: Luis Afonso, Sonja Saksida (CAHS) collaborator: Barry Milligan (Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.) This project will evaluate the effect of different analyzed. This information will help inform Contact: [email protected] smolt-to-adult rearing environments on the managers on the advantages and disadvantages physiology and behaviour of adult salmon. of different rearing strategies for inner Bay of Specifically, salmon caught as out-migrating Fundy Atlantic Salmon. smolt in Fundy National Park, and then reared in a traditional freshwater hatchery environment nov. 2009 – mar. 2012 (Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility) to adulthood, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: ACFFA; will be compared with juvenile salmon of the Parks Canada same origin reared for the same duration in project lead: Patrick O’Reilly (DFO) saltwater facilities (marine net pens). Following Project team: Trevor Goff (DFO); Corey Clarke, rearing in these two different environments, Renee Wissink (Parks Canada) a suite of biological characteristics relevant to collaborator: Sybil Smith, Caroline Graham (ACFFA) the survival and breeding success of Atlantic Contact: [email protected] Salmon in the wild will be measured and

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 19 FINFISH: MARINE

Innovations in Atlantic Halibut broodstock Construction and testing of first generation conditioning and holding modular system with environmental controls for LIVE transport of Sablefish Development of diet and feeding regimes for Copper Rockfish larvae The effect of dietary supplementation with zooplankton or fish protein hydrolysate on Optimization of growth performance in Atlantic Cod production traits and physiology intensively cultured Wolf Eels Marine hatchery water conditioning module Sablefish nutrition research: protein and energy needs

Fertilization strategies for Winter Flounder: Effects of sperm density and the duration of gamete receptivity

20 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: MARINE

Innovations in Atlantic Halibut broodstock conditioning Development of diet and and holding feeding regimes for Copper Rockfish larvae Copper Rockfish,Sebastes caurinus, are native to British Columbia and have excellent potential for aquaculture. Previous research (unpublished) has shown that diets with optimal protein:lipid ratios and high DHA content can provide the necessary nutrition to support the culture of Copper Rockfish. In addition, our research has shown that photoperiod manipulation can significantly improve growth performance. There are, however, hatchery production problems that need to be resolved before commercial rockfish aquaculture can be undertaken. In this regard, there is a need to establish reliable protocols for the rearing of larvae from parturition to the juvenile stage. The goal of this research project is to develop a feeding regime for Copper Rockfish larvae that will support good growth performance and survival up to the fry stage.

apr. 2011 – mar. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Totem Sea Farms Inc. Nursery tank system modified for broodstock holding at Scotian Halibut Limited’s Woods Harbour facility. Photo: Carla project lead: Ian Forster (DFO) Dale (DFO) Project team: Shannon Balfry (UBC); Jeff Marlaive (Vancouver Aquarium) collaborators: Gus Angus (Totem Sea Farms Inc.) Scotian Halibut Limited (SHL) proposes to use of the selected broodstock become sexually Contact: [email protected] innovative broodstock management techniques mature. in order to maximize the growth of their sexually The installation of this system will allow SHL to mature fish and therefore shorten the time it take advantage of its breeding program in less takes for them to become effective contributors time than would occur through conventional of gametes for commercial juvenile production. means. It will allow more rapid availability of This will require installation of an improved domesticated halibut stock for aquaculture broodstock conditioning/holding system. This which will increase its competitiveness as well system will provide an environment for the as that of its Canadian clients on the global cultured broodstock that lets them go through marketplace. their reproductive cycles with minimum stress but increases the number of degree days apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 available for growth. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: ACOA – Atlantic SHL intends to build enough tank capacity to Innovation Fund; Nova Scotia Department of Economic hold the stocks selected for integration into and Rural Development the broodstock program which have previously project lead: Brian Blanchard (Scotian Halibut Ltd.) shown signs of reproductive development, Project team: Melissa Rommens, Shelley Leblanc, such as release of gametes or swelling of Philip Nickerson, Peter Corey (Scotian Halibut Ltd.) Cooper Rockfish female ready to spawn. Photo: Ian Forster (DFO) ovaries. This represents the first step towards collaborators: Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries bringing the process of broodstock conditioning and Aquaculture to a commercial level. Additional tanks are Contact: [email protected] anticipated to be needed in future years as more

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 21 FINFISH: MARINE

Optimization of growth performance in intensively Sablefish nutrition cultured wolf eels research: protein and energy needs The goal of this project is to provide information for the development of improved feeds for expansion of viable and sustainable aquaculture production of Sablefish in BC. The study consists of three experiments that will provide information concerning: 1) the impact of dietary lipid level on growth rate of sablefish during the “slow-growth” period of 1-1.5 kg; 2) optimize dietary fish oil and fishmeal utilization for growth of this species, as opposed to the use of plant based oils; and 3) reducing the fishmeal in Sablefish grow out diets. Data collection for trials 1 and 3 are continuing, but the results of trial 2 indicated that the best growth of juvenile fish was achieved using very high lipid (approx. 33%) and fishmeal (43%) levels and low carbohydrate. This information is useful to the feed industry to improve production of a high value native food fish.

apr. 2010 – mar. 2012 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Sable Fish Canada Inc. project lead: Ian Forster (DFO) Project team: Mahmoud Rowshandeli (DFO); Jamie Bridge (Sable Fish Canada Inc.) collaborators: Briony Campbell (Sable Fish Canada Inc.) Contact: [email protected]

top: Wolf Eels in the culture raceway. bottom: Juvenile Wolf Eels. All Photos: Jonathan Wong (Vancouver Aquarium)

The Wolf Eels are potential candidates husbandry protocols has shown that juvenile for commercial sustainable aquaculture. Wolf Eels can be raised at very high densities Recently, it has been demonstrated that (>40 kg/m3) without any adverse effects on Wolf Eel reproduction can be manipulated growth performance or health. Further research with the use of hormone implants, which is required to develop husbandry protocols that will aid tremendously in the development will improve growth and health performance, of broodstock programs and production and determine if an economically viable timelines. Husbandry protocols, however, need aquaculture industry for Wolf Eels is feasible. to be developed to establish optimal rearing conditions for Wolf Eels. In this regard, new apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 research has indicated that feeding regimes and Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Island Sablefish in rearing tank after being fed. Photo: Ian Forster rations can be manipulated to optimize growth Scallops Ltd. (DFO) performance and feed conversion. However, project lead: Steve MacDonald (DFO) while increasing ration can improve growth rate, Project team: Shannon Balfry (UBC); Jeff Marliave feed conversion is not necessarily improved. (Vancouver Aquarium) Additional research studies suggest that a slow collaborators: Rob Saunders (Island Scallops Ltd.) gastric evacuation rate may be a contributing Contact: [email protected] factor. Other research aimed at developing

22 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FINFISH: MARINE

Fertilization strategies for Winter Flounder: Effects of sperm density and the duration of gamete receptivity

left: Winter flounder sperm collection.M IDDLE: Winter Flounder broodstock. right: Winter Flounder embryos. All Photos: Ian Butts (U. Windsor)

Winter Flounder is one of the most commonly 81.3% of the eggs. Duration after spermatozoa jan. 2006 – jan. 2012 used models for studying fish biology in North activation had an effect on the proportion Funded by: NSERC; AquaNet; New Brunswick Innovation America; however, little is known about their of eggs fertilized. At 30 s post-spermatozoa Fund (NBIF); NB Ministry of Research and Innovation reproductive ecology, especially during the activation 98% of the eggs were fertilized. co-funded by: George Guptill (Bayshore Lobster Ltd.) spawning event. The objectives of this research After 60 s, a significant decrease in fertilization project lead: Ian A.E. Butts (U. Windsor) were to determine the optimal number of success was detected. Duration following Project team: Paymon Roustaian (UNB); Matthew Litvak spermatozoa required to fertilize eggs and egg exposure to seawater had an effect on (Mount Allison University) explore how long spermatozoa (30-240 s post- the proportion of eggs fertilized. Between Contact: [email protected] activation) and eggs (30-7680 s post-activation) 30 and 1920 s after exposure to seawater the are receptive to fertilization after exposure to percentage of eggs fertilized ranged from 61 seawater. We conducted experiments using to 90%. A significant decrease to 11% occurred gametes from wild-caught fish and measured at 3840 s after egg exposure. These results will fertilization success by examining eggs at 5-6 have implications for optimizing fertilization days post-fertilization. On average 34,038 protocols for hatchery production and sperm cells per egg were required to fertilize management of sperm banks.

Construction and testing of first generation modular system with environmental controls for LIVE transport of Sablefish Sable Fish Canada will design, construct, and Sablefish transport mortalities averaged 10% in to Asia. Without development of this system, it test an innovative, modular, environmentally 2010 and were sometimes much higher. The live would be very difficult to increase production or controlled transportation system specifically market transport mortalities can be up to 100%. maintain sustainability in the industry. designed for Sablefish and suitable for other Mortalities were all due to lack of control over aquaculture species with minor modifications. key environmental parameters or equipment apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 For Sablefish, this project will address the losses failure during transportation. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) incurred during transportation of both juveniles This project will construct and test an innovative project lead: Bruce Morton (Sable Fish Canada Inc.) from the hatchery to the farm and larger fish for modular environmentally-controlled transport Project team: Briony Campbell, Jamie Bridge, Terry the live fish market in the lower mainland and system specifically designed for Sablefish. Brooks (Sable Fish Canada Inc.); Linda Hiemstra (Mel Mor abroad. The system will reduce transport mortality for Science); Brad Hicks (Taplow Feeds); Eric MacGregor (Versatile Refrigeration); Kan Ogata (Aquamarine Global The biological and environmental requirements juveniles to less than 3% and eliminate transport Seafood Distribution) of Sablefish are much different than those of mortality of larger fish to the live market. In collaborators: BC Sustainable Sablefish Association; Atlantic Salmon. Using systems developed for addition, the transport system will allow for Aquamarine Global Seafood Distribution Atlantic and Pacific Salmon species, juvenile access to new markets and increase of exports Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 23 FINFISH: MARINE

The effect of dietary supplementation with zooplankton or fish protein hydrolysate on Atlantic Cod production traits and physiology It is not known how/why feeding zooplankton with lower survival and the highest incidence vs rotifers/Artemia, or adding protein of deformities (primarily lordosis). Metabolic hydrolysate to larval diets, improves cod growth parameters (resting and maximum metabolic performance. To address this issue, a large rate and metabolic scope), and pre- and multi-disciplinary project titled: “Diet and the post-stress cortisol levels were similar in Early Development of Atlantic Cod” is currently juvenile cod from the RA and RA-Zoo groups. being conducted. This MSc thesis research is a The absence of a treatment effect on juvenile component of the above project and examines physiology is consistent with the lack of a growth the effects of partial diet supplementation with rate advantage in the RA-Zoo group during zooplankton and fish protein hydrolysate on cod this period. The effects of the various diets on production traits (growth, survival, deformities) growth- and appetite-related gene expression and how growth relates to the cod’s physiology are currently being examined. (i.e., metabolism and stress response) and the Our results indicate that: 1) 5 — 10% expression of growth and appetite regulating supplementation with zooplankton can genes. significantly increase the growth rate of cod, Atlantic Cod larvae were fed 3 different diets: but that this accelerated growth is limited to the enriched rotifers/Artemia (RA); RA + fish protein larval period; and 2) not all protein hydrolysate hydrolysate (RA-PH) 3 days per week until formulations have beneficial effects on fish weaning; and RA supplemented with 5 — 10% growth performance. wild caught zooplankton (RA-Zoo) until 30 dph (days post-hatch). sep. 2011 – mar. 2014 Funded by: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA); Cod from the RA-Zoo group were 31% heavier Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland top: Experimental tanks at the Joe Brown Aquatic at 190 dph, and this was primarily due to and Labrador (RDC); Newfoundland Cod Broodstock Research Building. Photo: Tomer Katan (MUN) -1 Company accelerated growth (by approx. 2% day ) bottom: Representative fish from the 3 groups at 60 dph project lead: Tomer Katan (MUN) (from top to bottom: RA-PH, RA and RA-Zoo). Photo: Tomer during the early developmental stages (0 — 60 Katan (MUN) days post-hatch). In contrast, growth in the Project team: Kurt Gamperl, Chris Parrish, Matthew Rise, Gordon Nash (MUN); Danny Boyce (OSC) RA-PH group was similar to the RA group but Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

Marine hatchery water conditioning module Sable Fish Canada Ltd. was awarded in deformities by better controlling the optimal $200,000 in AIMAP funding to help build a culture environment and utilizing energy Marine Hatchery Water Conditioning Module efficient technologies. Sable Fish Canada Ltd. for the purpose of controlling temperature and believe this technology has good potential to salinity of hatchery culture water, recovering become an industry standard for all new marine waste heat generated by a chiller, and recycling fish hatcheries. used incubation water. Slight fluctuations in Beyond Sable Fish Canada Ltd., development of temperature and salinity from optimal conditions the Marine Hatchery Water Conditioning Module are known to cause deformities and mortalities in has created an opportunity to commercialize and juvenile fish. This innovative project constructed market the cutting edge technology globally. and implemented a novel system that delivers precise temperature and salinity conditions APR 2011 – mar. 2012 improving hatchery culture conditions, reducing Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Marine Hatchery Water Conditioning Module (water deformities, and reducing mortalities. Access Program (AIMAP) chiller, monitoring and control panel, alarms, reverse project lead: Bruce Morton (Sable Fish Canada Ltd.) osmosis equipment). Photo: Linda Hiemstra (Sable Fish This innovative equipment delivers water of Canada Ltd.) Project team: Jamie Bridge, Briony Campbell, various salinity levels and temperatures 24 Tom Schultz (Sable Fish Canada Ltd.) hours a day seven days a week with 100% collaborator: Kyuquot Checleseht First Nations reliability. This project designed and tested the Contact: [email protected] novel system which delivered a 50% reduction

24 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013

SEA LICE

Development and assessment of a sea lice Sea lice vaccines for salmonid aquaculture removal system for farmed salmon Potential of using Cunners to control sea lice Can sea lice carry and transmit bacterial and infestation of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland viral pathogens to salmon? Evaluation of the efficiency of non-chemical Monitoring and modelling of sea lice interaction methods to reduce the impact of sea lice with wild and farm salmon in the Broughton associated with salmon aquaculture sites using Archipelago the principles of bio-filtration and trapping

Refinement of the principles of larval sea lice Cumulative impacts, kinetics and tissue capture using a combination of biological filters distribution of anti- sea lice pesticides in non- and physical light traps in a commercial setting target organisms

Utilization of the Cunner, a wrasse, as a means The Broughton Archipelago Management Plan for sea lice removal in commercial salmon farms (BAMP) in British Columbia

Detecting SNP association with resistance to sea Tools to resolve environmental impacts and lice in Atlantic Salmon treatment resistance in sea lice — 2 (TREAT2)

Field testing “green-technology” sea lice traps and documenting on-site dynamics of sea lice early life history

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 25 SEA LICE

Development and assessment of a sea lice removal system for farmed salmon During the sea water production cycle, farmed prototypes were able to remove all stages of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) sometimes sea lice with little to no scale damage to the fish get infected with sea lice — most often and did not result in any change in mortality but Lepeophtheirus salmonis, a naturally occurring were not effective in reducing the sea lice levels parasite in the north Pacific region. A costly significantly below the threshold levels required chemical therapeutant is the most common to eliminate the need for chemical treatment. treatment used. Fish pumps and airlift systems A subsequent prototype marginally achieved for grading and moving farmed fish are used the threshold level of reduction, suggesting routinely in aquaculture. However, modification that further modifications may result in more of these types of systems specifically for effective removal. the removal of sea lice is novel. The primary objective of this pilot project is to: 1) incorporate nov. 2011 – feb. 2012 modifications to existing ‘grading’ systems Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Diversified to produce an effective mechanical sea lice Aquaculture Inc.; Smith Marine Services; Grieg Seafood removal and collection system; and 2) to assess BC Ltd.; Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BC CAHS) the new system in the field under normal project lead: Odd Grydeland (Diversified Aquaculture production conditions. Inc.) Project team: Henrik Kreiberg (DFO); Daryl Smith (Smith In summary, the study showed that mechanical Marine Services); Sonja Saksida (BC CAHS); Barry Milligan removal of sea lice by water jets built into an (Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.) Barnes Bay sea lice removal. Photo: Odd Grydeland industry-standard grading device may be a Contact: [email protected] (Diversified Aquaculture Inc.) valuable tool in managing sea lice. The initial

Can sea lice carry and transmit bacterial and viral pathogens to salmon? The role of ectoparasitic sea lice in significant differences in the response of key disease propagation (as a possible vector) immune associated genes in the skin of three or progression (impacts on the host’s salmon species (Atlantic, Pink, and Chum) when immunology) has not been described. Our infected by sea lice. Sea lice secretions affect research has been conducted in two phases: various components of a fish’s immune system. 1) experimental testing of the vector potential At a genetic level, gene expression (i.e., genes of sea lice — acquisition and transfer of turned “on”) is enhanced among resistant fish bacteria (Aeromonas salmonicida) or infectious (e.g., Pink Salmon); whereas, more susceptible haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) between species (e.g., Atlantic Salmon) show depressed salmon; and 2) examination of the changes immune gene activity (i.e., genes are turned (genetic and cellular) in immune response of “off” or blocked). Similarly, at the cellular level, salmon skin as a result of sea lice feeding. Our the function of key immune cells (macrophages) results demonstrated sea lice can acquire the was impaired among susceptible salmon bacterium, Aeromonas salmonicida or virus (Atlantic and Chum), but not among resistant (IHNV) from a water bath or from feeding species (Pink). As a final note, we are quite on infected salmon. They can then transfer pleased that this project involved considerable that bacterium or virus to uninfected fish. student training; 1 post-doctoral fellow, 3 However, successful transfer only occurred graduate, and 9 undergraduate students. when three conditions were present: very high concentration of pathogen (higher than found may 2009 – aug. 2012 in nature), very low water dilution and young Funded by: NSERC Strategic Grant co-funded by: DFO; Marine Harvest Canada; Centre for Shellfish Research salmon (< 200 g) as hosts. Furthermore, the (VIU) virus and bacteria remain associated with project lead: Duane Barker (VIU) sea lice for limited duration, 24 and 120 h, Project team: Eva Jakob, Laura Braden, Colin Novak, Inoculating a plate with sample material. Photo: Duane respectively. Thus, the probability of sea lice Danielle Lewis (VIU); Simon Jones, Kyle Garver, Barker (VIU) transferring these pathogens among salmon Stewart Johnson (DFO); Diane Morrison, Brad Boyce (Marine Harvest, Canada); Ben Koop (UVic); under natural settings is extremely low. Scott McKinley (UBC) Our immunological research demonstrated Contact: [email protected]

26 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SEA LICE

Monitoring and modelling of sea lice interaction with Refinement of the wild and farm salmon in the Broughton Archipelago principles of larval The interaction of sea lice with farmed distribution, abundances, and tolerances) and sea lice capture using a salmon and wild salmon has been the of the susceptibility and resistance of salmonids combination of biological focus of international concern for at least a to sea lice. This project will develop a predictive filters and physical light decade. Health and growth performance model of the distribution of sea lice originating issues associated with sea lice infestations from fish farms and estimate the number of traps in a commercial continue to be a significant concern for the encounters of out-migrating salmon with sea setting salmon farming industry globally, driving the lice. It will also establish statistically robust implementation of preventative measures in models that capture associations between the areas where there is the threat of infestation. sea lice burden on wild fish and conditions on Since 2003 British Columbia salmon farming BC fish farms. Finally, the project will monitor industry had been monitoring and reporting the presence of sea lice during the 2012 sea lice information to government authorities out-migration of juvenile salmon. as part of a broader program known as the Provincial Sea Lice Management Strategy, and july 2012 – may 2014 more recently, in accordance with licensing Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Marine conditions. In addition to regular monitoring, Harvest Canada, Mainstream Canada Ltd.; Grieg Seafood treatment trigger levels were established BC Ltd. in 2003 which are comparable to other project lead: Peter Chandler (DFO) Zooplankton captured using the light trap (sea lice pre- international jurisdictions. Concurrently with Project team: Mike Foreman (DFO); Crawford Revie adults are circled. Photo: Shawn Robinson (DFO) this management strategy, ten years of intensive (UPEI); Martin Krkošek (U of T) research evaluating the effects of farmed- collaborators: Diane Morrison (Marine Harvest Canada); Barry Milligan (Mainstream Canada Ltd.); Sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, are an derived sea lice on wild salmon have resulted Peter McKenzie (Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.) endemic ectoparasite that can cause direct in a substantial improvement of our knowledge Contact: [email protected] physical damage to fish and incur huge of sea lice biology (genetics, life history, treatment costs for the aquaculture industry. Chemo-therapeutants and animal husbandry practices have traditionally been used to Utilization of the Cunner, a wrasse, as a means for sea keep the parasites under control. However, lice removal in commercial salmon farms the control of sea lice infestations among populations of farmed salmon in Atlantic The control of sea lice infestations among sep. 2011 – oct. 2012 Canada has become increasingly difficult populations of farmed salmon in Atlantic Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market over the past two years with the summer of Canada has become increasingly difficult over Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: New Brunswick 2010 being the worst on record in certain the past years. Farming companies globally find Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries areas of New Brunswick. The industry has an themselves in a position where they have limited (NB DAAF) immediate need for an integrated pest abilities to combat sea lice and are now using project lead: Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.) control/management strategy that relies on emergency bath-type pesticide treatments to Project team: Frank Powell, Peter Groom, Leighanne Hawkins, Randy Griffin, Nell Halse (Kelly Cove Salmon multiple approaches for sea lice control. This control infections. Ltd.); Shawn Robinson (DFO) project will expand on previous ACRDP research One method of sea lice control deserving of a collaborators: Per Gunnar Kvenseth (Villa Organic on the ability of mussels to act as a bio-filter to AS – Norway) thorough investigation is the use of wrasse or remove sea lice from an environment, and will cleaner fish. With this type of approach, wrasse Contact: [email protected] assess the ability of various types of sea lice are placed directly in the sea cages with the traps to collect sea lice for removal from a cage farmed salmon and these fish are predicted to culture environment. Previous lab findings will consume the sea lice off the salmon. If proven be tested in field situations prior to advancing to to be practical, the use of wrasse would be a the commercialization stage. novel sea lice control approach as it would be an environmentally friendly and natural biological may 2011 – mar. 2012 tool. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove The objectives of this project are: to study Salmon Ltd. the behaviour of Cunners, a wrasse, and their project lead: Shawn Robinson (DFO) interactions with salmon and vice versa, and to Project team: Andrea Bartsch (DFO) determine if Cunners will consume feed pellets collaborators: Keng Pee Ang, Frank Powell (Kelly Cove for salmon (feed preference tests) through tank Salmon Ltd.) trials; and to test the effectiveness of Cunners as Contact: [email protected] cleaner fish in commercial sea cages. Transferring Cunners into a cage. Photo: Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.)

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 27 SEA LICE

Detecting SNP association with resistance to sea lice Field testing “green- in Atlantic Salmon technology” sea lice traps and documenting on-site dynamics of sea lice early life history The sea louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, continues to be a global problem for salmon farming operations. Chemo-therapeutants and animal husbandry practices have been used to keep the parasites under control, however, studies have indicated that sea lice are starting to become resistant to therapeutants with continued exposure. There is also concern over the impacts of therapeutants upon the ecosystem in which they are being used. Additionally, operational practices at farm sites could be contributing to the magnification Lab sampling. Photo: S. Leadbeater (DFO) of sea lice infections on the salmon if control measures are not being used throughout Developing breeds of Atlantic Salmon Parents of those fish are genotyped for the all sea lice life stages (e.g., eggs) thereby (Salmo salar) that are more resistant to sea 6000 SNPs. We will analyze the data to detect allowing the parasite to continue to breed more lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) could benefit associations of resistance in offspring to SNP successfully. A more integrated approach to pest the Canadian aquaculture industry. Sea lice genotypes of their parents. management, including the use of alternative (non-chemical) treatments, would be helpful resistance is typically measured on the relatives Preliminary results for sea lice challenges in supplementing chemical treatments and of potential broodstock making it difficult to in 2011 show some SNP associations with preventative husbandry practices. Light-based select for in a traditional breeding program. resistance in fish. This is promising for our study traps are considered an additional In the future, marker-assisted selection could and suggests that in the future, resistance could (non-chemical) treatment method. In this increase the rate of genetic improvement in sea be successfully included in North American particular study, traps were demonstrated lice resistance. Our work involves genotyping Atlantic Salmon breeding programs using in laboratory trials to significantly increase candidate broodstock and their relatives marker-assisted selection. using DNA markers called single nucleotide the removal rate of sea lice larvae from the polymorphisms (SNPs). Our initial objective sept. 2009 – sept. 2013 water column, as larvae (both nauplii and is to detect associations between 6000 SNPs Funded by: NSERC Strategic Project Grant copepodites) responded strongly to light. This project will field test the concept that and resistance to sea lice in the Saint John project lead: Elizabeth Boulding (U. Guelph) physical light-based traps, in conjunction aquacultural strain of Atlantic Salmon. Project team: Christina Rochus, Larry R. Schaeffer, Jane with an understanding of the on-site sea lice We are measuring resistance by challenging Tosh (U. Guelph); Keng P. Ang (Cooke Aquaculture Inc.); Brian Glebe, Steven Leadbeater (DFO) larval dynamics, can play a role in helping to recent smolts with sea lice and then recording Contact: [email protected] control sea lice populations. It will also analyze the number of sea lice found on each fish. www.uoguelph.ca/ib/people/faculty/boulding.shtml and refine the effectiveness of the traps to specifically target sea lice and minimize the capture of non-target species. Sea lice vaccines for salmonid aquaculture Sea lice infestations present a significant aquaculture community. As a result, they are aug. 2012 – may 2014 challenge to aquaculturists, veterinary fully committed to this project and continue to Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove clinicians, and vaccine developers. Recent R&D work toward proving efficacy and obtaining all Salmon Ltd. at Pfizer Animal Health (Pfizer Canada Inc.) has related Canadian regulatory approvals. project lead: Shawn Robinson (DFO) identified a set of vaccine candidates. The goal collaborators: Keng Pee Ang, Frank Powell of this project was to complete the remaining apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.) development, pre-commercial manufacturing, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Contact: [email protected] Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Fisheries & and regulatory work required to license a Oceans Canada (Science Sector); British Columbia vaccine for the control of sea lice infestations of Ministry of Agriculture farmed salmon in Canada. project lead: Jan Burian (Pfizer Canada) Over the past year, the candidate vaccine Project team: Elizabeth Crump, David Asper, Kyle Clarke (Pfizer Canada Inc.) antigens were tested. However, the trial results collaborators: Fundacion de Chile; did not show significant reduction in the St. Andrews Biological Station (DFO) vaccinated groups. Contact: [email protected] Pfizer Inc. understands how important a sea lice www.pfizer.ca/en/home vaccine is to Canada and to the international

28 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SEA LICE

Potential of using Cunners to control sea lice Evaluation of the infestation of Atlantic Salmon in Newfoundland efficiency of non-chemical In most salmon farming countries, prolonged use local Newfoundland populations of Cunners methods to reduce use of chemical therapeutants (e.g., SLICE®) as potential cleaner fish and evaluate feeding the impact of sea lice to control sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) behaviour on sea lice by comparing stocks associated with salmon infestation has led to the emergence of and fish sizes. This project will bring relevant resistance in some local sea lice populations. information on the potential application of aquaculture sites using The use of cleaner fish (e.g., wrasse species) to Cunners to control sea lice in salmon cages in the principles of remove sea lice from Atlantic Salmon in cages Newfoundland. bio-filtration and trapping has been developed and utilized in Europe with some success and has been considered apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 in Canada (NB) (i.e., through the use of the Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Cold wrasse-like Cunner). However, many questions Ocean Salmon Inc. – Cooke Aquaculture Inc. still remain unanswered regarding the success project lead: Dounia Hamoutene, Harry Murray (DFO) of this alternative method of sea lice control in Project team: Danny Boyce (MUN); Danny Ings, this country and in particular in Newfoundland Lynn Lush, Kim Hobbs, Juan Perez-Casanova (DFO) (Cunner stock differences in effectiveness; collaborators: Keng Pee Ang (Cold Ocean Salmon Inc. – species fitness; geographical differences in Cooke Aquaculture Inc.) seasonal effectiveness in active cleaning, Contact: [email protected], among others). It is the goal of this project to [email protected]

Cumulative impacts, kinetics and tissue distribution of anti- sea lice pesticides in non-target organisms This research uses oxidative stress biomarkers and resistance to stress will be assessed in to assess the sublethal and cumulative adult lobster. Bioaccumulation speed and impacts of sea lice treatments (AlphaMax® tissue distribution in shrimp and lobster will [deltamethrin] and Salmosan® [azamethiphos]) be assessed using macroautoradiography and Blue Mussel. Photo: DFO on non-target organisms. Kinetic studies will high-performance liquid chromatography be conducted to assess the bioaccumulation coupled with flow scintillation counting rate and persistence of AlphaMax® in shrimp (HPLC-FSC) at environmentally-realistic doses This project seeks to provide the proof of and lobster tissue. Damage caused by by using in‑house synthesized14C deltamethrin. concept information from laboratory research oxidative stress (lipid and protein oxidation) Macroautoradiography is a nuclear technique that is required to advance to the next stage, will be assessed after exposing shrimp and used to quantitatively determine the which is to evaluate the feasibility of non- lobster to Salmosan® in the laboratory for distribution of a chemical product labelled chemical methods for the control of sea lice long periods of time. The connection between with a radioactive atom such as 14C in thin as part of an overall integrated farm health this biochemical damage, histological lesions cryosections (0.05 mm) of an entire animal. management plan. Specifically, there are two Preliminary work will also be conducted before objectives: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of assessing the bioavailability of deltamethrin the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) in removing sea adsorbed in suspended particulate that settles lice nauplii from the water column (evaluation of at the bottom. the removal efficiency will be performed via gut content analysis of the mussels using recently apr. 2011 – mar. 2013 developed PCR-based techniques); and 2) to Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory test the behavioural responses of sea lice to a Research (PARR) number of established cues on light, colour, project lead: Catherine Couillard (DFO) motion, and chemical attractants in various Project team: Claude Rouleau, Benoît Légaré (DFO) combinations. Once a suitable combination is collaborators: L. Burridge, Andrew Cooper, found, a prototype will be made and tested in Susan Waddy (DFO) comparison to an existing trap from the West Contact: [email protected] Coast. Opossum shrimp (Mysis sp.). Photo: Jean-François St-Pierre (DFO) aug. 2010 – mar. 2011 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.; Admiral Fish Farms Ltd. project lead: Shawn Robinson (DFO) Project team: Ian Bricknell (U. Maine); Andrew Cooper (DFO) collaborators: Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.); Howard Streight (Admiral Fish Farms Ltd.) Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 29 SEA LICE

The Broughton Archipelago Management Plan (BAMP) in British Columbia

left: Beach seining in the Broughton Archipelago. Photo: Stan Proboszcz (Watershed Watch Salmon Society) right: Moresby salmon cage site. Photo: Marine Harvest Canada Ltd.

The Broughton Archipelago Management comparing spatial patterns and temporal trends current research data/results to ensure that the Plan (BAMP), a unique multi-lateral initiative, of sea lice infestation; and developing models models created are calibrated and validated involving the various stakeholders with an to better predict sea lice transmission and using the most extensive sets of available data. interest in the management of sea lice in British assess the efficacy of different farm and sea lice Columbia, was developed to provide a means management strategies. jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 with which to clarify key scientific findings Funded by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); Coastal For each of the spring migration periods from Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR); Marine Harvest and ensure their appropriate application to 2010 to 2012, an extensive field programme Canada; Mainstream Canada; Grieg Seafood aquaculture production in the region. has been carried out under the auspices of Project team: Peter Chandler, Mike Foreman, BAMP objectives include: coordinating the BAMP to determine, among other things, the Simon Jones (DFO); Martin Krkošek (U of T); Peter McKenzie (Mainstream Canada); on-going monitoring of sea lice on juvenile wild relative merits of various sampling strategies in Barry Milligan (Grieg Seafood); Diane Morrison salmon through extensive sampling during assessing levels of sea lice infestation on wild (Marine Harvest Canada); Crawford Revie (UPEI) the spring migration period; facilitating the Pacific salmonids and the most efficient way to collaborators: Keng Pee Ang (Cold Ocean Salmon Inc. – integration of historical sea lice data collected achieve such assessments. In addition, a virtual Cooke Aquaculture Inc.) over the past decade in the Broughton research environment has been created to allow Contact: [email protected] Archipelago by the farming industry, for the sharing of various types of data collected www.bamp.ca government and independent researchers; over the past decade and the integration of

Tools to Resolve Environmental Impacts And Treatment resistance in sea lice — 2 (TREAT2) Throughout the history of salmon culture, the methods of sea lice control would be extremely project lead: Mark Fast (UPEI); Ben Koop (UVic) sea louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) has been beneficial to the health and welfare of cultured Project team: Roy Danzmann (U. Guelph); Crawford Revie, Larry Hammell (UPEI); Brian Glebe (DFO); Ian the greatest external threat to the industry’s salmon, as well as the sustainability of salmonid Thompson (MUN) viability. Costing anywhere from 10 – 20% of aquaculture. The TREAT2 project plans to collaborators: Frank Nilsen (Sea Lice Research Centre, the landed commercial value of the fish and stabilize the external effects of sea lice on salmon Research Council of Norway); Simon Jones, Stewart perhaps more so in the near future (summer/ culture by getting to the heart of parasitic Johnson (DFO); Simon Wadsworth (EWOS Innovation, Norway) fall 2010), this parasite now threatens the resistance to treatment and host immune Contact: [email protected] existence of salmon culture in the Atlantic. Over mechanisms, by: 1) identifying key genes and the past few years sea lice populations in Chile, genomic regions important for development of northern Europe, and now New Brunswick, chemical resistance using a SNP chip and genetic Canada, have begun to exhibit resistance to the map; 2) Carrying out current and new product in-feed treatment SLICE™-Schering-Plough. testing and identifying expression patterns Since it was introduced in 2000, SLICE™ was of genes involved in biological processes and so highly effective that it quickly became the pathways in host/parasite interactions; and 3) only available treatment used against sea lice in identifying host susceptibility/resistance and Canada. However, treatment failures were first therapeutic responsiveness traits and methods observed in 2008 and now SLICE™ resistance for enhancement. has completely removed the effective use of the dec. 2012 – dec. 2015 drug in NB. With few treatments for licensing Researcher Mark Fast holding an Atlantic Salmon used in on the horizon, the identification of alternative Funded by: ACOA – AIF; Novartis Animal Health co-funded one of his research projects. Photo: Mark Fast (UPEI) by: AVC – UPEI; Innovation PEI

30 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013

FISH HEALTH

Continued market access for Alberta Validation of dietary medication and sterilised Detection and pathogenesis of Spring Viremia of commercial aquaculture producers through the seawater to reduce the severity of Kudoa Carp Virus (SVCV) in Ontario baitfish development of fish health management plans thyrsites in farmed Atlantic Salmon Evaluation of membrane filtration and UV Identification and quantification of Kudoa Field validation of dietary medication to reduce disinfection for the control of Flavobacterium thyrsites-specific DNA in seawater the severity of Kudoa thyrsites in farmed Atlantic psychrophilum in recirculation aquaculture Salmon systems Identification and treatment of gyrodactylid infections in cultured Wolf Eels Epitheliocystis in salmonids Innate immunity of teleosts; pattern-recognition receptors and acute phase response Implementation of real time PCR for fish Improved management strategies for Bacterial pathogen screening at the BC Centre for Aquatic Cold Water Disease Antigen presentation in teleost fish Health Sciences Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) and Early detection of “Soft flesh” in Atlantic Salmon Genomic characterization of jaundice- Great Lakes fish associated mortality events in cultured Chinook DNA vaccine models against ISAV Salmon Low pathogenic Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV) in vivo: a comparative genomic study Development of novel RNA-based treatments Health assessment of juvenile Fraser River against ISAV Sockeye Salmon in the Strait of Georgia and Deoxynivalenol and disease susceptibility to adjacent waters Cold Water disease and immunity in Rainbow Trout Refinement of an Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus dispersion model for the Discovery Islands area and an extension to west coast of Vancouver Island

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 31 FISH HEALTH

Continued market access for Alberta commercial Identification and Aquaculture producers through the development quantification of Kudoa of fish health management plans thyrsites-specific DNA in Alberta commercial fish culturistsheld (ASRD), and Canada Food Inspection Agency seawater discussions with their Provincial government (CFIA), maintaining close liaison throughout the The parasite Kudoa thyrsites can cause regulators in late 2010, on the topic of process. soft-flesh syndrome that affects the flesh compulsory requirements for Fish Health 3) Assist each fish culturist with fine-tuning of quality in post-harvest Atlantic Salmon farmed Management Plans (FHM Plan). their individual plan. in British Columbia. Although fish infected The goal of this project has been to Alberta’s commercial fish culturists now have with the parasite show no clinical signs of cooperatively assist commercial fish culturists a completed Fish Health Management Plan for disease, muscle in the processed fillet rapidly in Alberta to complete an accredited Fish Health each of its members, and a Template available deteriorates, resulting in economic losses to Management Plan, following the developed for new entrants. The updated template will the industry. Knowledge is limited on the life template, as well as a document of “Required be accessible to aquaculture producers across cycle of K. thyrsites and there are no vaccines or Elements” (to help explain each section of the Canada, in particular, the Prairie Provinces, who approved treatments for the parasite; however, FHM Plan) and a background document on may wish to use it for their facility operations. researchers are exploring candidate treatments. related aspects of certification and marketing. Most species of Kudoa have only been identified The objectives of the project were to: MAY 2011 – MAR. 2012 from within the specific cells or tissues of their Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market fish hosts. All other aspects of their life cycle, 1) Set up a new Alberta Fish Health Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Alberta including how the parasite enters and migrates Agriculture and Rural Development Management Plan by modifying the existing within the fish and the alternate host species are Province of British Columbia’s Fish Health project lead: Mark McNaughton (Alberta Aquaculture Association) unknown; however, it is hypothesized that the Management Plan template. infective stages occur in seawater Project team: Mark McNaughton (Alberta Aquaculture 2) Coordinate the development of Alberta’s Association); Eric Hutchings (Lethbridge Consulting The proposed research will develop a test for the Company) Fish Health Management Plan with Alberta detection of the waterborne fish-infective stage Contact: [email protected] Aquaculture Association (AAA), Alberta of K. thyrsites. The method will be validated and Agriculture and Rural Development, (AARD), www.affa.ab.ca used to screen water samples from commercial Alberta Sustainable Resource Development production sites historically known to be at risk for K. thyrsites infection. These samples will be taken at various depths and times. This will Identification and treatment of gyrodactylid infections help assess the seasons and water depths when in cultured Wolf Eels changes occur in the abundance of the infective stage, in the marine environment. Wolf Eels (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) are be used to develop treatment protocols. The considered an appropriate new species for second phase will be to conduct controlled OCT. 2012 – FEB. 2013 development in the Canadian aquaculture studies to investigate the effectiveness Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and industry. Recent research has looked at the of different treatments (e.g., freshwater, Development Program (ACRDP); Marine Harvest Canada; BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (CAHS) potential to move this culture species from hydrogen peroxide, formalin) and treatment Project lead: Simon Jones (DFO) experimental to commercial production. protocols (dose, duration, frequency) in Project team: Wyth Marshall, Ahmed Siah (BC CAHS); During their studies, researchers identified the reducing and eliminating infections. Additional Diane Morrison (Marine Harvest Canada) Gyrodactylus spp. as a commonly occurring information will also be collected on various Contact: [email protected] parasite that is responsible for recurring aspects of Gyrodactylus infections in Wolf Eels www.affa.ab.ca outbreaks in captive reared Wolf Eels and which including the behavioural, physiological, and impedes production. Wolf Eels are cultured immunological responses of the Wolf Eels to in high density to prevent innate aggressive infections and parasite site preferences (i.e., behaviour. They also have a high reproduction gill vs skin). rate. These two factors are thought to contribute This research is needed to assess risk, develop to the fast spread of the parasite amongst treatment protocols and to provide new cultured fish. The objective of this project is to information that will be essential for a successful investigate Gyrodactylus outbreaks occurring Wolf Eel aquaculture industry. in captive reared Wolf Eels, identify the species responsible and develop an efficacious OCT. 2012 – MAR. 2013 treatment protocol. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP); Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd. The first phase of research will involve the project lead: Simon Jones (DFO) identification of the species of Gyrodactylus Plasmodia of Kudoa thrysites within the muscle. Project team: Shannon Balfry, Denis Thoney (Vancouver responsible for the disease outbreaks. This Aquarium) Photo: BC CAHS will include the collection of information on Contact: [email protected] parasite reproduction and life cycle which will

32 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FISH HEALTH

Low pathogenic Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISAv) Health assessment of in vivo: a comparative genomic study juvenile Fraser River Sockeye Salmon in the Strait of Georgia and adjacent waters It is generally accepted that pathogen transfers occur between wild and farmed salmonids, and that these transfers occur in both directions. What is not understood, however, is the magnitude of these transfers and the risk that they pose to both wild and farmed salmonids. For the last 3 years (2010 – 2012) we have monitored the health of juvenile Sockeye Salmon during their migration down the Fraser River and through the Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait. We have used Drawing blood for ISAV analysis. Photo: Nellie Gagné (DFO) traditional diagnostic methods and validated Since the initial identificationof ISAV in evolve. This study will contain an in-depth molecular diagnostic techniques to screen Norway in 1984, and in the Bay of Fundy in assessment of the etiology of ISAV to gain sockeye for a variety of pests, including sea lice 1996, viral evolution and selective pressure, further understanding of the variable virulence (Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi), combined with improved detection have and infection dynamics observed in vivo in and viruses and have used histology to look revealed an interesting and challenging salmon. for signs of disease. Sea lice are also being Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAV) portrait: counted on other species of juvenile salmon the presence of essentially avirulent strains such MAR. 2011 – MAR. 2015 and non-salmonids. In addition to improving as the HPR0 variant, as well as highly virulent Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and our understanding of pathogens and diseases Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove of Sockeye Salmon, our surveys are providing strains, such as HPR4 variants. Additionally, Salmon Ltd. important information on the distribution, there are many other strains identified which project lead: Nellie Gagné (DFO) have varying degrees of virulence. The ISAV routes of migration and stock makeup of Project team: Mark Laflamme, Francis Leblanc, remains a looming threat to the salmon Brian Glebe, Mélanie Roy, Steve Leadbeater (DFO); juvenile salmon in the Strait of Georgia and aquaculture industry, and ISAV continues to Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.) Johnstone Strait. Taken together all of these Contact: [email protected] data along with data from the salmon farming industry will help in the assessment of risks associated with the transfer of pathogens Implementation of real time PCR for fish pathogen between wild and farmed salmon. screening at the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences may 2010 – july 2012 This project aims at implementing a qPCR evaluate the Elongation Factor alpha 1 mRNA Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory screening test for fish health diagnostics at as a suitable indicator of Atlantic Salmon tissue Research (PARR) co-funded by: BC Pacific Salmon Forum; Pacific Salmon Commission Southern Fund (Apr. – July the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BC quality control. 2012) CAHS). Although cell culture remains the “Gold Further assays are currently under development project lead: Stewart Johnson (DFO) Standard” screening technique for fish health, in order to screen for Aeromonas salmonicida Project team: Kyle Garver, Simon Jones, Chrys Neville, real-time qPCR allows a high-throughput, and Yersinia ruckeri. Furthermore, BC CAHS is Marc Trudel (DFO) sensitive and rapid turn-around time screening. starting the process of ISO 17025 accreditation Contact: [email protected] Due to its close location to the fish farms, for fish health diagnostics. strong collaboration with fish farm industry and its involvement in research projects on sept. 2011 – sept. 2013 wild fish surveillance programs, BC CAHS in Funded by: Mainstream Canada; Western Diversification (ISO 17025 Accreditation) collaboration with Mainstream Canada has project lead: Ahmed Siah (BC CAHS) implemented a qPCR screening assay for Project team: Henrik Duesund, Kathleen Frisch, fish health surveillance. BC CAHS is currently Peter McKenzie (Mainstream Canada); Kathryn Temple, performing a qPCR screening for IHNV, VHSV, Sonja Saksida (BC CAHS) ISAV and Renibacterium salmoninarum. In Contact: [email protected] addition, experiments have been performed to

Juvenile Sockeye Salmon. Photo: Ted Sweeten (DFO)

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Refinement of an Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis virus Validation of dietary dispersion model for the Discovery Islands area and an medication and sterilised extension to west coast of Vancouver Island seawater to reduce the Since the introduction of Atlantic Salmon to the between areas; however, the extent to which severity of Kudoa thyrsites BC coast in the mid 1980’s there have been two waterborne transmission contributes to virus in farmed Atlantic Salmon serious outbreaks of Infectious Hematopoietic dispersal during an outbreak is unclear. As Farmed Atlantic Salmon are at risk of infection Necrosis virus (IHNV) in farmed Atlantic Salmon: research conducted under ACRDP # P-09-03- with Kudoa thyrsites throughout British 1992 – 1996 and 2001 – 2003. In the latter 006 provided a baseline for the establishment of Columbia, leading to an elevated risk of reduced outbreak, thirty-six farm sites representing the first viral dispersion model, this study seeks fillet quality. The cost to the BC farmed Atlantic both east and west coast regions of Vancouver to further these studies as described herein Salmon industry was over $15 million in 2010, Island were diagnosed with IHNV. The estimated to refine the biological measurements of the adding to the difficulty for the BC industry economic loss resulting from both epizootics established viral dispersion model. to remain competitive in the global salmon was $40 million in inventory representing market. Early screening of farmed stock is $200 million in lost sales. A central question june 2011 – mar. 2013 now often used for Kudoa detection. Neither regarding outbreaks in farmed Atlantic Salmon Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Grieg vaccines nor medicines are currently available is the role of natural waterborne transmission Seafoods BC Ltd., Mainstream Canada, Marine Harvest for the prevention or treatment of the infection. in the spread of virus between farms. Studies Canada Inc. An earlier ACRDP project demonstrated the investigating spatial and temporal patterns project lead: Kyle Garver (DFO) efficacy of dietary Nicarbazin, a compound of the IHNV outbreaks suggest that farming Project team: Mike Foreman, Dario Stucchi, Ming Guo, used to prevent coccidiosis in poultry, against practices themselves contributed significantly Darren Tuele, Peter Chandler (DFO) K. thyrsites in Atlantic Salmon. The present to the spread of disease both within and Contact: [email protected] study will use laboratory-reared Atlantic Salmon to compare the efficacy of Nicarbazin and ultraviolet irradiation of seawater against K. thyrsites, and to obtain data relating to the longevity of Nicarbazin in Atlantic Salmon tissues following cessation of treatment.

apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Marine Harvest Canada; Mainstream Canada Ltd.; Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. project lead: Simon Jones (DFO) collaborators: Sharon DeDominicis (Marine Harvest Canada); Barry Milligan (Mainstream Canada Ltd.); Peter McKenzie (Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.) left: Weather monitoring station. right: Map of ocean currents around Discovery Islands, BC. Contact: [email protected] All Photos: Mike Foreman (DFO)

Genomic characterization of jaundice-associated mortality events in cultured Chinook Salmon This project was undertaken to determine cycle. The types of immune processes elicited viral etiology, however, more research will be whether a jaundice syndrome associated were highly consistent with a viral etiology required to determine if the piscine reovirus with low-level mortality in Chinook Salmon (response to virus, response to exogenous is causative of, associated with, or merely a farmed in Tofino Inlet was more likely caused dsRNA, Stat signaling, type-I interferon bystander to the jaundice syndrome. by a viral infection or an environmental response, viral replication); conversely, there toxin. Our project combined genomics, was no signal that could be construed as apr. 2011 – apr. 2012 histopathology, epidemiology, and standard toxicant-response. Based on a PCR survey of Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Creative veterinary diagnostic techniques to determine infectious agents, fish with jaundice syndrome Salmon which of these etiologies was more likely commonly had greater loads of piscine reovirus project lead: Kristi Miller (DFO) involved. Prevalence of jaundice syndrome than did healthy fish. This virus is purported to Project team: Karia Kaukinen, Brad Davis (DFO); was consistently greater at farm A than B cause heart and skeletal muscle inflammation Sonja Saksida (CAHS) over multiple years. The most significant (HSMI) in Atlantic Salmon in Europe, but the collaborators: Gary Marty (BC Ministry of Agriculture) lesions included tissue necrosis and fibrin lesions associated with HSMI are very different Contact: [email protected] deposition, primarily in kidney and liver. from lesions in Chinook Salmon with jaundice Genomic signatures comprised of thousands of syndrome. Tissue tropism is not uncommon differentially regulated genes occurred in both with reovirus infections, so it is possible that this kidney and liver, with strong effects on immune virus could affect different tissues in different response, proteolysis, metabolism, and cell species. As a whole, this research supports a

34 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FISH HEALTH

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) and Great Deoxynivalenol and disease Lakes fish susceptibility to cold water disease and immunity in Rainbow Trout The increasing demand for fish protein has led to aquaculture being the fastest growing food producing sector in the world. This evolution has led to numerous modifications in production to sustain the demand. The replacement of fishmeal with more economical plant-based by-products in aqua feeds has led to an increased risk of exposure to mycotoxins in aquatic species. Deoxynivalenol (DON), VHSV in trout. Photo: T. Håstein a Fusarium mycotoxin, is of concern as it is the most commonly occurring mycotoxin worldwide. However, the mechanisms of action The purpose of the study was to provide with VHSV on stocked Walleye, and that strain of DON and its potential role in fish health are data to predict the effect of Viral Hemorrhagic selection would further reduce any impact. A largely unknown. Therefore, the objective Septicemia Virus (VHSV) genotype IVb on third objective was to create new tools for the of the current research was to determine if Walleye and other fish in the Great Lakes. The culture of VHSV and numerous Walleye cell lines DON had any impact on the susceptibility of first objective was to predict morbidity/mortality have been created. In addition, the behaviour of Rainbow Trout to Bacterial Cold Water Disease in naive Walleye using a biologically relevant VHSV IVa and IVb has been compared in Rainbow and immunity, including immunoglobulin waterborne infection and re-infection model at Trout gill epithelial and splenic macrophage production and macrophage function. Rainbow temperatures permissible for VHSV replication cell lines. Research in Rainbow Trout and in wild Trout were fed a nutritionally complete diet (~10-12°C). The reference strain of Walleye was fish species including Freshwater Drum and naturally contaminated with two concentrations not very susceptible to experimental infection Fathead Minnow demonstrated that the virus of DON (4 or 6 ppm). After four weeks of via waterborne exposure (1×107 virions; <5% (viral antigen and RNA) was present in eggs and feedborne exposure to DON, Rainbow Trout mortality) and was only moderately impacted by sperm. Ongoing research is examining innate were experimentally infected via intraperitoneal a large dose of virus given intraperitoneally (i.p.) immune mechanisms in gill epithelium and the injection with a virulent isolate of Flavobacterium (1×107 virions; 30-40% mortality). Walleye were role of virus neutralizing antibody in protection psychrophilum. A significant reduction (p<0.05) more resistant than Fathead Minnows but more of Walleye. in mortalities in DON-fed groups was observed susceptible than Rainbow Trout using similar in comparison to control and pair-fed groups at experimental conditions. In addition, Walleye oct. 2008 – ongoing 21 days post infection. These findings warrant previously waterborne-exposed to VHSV were Funded by: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA); NSERC Strategic; NSERC Discovery; further investigation of the effects of DON on almost completely resistant to re-infection via Great Lakes Fisheries Commission; FRST New Zealand the bacterium and on Rainbow Trout immunity. i.p.-injection five months later. The second Postdoctoral Fellowship; Ontario Veterinary College Fellowship objective was to determine the relative MAy 2010 – ongoing Project lead: John S. Lumsden (U. Guelph) susceptibility of four genetically distinct Great Funded by: NSERC Discovery Grant Lakes Walleye strains, of which one was found to Project team: Lowia Al Hussinee, Alex Reid, Jessica Grice, Lincoln Tubbs, Paul Huber, (U. Guelph); Brian Dixon, John Project team: Ian Ryerse, Jamie Hooft, Dominic Bureau, be significantly less susceptible to experimental Pham, Nguyen Vo, Niels Bols (U. Waterloo) Maureen Jarau, John S. Lumsden (U. Guelph) i.p.-infection. To date, therefore, it appears Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected] likely that there is a low impact of infection Development of novel RNA-based treatments against ISAV The purpose of the project is to develop a long periods of time become non-permissive to novel RNA interference-based vaccine against ISAV; this has caused problems in our analyses. ISAV. RNA interference (RNAi) has been As such, further testing will need to be done successfully used to combat viral infections in to best determine how RNAi therapies could many vertebrate and invertebrate species, and be applied to live fish. If successful, this would offers the distinct advantage of being used both represent the first and only treatment against as a prophylactic vaccine, and as a treatment to ISAV infection. combat the virus at the first signs of infection. We have identified genetic sequences that nov. 2009 – mar. 2013 are common to all strains of ISAV, and we have Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Deoxynivalenol (DON) molecular structure. Photo: Public Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove domain (Wikimedia Commons) designed, cloned and evaluated the efficacy of Salmon Ltd. a number of RNAi-based gene inhibitors using project lead: Mark Laflamme (DFO) model cell lines. Our results are encouraging Project team: Nellie Gagné (DFO) and suggest that RNAi-based therapies could collaborators: Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.); be developed against ISAV. We have noticed, Gilles Robichaud (U. Moncton) however, that fish cells kept in culture over Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 35 FISH HEALTH

Evaluation of membrane filtration and UV disinfection Innate immunity of for the control of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in teleosts; pattern- recirculation aquaculture systems recognition receptors and acute phase response Two plasma lectins, intelectin and ladderlectin, were isolated by their ability to bind to a wide range of infectious agents (PRRs) that cause disease in Rainbow Trout. Ladderlectin was found to have two isoforms and the genomic sequence encompassed six exons and five introns, with exon 2 encoding 14 amino acids that were exclusive to one isoform. Two-dimensional PAGE and western blots demonstrated multiple electrophoretic forms of both lectins. Enzyme immunoassays showed that there was significant group and individual variation in plasma lectin concentrations. Neither lectin was an acute phase reactant nor were the concentrations substantially altered during bacterial infection, however, both lectins were localized by immunohistochemistry in intimate association with microbes in vivo. Both lectins were widely distributed on mucosal surfaces and both were also identified on the cell surface of leukocytes and on trout cell lines. Ladderlectin, but not intelectin, also bound to VHSV, the first demonstration to our knowledge of a virus-binding PRR in fish. Acute phase proteins were also examined in Rainbow Trout and Walleye using 1 or 2D-PAGE left: Membrane filter.top right: Recirculation system at the Alma Aquaculture Research Station. bottom right: Checking and mass spectrometry. Partial amino acid water flow rates. All Photos: David Huyben and David Bevan (U. Guelph) sequences were identified and 3' RACE was used to isolate cDNA sequences specific to Recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) 99.6% removal, respectively. MF also exhibited these unknown proteins. A 9.5 kD Rainbow utilize disinfection technologies to remove an additional benefit of removing 95.4% Trout acute phase protein, that underwent a pathogens from wastewater and improve of total suspended solids and experienced 75-fold upregulation, was found to contain a fish health. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a low rates of membrane fouling. Under conserved apolipoprotein A-I domain. A Walleye disinfection treatment commonly used in RAS. laboratory conditions, we challenged MF with plasma protein that bound Flavobacterium However, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the concentrated doses of F. psychrophilum and columnare had 66% similarity to apolipoprotein causative agent of Bacterial Cold Water Disease achieved 5.7-log reductions of the pathogen. A-I from Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis). There (BCWD), is tolerant of recommended UV doses Therefore, MF represents an effective alternative is therefore evidence indicating that proteins used in aquaculture systems. Membrane to UV disinfection and can be used to remove in the apolipoprotein family are involved in the filtration (MF) has been used as a disinfection F. psychrophilum from RAS, potentially reducing acute phase response and or are PRRs of both technology in many industries, but has not been outbreaks of BCWD. fish. These proteins are known to contain lipid- thoroughly tested as a disinfection treatment binding domains and may act as PRRs to bind in RAS. The objective of this study was to sept. 2010 – dec. 2012 lipid components of fish pathogens during the evaluate MF as a disinfection treatment in RAS Funded by: Environment Canada; Ontario Ministry innate immune response. of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs and its ability to remove F. psychrophilum. Total project lead: David C. Huyben (U. Guelph) MAR. 2004 – ongoing bacterial removal efficiencies were assessed Project team: Richard D. Moccia (U. Guelph) Funded by: NSERC Discovery and Strategic grants; between MF and UV treatments over 30 days Chemaphore Inc.; NSERC Fellowship; Ontario Veterinary in a RAS that reared Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Contact: [email protected] College Fellowship niloticus). MF and UV had equivalent bacterial www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre/ Project Lead: John S. Lumsden (U. Guelph) removal efficiencies and achieved 98.5% and Project team: Spencer Russell, Karrie Young, Andrew Peterson, Alex Reid, Lowia Al-Hussinee, Adrian Di Natale (U. Guelph); John Pham, Niels Bols, Brian Dixon (U. Waterloo) Contact: [email protected]

36 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 FISH HEALTH

Epitheliocystis in salmonids Improved management Intracellular gram-negative bacteria hybridization and laser microdissection are in strategies for bacterial associated with epitheliocystis, including progress. Transmission trials and attempts to cold water diseases several Chlamydia-like organisms, have been culture the organism using a Rainbow Trout gill Bacterial Cold Water Disease (BCWD) caused found in many fish species. In Ontario, this epithelial cell line are also underway. by Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the most condition affects Arctic Charr and Lake Trout, important infectious disease for Ontario and it has also emerged in farmed Rainbow MAR. 2011 – MAR. 2015 Rainbow Trout aquaculture. Several aspects of Trout in the last two years. Diagnosis is a Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kelly Cove BCWD have been studied in this research but challenge as the organisms cannot be cultured Salmon Ltd. most are focused on improved management and bacterial inclusions are present before project lead: Nellie Gagné (DFO) options for farmers. Isolate phenotypic clinical signs appear but largely disappear by Project team: Mark Laflamme, Francis Leblanc, and genotypic variability and antimicrobial the time fish are submitted for examination Brian Glebe, Mélanie Roy, Steve Leadbeater (DFO); susceptibility profiles were compared between by light microscopy. The histological lesions Keng Pee Ang (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.) Ontario and BC isolates and Ontario isolates are fairly consistent, however, and include Contact: [email protected] were more diverse, however, an association prominent single-cell necrosis of leukocytes was not found to correlate a bacterial and epithelial cells, in addition to thickening characteristic to clinical presentation. The effect and blunting of lamellae. Identification of the of erythromycin, available only as an emergency agent from fresh and formalin-fixed gill tissue drug, was compared with that of florfenicol in of affected salmonid species is a priority of this a farm trial and both appeared to be equally project. Primers described for detection of the effective. Autogenous vaccines were trialed 16S rRNA gene of Chlamydiales and 16S rRNA on-farm and in the laboratory but they have not universal bacterial primers have generated a been effective. Cold-induced proteins and genes 300 bp and 1500 bp products, respectively. Two were identified that may be virulence factors sequences have been consistently identified; and several of the gene products have been one with 88% similarity to an uncultured cloned and expressed as recombinant proteins Neochlamydia sp. isolated from a cat with ocular for further research. A range of Ontario isolates disease and another with 90% similarity to was used to demonstrate a wide variability in Candidatus brachiomona cysticola, which was virulence in experimental trials. Morbidity and also recently identified from Atlantic Salmon mortality are being correlated with splenic with epitheliocystis in Norway. Localization Epitheliocystis in gills of seawater farmed Atlantic Salmon. bacterial colony forming units and quantitative of organisms in affected gills using in situ Photo: Toenshoff et al. – PLoS ONE (2012) PCR to provide an endpoint before mortality and shorten the length of trials. The breeding program at Lyndon Hatcheries is presently Detection and pathogenesis of Spring Viremia of Carp supplying family fish that are being tested for susceptibility to experimental infection with a Virus (SVCV) in Ontario baitfish virulent Ontario isolate. These families are also Spring viremia of carp is a World Organization is underway using RT-qPCR to detect viral being examined for MH and immune genes. of Animal Health (OIE) reportable viral disease. RNA from numerous fish species collected SVCV has been recently isolated from carp in by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources MAy 2007 – ongoing Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, Canada. The first (OMNR) from 2008 to 2012. The sensitivity of Funded by: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA); NSERC Strategic and CRD (with aim of the study is to assess the ability of SVCV the RT-qPCR was assessed in tissues spiked the Freshwater Fisheries Society of British Columbia and to infect Ontario baitfish, including Emerald with virus dilutions. In conclusion, at least three Microtek Inc.); DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Devlopment Program (ACRDP) (with Lyndon Shiner, Fathead Minnow, and White Sucker. Ontario baitfish species are at some risk from Hatcheries Ltd.); Ontario Veterinary College Fellowship These fish are commonly moved between SVCV, however, further analysis of tissues and Project team: Shohreh Hesami, Arman Yazdanpanah, watersheds and may spread SVCV to new results is required. Maureen Jarau, Lowia Al-Hussinee, Paul Huber, locations. Experimental infection trials have Glen Soltes, Jan MacInnes, John S. Lumsden (U. Guelph); MAy 2010 – ongoing Samantha Hodgins, Calvin Kellendonk, Brian Dixon been performed using the Canadian isolate (U. Waterloo); Sean Pressey, Clarke Rieck (Lyndon of SVCV (HHOcarp06) using intraperitoneal Funded by: OMNR; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food Hatcheries) and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA); Egyptian Government injection of fish of interest. SVCV caused Graduate Scholarship; FRST New Zealand Postdoctoral Contact: [email protected] morbidity and mortality in Flathead Minnow, Fellowship; NSERC USRA Emerald Shiner, Koi, and White Sucker, but not Project lead: John S. Lumsden (U. Guelph) in Rainbow Trout. The pathogenicity of disease Project team: Ehab Misk, Eva Nagy, Lincoln Tubbs, is being assessed using histopathology and Adrian Di Natale, Shelby Isaac (U. Guelph); Elizabeth Wright, Kevin Loftus (OMNR); Kyle Garver (DFO) immunohistochemistry. The second aim is to discover if SVCV is more widespread in Ontario Contact: [email protected] than presently realized. A retrospective study

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 37 FISH HEALTH

Antigen presentation in teleost fish Antigen processing is the pathway in which the roles undertaken by mammalian ERP57. proteins from pathogens are targeted by the Antibodies have also been generated to MHC host immune response. Despite a fairly detailed class I, beta-2 microglobulin, TAP, and Calnexin. knowledge of the genes and proteins that The regulation of these proteins during are involved in this process in mammals, the immunostimulation is being investigated, but proteins involved in this pathway and their initial co-immunoprecipitation studies have specific interactions are unknown. This project shown that tapasin and MHC class I interact has cloned the genes for those genes involved within the ER of the RTS11 Rainbow Trout in this pathway which have not been isolated macrophage cell line. to date, characterized them and has produced Understanding the process by which antisera for them. Immunohistochemistry pathogenic proteins are identified by fish The localization of Rainbow Trout ERp57 in the and co-immunoprecipitation are employed to immune systems will assist in designing endoplasmatic reticulum of the RTS11 macrophage-like cells line. Image: L. Sever, N. Bols, B. Dixon (U. Waterloo) investigate the protein interactions within this vaccines that can elicit strong, effective immune pathway. responses in fish. This will hopefully prevent To date in this project calreticulin has been losses to disease, enhancing profitability of cloned and characterized. It is located in the aquaculture operations. endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and responds to immune stimulation, but not to ER stress. MAR. 2008 – ongoing ERP57 has also been cloned and characterized. Funded by: NSERC Discovery This gene is duplicated in salmonids, with one PROJECT LEAD: Brian Dixon (U. Waterloo) version having what may be a functional ER Project team: Lital Sever, Niels Bols, Nguyen Vo, retention signal, while the other has a nuclear Brian Dixon (U. Waterloo) localization signal. This suggests a division of Contact: [email protected]

Early detection of “Soft flesh” in Atlantic Salmon DNA vaccine models Kudoa thyrsites is a marine myxosporean including molecular tests; however, most of against ISA parasite, endemic to the West Coast of these tests require lethal sampling and results The goal of this project is to explore the Canada, which infects fish and causes post are not available for several days. We proposed feasibility of new DNA model vaccines against mortem myoliquefaction. Atlantic Salmon are to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ISAV. It is a novel approach using plasmid susceptible to infections and this has resulted in ultrasound for detecting fish infected with K. constructs expressing ISAV protein subunits significant economic losses to the aquaculture thyrsites. This technology has been used to combined to an HSP binding sequence, with industry. There are several diagnostic tests detect changes in muscle structure in other a suitable linker and signal sequence. Several that can be used to detect infections in fish animals and provides a rapid assessment of soft antigenic ISA proteins and peptides will be tissues. We hypothesize that using computer selected, from full length protein to single image analysis of ultrasound images we will epitopes. The various plasmid constructs be able to identify fish that will develop post will be tested in vivo, and RPS values (relative mortem myoliquefaction before they develop protection survival) will be determined by the condition. If successful this technology comparison to vector alone. To achieve this goal has the potential to be used on a large scale at we will: 1) produce recombinant vectors for the processing plants to identify fish that are not expression of specific ISAV genes; 2) prepare well suited for the “fresh” market. sufficient quantities of recombinant vectors for a vaccine trial; 3) do a vaccine trial using different sept. 2012 – sept. 2013 vaccine formulation; and 4) detect DNA vaccine, Funded by: UPEI CERC grant in situ transcription and measure genomic PROJECT LEAD: Sophie St-Hilaire (UPEI) markers of immune response after vaccination. Project team: LeeAnn Pack, Tim Burnley, Sohrab Ameli (UPEI); Sonja Saksida (CAHS) july 2009 – dec. 2012 coLlaborators: Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and (CAHS); Marine Harvest Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Atlantic Contact: [email protected] Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) Kudoa thrysites infection in salmon. Photo: Kristi Miller (DFO) project lead: Nellie Gagné (DFO) Project team: Mark Laflamme, Nathalie Simard (DFO); Lisa Phillips, Kira Salonius (Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc.) collaborators: Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. Contact: [email protected]

38 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Refinement of DEPOMOD validations Developing a carrying capacity framework Exploration of methodologies for environmental for freshwater finfish sites for Baynes Sound, BC effects monitoring of finfish aquaculture sites in sandy bottom environments with natural Establishing zones for managing risks related Environmental information system disturbances: Shelburne, NS to pathogens and/or pollutants originating on for aquaculture, Phase 2 finfish aquaculture facilities in the Broughton Assessing and mitigating risk from a diversifying Archipelago and Discovery Islands Assessing trace-element indicators of benthic aquaculture industry: the potential for organic enrichment associated with aquaculture interaction between escapee and wild Impacts of Pacific Herring on the health activities Atlantic Cod of farmed Atlantic Salmon in BC Assessing the value of bivalve meat Determination of the potential spatial overlap Effects of freshwater aquaculture on freshwater as an indicator of ecosystem health and interaction between commercial fisheries benthic communities Influence of Eastern Oyster aquaculture (American Lobster, Snow Crab) and finfish Distribution and concentration patterns of overwintering on eelgrass aquaculture activities in Connaigre Bay, SLICE® in sediments at high, medium, and low Newfoundland energy aquaculture sites on the west coast Evaluating Beggiatoa and OPC as indicators of benthic habitat conditions on hard ocean Validation of DEPOMOD with a comparison Support for the development of a draft sediment substrates using visual data collected seasonally of visual techniques for observing spatial and monitoring program for freshwater cage at new finfish aquaculture sites and near the end temporal variability in the benthos at active and aquaculture of production at established sites fallowed finfish sites in Newfoundland

To validate the robustness of ecosystem carrying Comparing the impact of bottom and Quantifying benthic transport of aquaculture capacity models suspended oyster culture on bay-scale waste material for inclusion in predictive models food resources Analysis of relationships between bivalve Evaluation of the FVCOM modelling system to aquaculture and eelgrass coverage at a map the far-field dispersal of aquaculture waste bay-wide scale

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Refinement of DEPOMOD validations for freshwater finfish sites

left: Collecting a water sample. Photo: Cindi Wlasichuk middle: Sediment coring. Photo: Cheryl Podemski (DFO) right: ROV sediment traps. Photo: Jamie Raper (DFO)

The project objective is further validation of extent of the deposition footprint may be used may provide a stronger agreement with model DEPOMOD as an environmental management within the development of a new aquaculture outputs than short term sediment traps because tool for the trout cage culture industry in sediment monitoring program in Ontario. these parameters will integrate the effects of Ontario, and builds on work funded through The purpose of this project is to continue waste deposition and cage movement over time. the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and validation of DEPOMOD, and to focus on Development Program (ACRDP). DEPOMOD means of improving data collection and model june 2011 – MAR. 2013 is a dispersion model designed for marine parameterization to improve model agreement. Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) co-funded by: Ontario Ministry of aquaculture that is increasingly used in several The primary focus will be on a validation with Foods and Rural Affairs; Northern Ontario Aquaculture countries, but has never been validated in a comprehensive sample collection at a site Association freshwater. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that is fixed to shore thereby providing minimal project lead: Cheryl Podemski (DFO) Fisheries Protection and the inland aquaculture uncertainty in cage location, but the effect of Project team: Padala Chittibabu, Paula Azevedo, Doug regulators need a defensible dispersion cage movement and of temporal variability in Geiling, Jian Zhang, Cyndi Wlasichuk, Jamie Raper (DFO) modelling tool to assist with the review of new wind-driven turbulence will be explored using collaborators: Coldwater Fisheries; Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association site license applications and with decisions other data sets available. Comparison of model regarding applications for changes to feed predictions with surface sediment chemistry Contact: [email protected] quotas. Additionally, predictions of the spatial and benthic invertebrate community structure

Establishing zones for managing risks related to pathogens and/or pollutants originating on finfish aquaculture facilities in the Broughton Archipelago and Discovery Islands This project will modify circulation and the Broughton Archipelago and Discovery Protection and Aquaculture Management. particle tracking models already developed Islands. Particle release studies, for as wide a through previous PARR and Aquaculture set of oceanographic conditions as the lateral APR. 2011 – MAR. 2013 Collaborative Research and Development boundary and atmospheric forcing fields permit, Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) co-funded by: BAMP Program (ACRDP) projects, and in consultation will be carried out to compute probability project lead: Mike Foreman (DFO) with DFO Aquaculture Management and fields that reflect the zones of influence for all Project team: Diane Masson, Peter Chandler, Kyle Garver, Habitat Divisions and members of the or a representative subset of farms in these Dario Stucchi, Darren Tuele, Michael Ikonomou, Broughton Archipelago Management Plan regions. These “water movement” zones will Stewart Johnson, Marc Trudel (DFO) (BAMP) to support the establishment of zones be combined with information on wild fish collaborators: Marine Harvest Canada; Broughton for managing risks related to pathogens and/ migration patterns and survival (as determined Archipelago Monitoring Program (BAMP) or pollutants originating on finfish aquaculture by a comprehensive literature review) to Contact: [email protected] facilities (farms and processing plants) in produce management zones for DFO Fisheries

40 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Impacts of Pacific Herring on the health of farmed Effects of freshwater Atlantic Salmon in BC aquaculture on Aquaculture within sea-cages leads to possible freshwater benthic oct. 2011 – MAR. 2013 disease risks from the marine environment Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and communities due to the generality that fish sharing water Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Herring The project will look at whether the impacts are likely to share diseases. Unless rigorous Conservation and Research Society; Marine Harvest to fish habitat in the high depositional area biosecurity practices are implemented, Canada Inc.; Mainstream Canada; Grieg Seafoods BC Ltd. under freshwater farms, as measured by benthic equivalent to quarantine conditions, there is project lead: Kyle Garver (DFO) community alteration, is off-set by enrichment almost certain to be some disease interactions Project team: Jan Lovy, Paulina Piesik (DFO) effects observed distant to the farm. This will between farmed and wild fish species. A collaborator: Paul Hershberger support the current Fisheries and Oceans particular species of interest is the Pacific Contact: [email protected] Canada (DFO) Fisheries Protection Program Herring, Clupea pallasi, which is known to practice of determining freshwater finfish farms inhabit Atlantic Salmon sea-cages. Pacific to be low risk. Additionally, the project will Herring are known to carry bacteria such as generate knowledge of the community response Aeromonas salmonicida and are possible vectors of freshwater benthic invertebrates to a for Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causative gradient of disturbance by organic enrichment. agent of Bacterial Kidney Disease. With the Specific objectives are: 1) taxonomic analysis close interaction between herring and farmed of existing invertebrate samples collected Atlantic Salmon it is important to understand along distance transects at commercial diseases of herring and pathogens that may farms; 2) determination of individual and be transmitted to salmonids. The goals of this community biomass of individuals; 3) mapping research are to identify herring pathogens that of invertebrate abundance and biomass along pose risks to Atlantic Salmon, develop a better a transect from farm sites to reference sites; understanding of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia 4) spatial extrapolation of data from transects (VHS) virus isolates from herring and Atlantic to determine relative losses/gains in biomass Salmon, and identify if VHS can cause disease in due to farms; and 5) assessing the benthic Atlantic Salmon. Paulina Piesik working in the lab. Photo: Jan Lovy (DFO) invertebrate ‘fitness’ through biometrics along a gradient in organic waste deposit.

Distribution and concentration patterns of SLICE® in APR. 2011 – MAR. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory sediments at high, medium, and low energy aquaculture Research (PARR) co-funded by: DFO Fisheries Protection sites on the west coast Branch project lead: Cheryl Podemski (DFO) The aim of this research project is part of the persist in the environment and at what Project team: Megan Otu, Jian Zhang (DFO) broader-scope DFO objective of assessing the concentrations. collaborators: Northern Ontario Aquaculture potential impact of commercial salmon fish The overall findings of these studies will Association; Coldwater Fisheries; Ontario Ministry farming on the health of the surrounding marine increase our knowledge of the potential effects of Agriculture and Food ecosystem. Specifically, this study looks at the of SLICE® applications at marine cage finfish Contact: [email protected] effect of finfish farm sea lice treatments on non- farm locations on the surrounding benthic target organisms. Current fish farming practices environment. The measured environmental EB include the use of in-feed chemical treatments concentrations will be used to test, calibrate, for controlling sea lice such as SLICE®, an and implement the DEPOMOD (modeling in-feed treatment that includes emamectin system) and other biophysical models to help benzoate (EB) as its active ingredient. predict the behaviour of EB in relevant aquatic This study builds on previous research done in ecosystems. These findings will be useful in the Broughton Archipelago to assess the effects forming regulations for the use of SLICE® in the of SLICE® on Spot Prawns. Sediment samples aquaculture industry. have been collected close to aquaculture sites to determine the distribution and concentration APR. 2012 – MAR. 2013 patterns of SLICE® in the sediments (surface Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) co-funded by: BAMP and sediment cores) under a wide range of Project lead: Michael Ikonomou (DFO) oceanographic conditions: at high, medium and Project team: Les Burridge, Kerra Hoyseth, low energy aquaculture sites on the west coast. Cory Dubetz (DFO) The biodegradation characteristics of SLICE® collaborators: Jon Chamberlain, Mike Foreman, in marine sediments will also be examined Terri Sutherland (DFO); Sharon DeDominicis to determine how long these chemicals may (Marine Harvest Canada); Frank Gobas (SFU) Contact: [email protected] Megan Otu working at a microbalance. Photo: C. Podemski (DFO)

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Support for the development of a draft sediment To validate the robustness monitoring program for freshwater cage aquaculture of ecosystem carrying capacity models The removal of phytoplankton by densely stocked mussels may exceed the capacity of the ecosystem to renew phytoplankton populations. In this project, the robustness of ecosystem models will be validated in Malpeque Bay (PEI), which has a large watershed area (592,000,000 m3). Other distinctive features include an intricate river system running into Malpeque and multiple connection points between Malpeque and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Together these features represent a challenging and therefore suitable environment to validate the ongoing development of ecosystem models Aerial photograph of a freshwater trout farm on Lake Huron. Photo: Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association (NOAA) for shellfish aquaculture. A second rationale for the project relates to the management of This project provides partial support for the be examined to identify potential indicators that aquaculture in a proactive manner. The total development of a draft sediment monitoring can be directly linked to aquaculture activities, area presently allocated to mussel farming program for aquaculture-affected freshwater which have low variability to minimize sampling in Malpeque Bay is approximately 600 ha. sediments. The development of the monitoring requirements, and which have a correlation with However, the PEI Lease Management Board is program is a component of the Coordinated changes observed in biological communities. engaged in a planning exercise regarding any Application, Review and Decision Guidelines Data sets will be further analyzed for predictive future releases of acreage in Malpeque Bay for for Cage Aquaculture Sites in Ontario. Fisheries relationships and to identify potential mussel culture. The results from this project and Oceans Canada is providing data and thresholds to inform and trigger further will help identify the optimal distribution and technical assistance, to this Ontario Ministry monitoring or management actions. configuration of new leases within the bay. of Natural Resources lead initiative, with the Ontario Ministry of Environment and jan. 2006 – MAR. 2012 june 2011 – Mar. 2013 Environment Canada as co-participants. Sulfide, Funded by: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory co-funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) which is often a key measure within marine Research (PARR); OMoE; DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative monitoring programs, is not a reliable indicator Research and Development Program (ACRDP); OMAFRA project lead: Thomas Guyondet (DFO) of the accumulation of aquaculture waste in Project team: Kristin Hynes (DFO); Lee Grapentine, Project team: Luc Comeau, Rémi Sonier, freshwater, and an alternative needs to be Jacqui Milne (Environment Canada); Duncan Boyd, Thomas Landry (DFO) Ngan Diep (OMoE); Lisa Miller Dodd (OMNR); Contact: [email protected] identified. The use of a geochemical indicator Gord Cole (Aquacage Fisheries); Cheryl Podemski (DFO) is preferable to biological monitoring because collaborators: Ontario Ministry of the Environment of reduced time and costs, but a surrogate (OMoE); Environment Canada measure must provide a reliable indicator of Contact: [email protected] biological condition. Existing DFO data sets will www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/ @mnr/@letsfish/documents/document/263024.pdf

Analysis of relationships between bivalve aquaculture and eelgrass coverage at a bay-wide scale The project will examine if a potential examine the shape of the relationship between relationship between eelgrass and bivalve aquaculture coverage (or density) and eelgrass aquaculture can be detected at a bay-wide bed coverage, and between aquaculture and survey scale and evaluate if there is a level at eelgrass depth distribution. If asymptotes and which bivalve aquaculture starts to negatively inflection points are observed, it could indicate impact fish habitat (eelgrass). The relationship that ecosystem change is occurring due to between eelgrass coverage (a proxy of eelgrass aquaculture activities. Spatial distribution of water renewal time in Malpeque productivity) and depth distribution (a proxy of Bay, PEI, forced by tides. Critical information for sept. 2011 – MAR. 2013 estimating the availability of food for cultured bivalves. water transparency) with aquaculture density Photo: Thomas Guyondet (DFO) (a proxy of bivalve filtration) will be analyzed. Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) Field surveys and mapping were conducted project lead: Monique Niles (DFO) to quantify eelgrass and aquaculture in bays in the Gulf region with a range of ratios of Project team: Andrea Locke, Thomas Landry (DFO) collaborators: Guy Robichaud, Brad Firth, Tim Webster, aquaculture: eelgrass coverage. Land-use data Sylvio Doiron, Marie-Josée Maillet (DFO) will be added as co-variables and multivariate Contact: [email protected] statistical analyses will be conducted to

42 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Developing a carrying capacity framework for Environmental information Baynes Sound, BC system for aquaculture, The successful culture of suspension-feeding determine carrying capacity and also provide Phase 2 shellfish relies on the natural replenishment a real-time assessment of current benthic and Canadian salmon farmers are collaborating of phytoplankton in a culture area. This pelagic conditions to aid in the development of to improve environmental data management replenishment can occur via flushing, where siting criteria. and sharing, ensuring a high level of accuracy, water exchange brings in new phytoplankton, The project will also collect hydrodynamic data and reducing regulatory reporting costs. or through primary production in the area. needed to develop a Finite Volume Circulation This project, led by the BC Salmon Farmers When the population of cultured shellfish in Model (FVCOM) to help describe the water Association, will deliver information technology an area is large, there is the potential that the circulation patterns in the sound as well as data that will also be directly relevant to DFO’s cultured animals will deplete food particles to better characterize biological controls on industry reporting requirements. from the water column much faster than it phytoplankton concentrations in Baynes Sound. can be replenished. This is known as ‘farm In the first phase of this project, an improved The change in abundance and size range of BC fish-health database was launched, and depletion’ and can be an indicator that the phytoplankton in the Sound will be used to population of cultured shellfish is exceeding a steering committee was setup to facilitate determine whether wild and cultured shellfish national discussions on the user needs for the production carrying capacity of the area. are depleting their food supply faster than it Exceeding carrying capacity is a concern to both common fish-health information technology can be replenished. These models, coupled infrastructure. The improved fish-health regulators and industry because of the potential with shellfish filtration, assimilation, and faecal environmental and ecosystem effects that might database now provides efficient data upload and production estimates, will be used to determine exchange. In addition a National Aquaculture result and because insufficient food supply the influence of shellfish production on benthic negatively impacts on shellfish growth. Fish Health Data Management Framework and water column exchanges and be used to Workshop was held January 2012. Phase 2 The goal of this research project is to develop assess the carrying capacity of the Sound. of the project will build on this infrastructure a framework to assess carrying capacity for by standardizing and optimizing regulatory APR. 2011 – MAR. 2013 shellfish production in Baynes Sound, BC, reporting through the database, standardizing an area that is home to a significant shellfish Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) and including diagnostic data in the database, culture industry and also one that has been project lead: Terri Sutherland (DFO) and optimizing efficiencies of workflows. identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada Project team: Peter Cranford, Chris Pearce, These activities will result in fish-health for integrated coastal zone management. Hannah Stewart (DFO) The framework will focus on establishing a management being enhanced in BC, thereby Contact: [email protected] particulate budget for Baynes Sound to help improving industry health management tools, enhancing industry productivity and operating efficiency as well as reducing operating costs. All of these factors are important contributors to Assessing trace-element indicators of benthic organic improved environmental performance and long enrichment associated with aquaculture activities term industry sustainability. Aquaculture wastes, such as faeces or uneaten programs for making such identifications. APR. 2012 – MAR. 2013 food, can accumulate beneath and near farm Research has shown that aquaculture waste Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Hatfield sites. In the near-field, this accumulation is material (fish feed and faeces) has a trace-metal Consultants predictable using depositional modelling signature that can be distinguished from that of project lead: Mary Ellen Walling (BC Salmon Farmers tools such as DEPOMOD, and the organic naturally-occurring trace-metals. It is proposed Association) enrichment effects associated with this that the geo‑normalization of trace-elements Project team: David Minato, Martin Davies, Jason Suwala, deposition are well known and managed to may identify depositional “hot spots” and track John Galambos (BC Salmon Farmers Association) ensure environmental sustainability. However, transport pathways to determine the fate of COllaboraTORS: Marine Harvest Canada; Mainstream Canada; Grieg Seafood BC; Creative Salmon Ltd.; the far-field effects that may be associated with farm waste material. West Coast Fishculture the release of aquaculture waste material are This PARR project will focus on running a Contact: [email protected] poorly understood, partly because it is difficult preliminary analysis on archived benthic data www.salmonfarmers.org to predict accurately the dispersion of wastes. sets collected previously by the BC Ministry Additionally, once wastes are moved from the of the Environment and DFO. These datasets immediate vicinity of a farm site, it is difficult to will support a region-wide assessment of distinguish among deposits coming from farm aquaculture-derived trace-metal signature activities, industrial sources, and natural sources. under various oceanographic, bathymetric, To monitor, and if necessary, regulate, the and operational settings. far-field effects of aquaculture wastes, it is necessary to be able to identify what material APR. 2012 – MAR. 2014 originates from farm sources and where these Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) wastes are transported. A limited number project lead: Terri Sutherland (DFO) of sensitive detection tools (sediment-free Project team: Bernie Taekema, Kerra Hoyseth, sulfides and geo-normalized trace-metals) are March Klaver (DFO) currently available to environmental monitoring Contact: [email protected]

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Assessing the value of bivalve meat as an indicator Influence of Eastern of ecosystem health Oyster aquaculture system reorganizes, compromising ecosystem overwintering on eelgrass functioning and consequently ecosystem Eelgrass (Zostera marina) provides fish services. habitat to numerous commercial fish species The project is divided into 2 phases. Firstly, a and is considered an Ecologically Significant descriptive analysis of the available datasets Species (ESS) in Atlantic Canada. There are and an evaluation of the potential of meat yield concerns that various activities related to as an indicator of ecosystem change will be oyster aquaculture are causing disturbance and alteration to eelgrass beds. One such Study area and location of monitoring stations of oysters undertaken. If preliminary results conclude (circles) and mussels (triangles) in Prince Edward Island that meat yield could be successfully used as an practice, which occurs in the southern Gulf of and New Brunswick (Eastern Canada). Photo: Ramon indicator of ecosystem change, a second phase St. Lawrence, is the benthic over-wintering of Filgueira (Dalhousie U.) of the project will be considered to establish oyster bags. During the open water seasons, a quantitative regulatory framework for the oysters are cultured in plastic mesh bags The purpose of this project is to assess the management of shellfish farming. attached to long lines floated at the water value of bivalve meat yield as a simple and cost- surface. However, in this area where surface effective indicator of ecosystem change. The nov. 2011 – Mar. 2013 waters typically freeze, the bags are moved to underlying rational is that drop in meat size and Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture the deepest part of the lease and dropped to Regulatory Research (PARR) weight below natural bounds signals that the the bottom where they can be left to overwinter most important filter-feeders in the system (i.e., project lead: Ramon Filgueira (Dalhousie U.); Luc Comeau (DFO) or accessed through the ice for harvesting. the bivalves in culture) are having a negative Since the substrate of these lease areas is often Project team: Thomas Guyondet, Thomas Landry (DFO) feedback on themselves and presumably other characterized by eelgrass habitat, concern has collaborators: Jon Grant (Dalhousie U.) secondary producers in the environment. been expressed by habitat regulators about Contact: [email protected] Conceptually the intent is to avoid a “tipping physical damage that may be caused to eelgrass point”, where the resilience is exceeded and the by these over-wintering activities. This project is designed to assess the potential impact that the practice of overwintering Evaluating Beggiatoa and OPC as indicators of benthic oyster bags may have on eelgrass beds in the habitat conditions on hard ocean substrates using visual southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and will provide the opportunity to study eelgrass winter data collected seasonally at new finfish aquaculture ecology and its susceptibility to disturbance sites and near the end of production at established sites during this period. The project will also examine The overall purpose of this project is to the cage edge and at more distal locations will the environmental performance of a newly evaluate Beggiatoa (a type of aquatic bacteria) be determined by comparing the results of the developed bivalve aquaculture technology and OPC (Opportunistic Polychaete Complexes) first investigation to those from data collected at (Horizontal Rope Floating Rack system). This as potential indicators of deposition around the cage edge post-production; and 4) temporal floating rack system rests on the substrate while finfish aquaculture sites located over hard relationships among Beggiatoa /OPC (plus ensuring the oysters themselves do not make ocean substrates for HADD (harmful alteration, other components of benthic communities) and contact with the benthos. We hypothesize this disruption or destruction of fish habitat) organic input will be determined by monitoring system will cause less benthic disturbance than determinations. Four approaches will be used: organic enrichment and benthic communities current culture structures while also lessening 1) statistical relationships will be determined over time at new finfish aquaculture sites. oyster mortality. The results of this study are among and between potential indicators, Seasonal changes to the benthic community expected to contribute to scientific advice for physical parameters (e.g., substrate type) and will also be determined by monitoring reference regulatory decisions and best management production level by sampling along transects sites. practices to minimize and/or mitigate potential extending from cages, at site level (production negative impacts of oyster aquaculture on level effects) and sample station level (for july 2011 – mar. 2013 eelgrass habitat. finer scale patterns); 2) physical influences on Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 Beggiatoa and OPC cover will be determined project lead: Dounia Hamoutene (DFO) Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture by testing relationships between observations Regulatory Research (PARR) Project team: Lee Sheppard (DFO) in baseline data and data collected for the first project lead: Simon Courtenay (DFO) investigation; 3) differences in observations at collaborators: Elizabeth Bennett, Carole Grant (DFO) Project team: Marc Skinner (Stantec Consulting Ltd./ Contact: [email protected] CRI); Monica Boudreau (DFO) collaborators: André L. Mallet (L’Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltée) Contact: [email protected]

44 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Comparing the impact of bottom and suspended oyster culture on bay-scale food resources Bivalves, such as mussels and oysters, are leases. However, both industry and regulators filter feeders that extract naturally occurring recognize the need to evaluate the ecological food, such as plankton, from the water. Their impact of growing oysters in the water column culture does not require the addition of feed; before lease conversions are granted. Since however, growth depends on the availability of suspended culture holds a greater density of food in the environment. When farming these shellfish than bottom culturing, food availability species, special care must be taken to ensure may be an issue if all leases were to become that the number of cultured animals does not suspended culture. exceed carrying capacity of the area. Exceeding This project is designed to address the issue carrying capacity will ultimately result in of carrying capacity by examining the extent decreased growth of the cultured animals and to which the diet of bottom and suspended could potentially impact other components of oysters overlap; comparing the filtration rates of the ecosystem. oysters from the two culture types (bottom and Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) aquaculture is suspended); and incorporating this information gradually evolving from the traditional use into a simple bay-scale model to quantify the of the benthic environment (bottom culture) impact of different culture scenarios on available to suspension culture, where the animals are food resources. grown in or on structures suspended in the water column where higher growth rates are Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 often observed. The Foxley/Trout River system Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is considered project lead: Rémi Sonier (DFO) to be one of the more heavily utilized oyster Project team: Luc Comeau, Claudio DiBacco (DFO); producing areas on the island. Some oyster Réjean Tremblay (UQAR) culturists in this area have experimented collaborators: Guy Robichaud, Brad Firth, Tim Webster, with this new approach and are requesting Sylvio Doiron, Marie-Josée Maillet (DFO) top: Suspended oyster farm on the Foxley/Trout River system, PEI. bottom: Oysters on the sea floor in an to convert their bottom leases to suspended Contact: [email protected] eelgrass bed. All Photos: Luc Comeau (DFO)

Exploration of methodologies for environmental effects monitoring of finfish aquaculture sites in sandy bottom environments with natural disturbances: Shelburne, NS The effect that aquaculture waste material sandy and highly disturbed and, as such, modelling predictions, oceanographic (feed and faeces), generated by finfish the benthic cores and grabs usually used conditions including water currents, wave operations, may have on the environment for regulatory sampling do not work well. activity, and water column profiling will be beneath open netpen sites is a concern both for Modelling deposition in this area is also monitored during the fall-winter disturbance regulators and industry and is closely regulated challenging because very limited benthic season. In addition, a benthic characterization in all areas of Canada. Existing regulatory and oceanographic information is available study will be conducted to better categorize the modelling tools (DEPOMOD) and sampling to calibrate models and, problematically, the benthic environment (e.g., sediment grain size, techniques (cores and light weight grabs) used dynamic environment requires that models organic matter, sulphide content). to predict and monitor waste deposition and account for the resuspension and movement of benthic impacts have generally been developed deposited wastes. Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 for use in areas with muddy bottoms. Questions Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture The purpose of this project is to test several Regulatory Research (PARR) have been raised about the applicability of these benthic sampling approaches (grab samplers, Project team: Blythe Chang, Fred Page, Mark McLean, tools with different substrates, such as rocky or ROVs, still image and video camera systems, Ed Parker, Herb Vandermuelen, Sara Scouten (DFO) sandy bottoms, or if they need to be refined for acoustic echo sounder and side-scan sonar collaborator: Mike Szemerda (Cooke Aquaculture Ltd.) use in these areas. systems) to identify the best method for Contact: [email protected], Shelburne, NS is a developing aquaculture regulatory environmental sampling in dynamic, [email protected] area where the benthic environment is sandy bottom areas. Additionally, to improve

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Assessing and mitigating risk from a diversifying aquaculture industry: the potential for interaction between escapee and wild Atlantic Cod As with any industry, there are environmental concerns associated with aquaculture. These include pollution, disease and parasite transmission, and interactions with wild fish when farmed individuals escape. Our knowledge of escapee/wild fish interactions is focused on salmonids, but diversification of the industry has resulted in culture of other species that behave very differently from salmon. Atlantic Cod, for instance, interact much more with sea-pen netting and escape at much higher rates than salmon. Cod will also spawn inside the cage, releasing fertilized eggs into the environment even when the cultured animals do not escape. Our project was based at Memorial University and had both local and European collaborators. It focused on what motivates cod to escape from cages, where they went once they escaped, and how they interacted during spawning with wild cod. The ultimate goal was to ascertain areas of particular environmental concern and identify mitigation opportunities before industry practices become entrenched.

summer 2009 – ongoing Funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) co-funded by: DFO; Fish Food & Allied Workers project lead: Ian Fleming, Craig Purchase (MUN) Project team: Ian Fleming, Craig Purchase (MUN); Edward Trippel, John Brattey (DFO) collaborators: DFO; Fish Food & Allied Workers; SINTEF/EU Consortium; Ocean Tracking Network (Dalhousie U.); Cod Genome Project clockwise from top left: Tying sutures after implanting an acoustic tag. Photo: Emily Zimmermann (MUN). Cod morphology study. Photo: Brendan Wringe (MUN). Net biting experiments. Photo: Emily Zimmermann (MUN). Releasing Contact: [email protected], [email protected] a tagged cod in Bay Bulls (Emily Zimmermann) Photo: Emily Zimmermann (MUN)

Determination of the potential spatial overlap and interaction between commercial fisheries (American Lobster, Snow Crab) and finfish aquaculture activities in Connaigre Bay, Newfoundland There is rarely an opportunity to collect and changes in habitat utilization, as a result this fish farming industry on the south coast of compare ecological data before, during, and research will also examine potential changes in Newfoundland and Labrador. after a salmon farming site has been approved the benthic environment that could potentially and under production. This four-year project impact lobster and Snow Crab populations. aug. 2012 – may 2016 will allow for the collection of environmental Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research The ultimate goal of the research project will and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Cold and biological data at two newly approved be to identify any measurable impacts caused Ocean Salmon Inc. salmon aquaculture sites in Connaigre Bay, by the introduction of fish farming on the project lead: Gehan Mabrouk (DFO) Newfoundland and Labrador — a bay that has commercial species currently harvested in Project team: Lee Sheppard, Dounia Hamoutene, Andry not yet held salmon production sites. Pertinent Connaigre Bay. Ratsimandresy, Dwight Drover, Jens Currie, Pierre Goulet, data will be collected prior to the sites being Don Stansbury (DFO); Jon Grant (Dalhousie U.) established and during the full production cycle, The outcomes of this project will provide collaborators: Jennifer Woodland (Cold Ocean Salmon Inc.) as well as during the fallow period. In the siting valuable information that will inform future area, there is particular concern for alterations site development initiatives and contribute Contact: [email protected] to crab and lobster habitat and resulting to the sustainability of both fishing and the

46 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS

Validation of DEPOMOD with a comparison of visual Quantifying benthic techniques for observing spatial and temporal transport of aquaculture variability in the benthos at active and fallowed waste material for finfish sites in Newfoundland inclusion in predictive Most finfish aquaculture sites in sites in Newfoundland. Data collection for models Newfoundland are located over deep waters model inputs has involved the deployment A national strategy for understanding and (>100 m) with hard substrates and low currents of sediment traps and current meters. The predicting aquaculture waste transport is which results in high monitoring costs relative to response of the benthic community to organic required by DFO Habitat Management and other Atlantic provinces. This is due to the need inputs is also being studied through the use of Ecosystems and Fisheries Management. Current for more expensive equipment and technology various methods of underwater video sampling models are unable to predict aquaculture waste use in gaining information about conditions (drop cameras, remotely operated vehicles, transport because of the inability to measure of the sea floor. The current monitoring time-lapse cameras). the cohesive nature and transport properties program was based on the assumption that of faecal material, waste pellets, and their may 2010 – mar. 2013 deep water sites with hard substrates are not interaction with sediment in suspension and depositional; however, organic particulate have Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Cold on the seabed. The purpose of the project is to been found to accumulate at some sites. In Ocean Salmon Inc.; Northern Harvest Sea Farms develop a data set of variables that can be used this project, techniques are being investigated project lead: Andry Ratsimandresy (DFO) to initialize coupled hydrodynamic-sediment that will provide a better understanding of the Project team: Danny Ings, Gehan Mabrouk, Fred Page, transport models to predict aquaculture waste physical and biological processes near finfish Dwight Drover, Dounia Hamoutene, Randy Losier, resuspension and transport for use nationally. Sharon Kenny, Terry Bungay (DFO) aquaculture sites over hard substrates. The first goal is to create a data matrix of collaborators: Jennifer Woodland (Cold Ocean Salmon A model of particle dispersion, DEPOMOD, Inc.); Jennifer Caines (Northern Harvest Sea Farms) transport coefficients of both finfish and bivalve aquaculture waste material to predict is being evaluated as a monitoring tool for Contact: [email protected] depositional processes at finfish aquaculture the transport capability of the material when resuspended. A variety of feed pellet types and finfish and shellfish faeces will be exposed to a range of seabed types, simple to complex, Evaluation of the FVCOM modelling system to map under controlled hydrodynamic conditions. This the far-field dispersal of aquaculture waste matrix will be derived from both laboratory and Particulate aquaculture wastes, such as fish coupled hydrodynamic-sediment transport field studies. The second goal is to collaborate faeces and feed pellets, can accumulate beneath model will add active particle transport by with the Scottish Association for Marine Science and near farm operations. Near-field waste defining variables such as settling velocity, to initialize a beta-version of DEPOMOD that accumulation is relatively well understood and critical erosion shear stress, and erosion rate, will incorporate a flexible resuspension module can be predicted using depositional modelling which are necessary to predict the deposition suitable for Canadian waters and to discuss tools such as DEPOMOD. In contrast, the far- and transport of aquaculture waste. To develop model parameters and initializations of FVCOM field distribution and potential environmental the model, parameters obtained from previous with modelers at DFO. effects of particulate waste and material that is and current research on the transport dynamics Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2013 re-suspended from beneath aquaculture cages of aquaculture waste will be used. The model Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture is more complex and difficult to predict. With will be validated using site specific data Regulatory Research (PARR) increasing concerns over the potential far-field collected from a salmon aquaculture site in project lead: Terri Sutherland, Brent Law (DFO) effects of aquaculture, including cumulative southwest New Brunswick. Project team: Mike Foreman, Fred Page, Yongshen Wu, effects and ecosystem interactions, it is The success of this proof-of-concept modelling March Klaver (DFO); Chris Cromey, Scottish Association necessary to be able to predict the quantity and for Marine Science, U.K.; Carl Amos (University of project will help facilitate improved predictions Southampton, U.K.) range of this dispersal. The goal of this study is regarding the transport of wastes generated Contact: [email protected], to develop a coupled hydrodynamic-sediment from aquaculture operations and consequently [email protected] transport model capable of mapping the the potential environmental interactions far-field dispersal of aquaculture wastes from associated with aquaculture operations in the a single farm site in southwest New Brunswick far-field. using the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM). Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 The hydrodynamic component of the FVCOM Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) model has been used and validated for Project team: Brent Law, Yongsheng Wu, ocean currents in southwest New Brunswick. Terri Sutherland (DFO) Additionally, the particle tracking component collaborators: Fred Page, Susan Haigh, of this model, for use with passive particles, Randy Losier (DFO) has been successfully employed to infer the Contact: [email protected], movement of and the dispersal of dye which is [email protected], [email protected] In-laboratory erosion measurements of mussel aquaculture analogous to therapeutant transport. The fully waste using a Gust microcosm erosion chamber and a sandy seabed. Applied bed shear stress of 0.08 Pa is strong enough to mobilize the waste material and re-suspend large aggregates. Photo: Particle Dynamics Lab, BIO (DFO)

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Can filter-feeding bivalves ingest planktonic Design and pilot-scale testing of new Optimizing IMTA species component stocking sea lice, leading to reduced sea lice numbers infrastructure components, including densities and infrastructure orientation to on cultivated salmon? integration of energy alternatives to increase maximize overall system efficiency operational efficiencies Quantifying the capture and conversion Evaluating the performance of proposed efficiencies of species being considered for Social implications of IMTA and existing IMTA sites using an ecosystem organic extraction in open-water IMTA systems modelling approach Use of Blue Mussels as a biological means to A variation on the IMTA theme for land-based, reduce the horizontal transmission of Loma Quantifying energy and nutrient dispersal freshwater aquaculture operations: the salmonae (agent of microsporidial gill disease and scales of influence on wild species from development of freshwater IMTA for salmon of salmon) open-water IMTA sites and aquatic plants Cultivation of complementary inorganic Mathematical modelling for open-water IMTA Quantifying temporal and spatial patterns of extractive species for increased system – Developing tools to support system design nutrient and organic particle plumes in IMTA performance and measures of sustainability systems — the basis for system design Presence, effect of and bioaccumulation The role of microbes in the nutrient recycling Extensive versus intensive IMTA of therapeutants in polychaetes of organic material from IMTA sites systems — hydrographic influences and the implications to infrastructure design and Economic and financial modelling of IMTA operational efficiency

48 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 CIMTAN

CIMTAN: The Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network The Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN) industrialists of tomorrow to be innovative and build a more diversified and is a NSERC strategic network that was initiated in 2010. It integrates responsible aquaculture sector. academic knowledge and industrial know-how in a formal network that One of the incremental benefits of a network approach includes access combines a strategic approach, inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and to an enlarged equipment and tool inventory at academic institutions multi-sectoral strengths, and shared expertise to develop and advance and government laboratories. Conducting experimental research on innovative and improved environmentally-responsible aquaculture the east and west coasts in a concerted manner allows the acquisition of technologies and practices. The aim of CIMTAN research is to ecologically complementary and compatible information, hence increasing research engineer systems for increased environmental sustainability (ecosystem outputs and outcomes and reducing redundancies in research efforts. services and green technologies for improved ecosystem health), Moreover, by gathering data on a wide geographical and temporal basis, economic stability (improved output, lower costs, product diversification, with a wide range of environmental conditions, more generalized trends risk reduction, and job creation in coastal and rural communities), and may be discerned, which will allow for the design of more robust systems societal acceptability (better management practices, improved regulatory and policies, taking into consideration both the universality of some governance, nutrient trading credit incentives, and appreciation of aspects and the regional specificity of others. differentiated and safe products). At the mid-point of its tenure, CIMTAN has produced a diversified array CIMTAN is providing inter-disciplinary research and development and of documents and media directed at different audiences: 22 refereed highly qualified personnel (HQP) training in the following linked areas: 1) journal papers, 15 refereed conference publications, 7 book chapters, ecological design, ecosystem interactions, and biomitigative efficiency; edited 1 issue of the Bulletin of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, 13 2) system innovation and engineering; 3) economic viability and societal non-refereed publications, 132 abstracts, 17 lectures given at academic acceptance; and 4) regulatory science; all of which will facilitate the institutions, 1 technical report, 1 Wikipedia article, 7 YouTube videos, 15 commercialization of IMTA in Canada. The Network is organized into CIMTAN Snippets newsletters, and 389 media contacts (magazine articles, three linked Domains reflecting the four linked areas identified above: newspapers/radio/TV interviews and documentaries). Domain 1 (environmental system performance and species interactions) is comprised of 10 projects of an environmental nature; Domain 2 (system The following research articles in this section describe each of the initial 14 design and engineering) is comprised of 4 projects of an engineering projects of CIMTAN and two new projects, begun in September 2012: nature; and both are linked by the cross-cutting Domain 3 (economic • Evaluating the performance of proposed and existing IMTA sites using analyses and social implications, with 2 projects), as biological, an ecosystem modeling approach; environmental, biotechnological, and engineering issues are always • A variation on the IMTA theme for land-based, freshwater aquaculture linked to economic aspects and social acceptability. Each Domain is co-led operations: the development of freshwater IMTA for salmon and aquatic by a scientist at an academic institution and one at a DFO laboratory. plants. The Network consists of 27 scientists from 8 universities, 6 federal government laboratories (DFO), 1 provincial government laboratory (New jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 Brunswick Research and Productivity Council), and 4 industrial partners: Funded by: NSERC Strategic Network Program CO-FUNDED BY: DFO; UNB; NBRPC; Cooke Aquaculture Inc.; Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd.; Marine Harvest Canada Ltd.; Cooke Aquaculture Inc., Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd., Marine Harvest Canada Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. Ltd., and Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. who joined the Network in April 2012. project lead: Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) The Network is hosted by the University of New Brunswick in Saint John Project team AND AFFILIATIONS: Thierry Chopin, Bruce MacDonald, Adrian Hamer, (UNBSJ). Training of HQPs is a very high priority for CIMTAN, with the Meryl Coes (UNBSJ); Gregor Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS); Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS); training of 81 completed or in progress out of the 114 planned for the entire Maycira Costa (UVic); Chris Pearce (DFO – PBS); Duncan Knowler (SFU); Saleem Rahman (DFO – EAS) life of the Network: 35 summer students, 18 MSc, 2 MASc, 7 MA/MRM collaborators AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS: Fisheries and Oceans Canada; graduate students, 3 PhD students, 6 postdoctoral fellows, 9 technicians, The New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council; Cooke Aquaculture Inc.; and 1 research associate. There has been significant mobility of HQPs and Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd.; Marine Harvest Canada Ltd.; Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. investigators within projects and between east and west coast projects, Contact: [email protected] as it is important to develop a versatile and inter-disciplinary workforce if www.cimtan.ca we want the scientists, policy influencers, decision makers, regulators and

Polar plots of relative current speeds and headings measured at a 5 m depth over several tidal cycles. Plots are shown at their relative locations within a mussel polar circle raft at an IMTA site in the Bay of Fundy. These data help to determine the frequency of particle delivery from Atlantic Salmon cages and how current velocities, around Blue Mussel socks at different locations within the polar circle raft, may affect particle clearance and particle depletion rates of co-cultured shellfish. Photo: Gregor Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS)

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Can filter-feeding bivalves ingest planktonic sea lice, Quantifying the capture leading to reduced sea lice numbers on cultivated and conversion efficiencies salmon? of species being considered for organic extraction in open-water IMTA systems This project evaluates the potential for several species of invertebrates to act as extractive species for IMTA on both the east coast and the west coast of Canada and determines the digestibility coefficients of Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria). In British Columbia (BC), a number of marine invertebrate species are candidates for use in open-water IMTA with Sablefish. These include both filter-feeding bivalves (e.g., cockles and mussels), which would consume the finer suspended particulates from the finfish culture component, and deposit/detrital feeders (e.g., sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and prawns), which would feed on the heavier-settleable solids. The following candidate species were tested for their ability to consume Sablefish faeces and uneaten Sablefish feed in laboratory feeding trials: Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis), Basket Cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii), Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis), Spot Prawn (Pandalus platyceros), and California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus). In New TOP: Janis Webb holding a scallop next Brunswick, the Orange-footed Sea Cucumber to her experimental set up at the DFO (Cucumaria frondosa) was assessed for its ability Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Photo: Julie Vanderbor to absorb waste food and faeces at Atlantic left: Sea lice and Basket Cockle on Salmon (Salmo salar) IMTA sites. All six species separate petri dishes. Photo: Janis Webb (DFO) tested could successfully extract organic material from aquaculture wastes and information on the characteristics of the faeces egested by the candidate species will provide information on bio-deposition rates and input data for models predicting the environmental impact of IMTA. Digestibility coefficients in Sablefish were found to be greater when the fish were reared at warmer temperatures and fed more frequently.

Filter-feeding shellfish suspendedat salmon of sea lice larvae ingested; larger scallops and jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 farms might reduce sea lice infections of the oysters consumed more larvae than smaller project lead: Bruce MacDonald (UNBSJ) fish and the need for chemotherapeutants if sizes of the same species. This laboratory phase Project team: Stephen Cross (UVic); Chris Pearce, bivalves consume sufficient quantities of sea of the CIMTAN project is now complete. Based Dan Curtis (DFO – PBS); Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS); lice larvae from the water column. A laboratory on the knowledge gained, field trials have Gregor Reid (UNBSJ, DFO – SABS); Helen Gurney-Smith (VIU – CSR); Shannon Balfry (UBC – Vancouver Aquarium); study, involving Basket Cockles, Pacific Oysters, begun at a BC salmon farm where oysters and Emily Nelson, Kurt Simmons (UNBSJ); Lindsay Orr (UVic); Pacific Scallops, and mussels and examining mussels have been suspended immediately Steven Pace (UBC) the effects of temperature, presence/absence beside salmon net pens to determine whether Contact: [email protected] of phytoplankton, and bivalve size, clearly they may, indeed, act as biological controllers of demonstrated that all the tested species larvae, reducing sea lice infections on the fish. consumed quantities of sea lice larvae under the various conditions. The live larvae were offered jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 to the shellfish at a much greater density than project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO – PBS) might occur at a salmon farm. Of the conditions Project team: Stephen Cross, Janis Webb (UVic); Simon Jones (DFO – PBS); Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS); tested, only size (tested with oysters and David Stirling (VIU) scallops) had a significant effect on the quantity Contact: [email protected]

Sea cucumbers, Cucumaria frondosa, held in individual flow-through containers in a laboratory absorption efficiency experiment. Photo: Lindsay Orr (UVic)

50 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 CIMTAN

A variation on the IMTA theme for land-based, freshwater Quantifying temporal aquaculture operations: the development of freshwater and spatial patterns of IMTA for salmon and aquatic plants nutrient and organic The IMTA concept is not confinedto into biomass of commercial value. Of course, particle plumes in IMTA open-water, marine systems using finfish the extractive species and infrastructures will systems — the basis for for the fed component and seaweeds and be different from what we have developed so system design invertebrates for the extractive components. far at open-seawater sites. From an economic It has to be conceived as an extremely flexible and marketing perspective, it will also be most On the west coast, this project is tracking concept: a central/overarching theme on interesting to develop an overall system where the particulate plume dispersing from the which many variations can be developed. Its salmon will be IMTA-produced from the egg to fish cages at the Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd. IMTA principles can also be applied to land-based, the plate, as this will help considerably in the site with optical instrumentation and in situ closed-containment and freshwater systems certification scheme and in obtaining premium biophysical data. Results are showing in-cage (sometimes called aquaponics). So far, we prices. We are presently investigating the versus out-cage differences in particulate have been working on developing IMTA for the potential for developing FIMTA systems for the concentrations and in-cage increases in seawater grow-out phase of Atlantic Salmon Atlantic Salmon hatcheries operated in NB by particulates with time after feeding. Similar (Salmo salar) aquaculture. However, if salmon Cooke Aquaculture Inc. Both flow-through and optical work is underway in NB to understand spend between 1.5 to 2 years in seawater pens, recirculating facilities are being assessed to the timing, magnitude, spatial extent and it is after they have spent between 9 and 18 design the most appropriate FIMTA systems, dispersion of particulate and dissolved months in freshwater hatcheries. Freshwater based on water quality and flow, nutrient nutrients. Detailed current speeds and IMTA (FIMTA) is the combination of animal concentrations and bioavailability, temperature, headings are measured over different tidal aquaculture with plant hydroponic cultivation. light, space availability, plant candidates, and cycles within mussel polar circle rafts to help In such systems, effluents become nutrients for economic viability. determine the frequency of particle delivery the plants instead of potentially accumulating from Atlantic Salmon cages and how current or being released downstream from the sept. 2012 – dec. 2014 velocities around Blue Mussel socks, at operation. From an environmental perspective, project lead: Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) different locations within the polar circle rafts, it is the same strategy of recapturing lost Project team: Hamid Khoda Bakhsh, Stacy Murray may affect particle clearance and particle (UNBSJ) nutrients and energy and converting them depletion rates of co-cultured shellfish. For Contact: [email protected] both coasts, hydrographic and biophysical data are being integrated into site specific models that will serve as tools for predicting Extensive versus intensive IMTA systems — hydrographic organic and inorganic waste dispersion, influences and the implications to infrastructure selecting and designing efficient IMTA sites, and locating appropriately the extractive design and operational efficiency components of IMTA systems so that they can that included a major winter storm and; 2) intercept the plumes. The project is further an analysis of tidal behaviour and dissipation evaluating the use of the kelp Saccharina throughout the Sound. Together they have latissima as an in situ bioassay to delimit the provided a better understanding of far-field inorganic nutrient plume associated with the influences on the infrastructure at the IMTA Sablefish fed component. site. Wind and river discharge forcing fields are presently being assembled in the model since jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 in situ data from a weather station started to be project lead: Maycira Costa (UVic) acquired. On the east coast, preliminary results Project team: Stephen Cross, Emrys Prussin, Justin Del Bel Belluz (UVic); Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ); of the effects of salmon cages and mussel socks Gregor Reid (UNBSJ, DFO – SABS); Fred Page on flow fields are showing some evidence of (DFO – SABS); Peter Cranford (DFO – BIO); Jon Grant, damping effect. From these results, a protocol Lindsay Brager, Ramón Filguiera (Dalhousie U.) identifying what and where to measure in Contact: [email protected] relation to the mussel polar circle raft outflow has been developed. Further, data from dye Di Wan with a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) dispersal experiments have identified a high instrument. Photo: Di Wan (UVic) degree of site specific variability of near and far This project is examining flow patterns in field dispersal patterns. relation to farm infrastructure by observing localized tidal influences, effects of wind and jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 impacts of the farm structure itself. To address project lead: Gregor Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS) this, circulation modelling in Kyuquot Sound is Project team: Fred Page (DFO – SABS); Mike Foreman (DFO – IOS); Stephen Cross, Di Wan (UVic) being developed focusing on: 1) a simulation The Acrobat undulating sensor vehicle used in the search for the period of February 22 to March 11, 2011 Contact: [email protected] for organic particle fish waste plumes. Photo: Stephen Cross (UVic)

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Design and pilot-scale Social implications of IMTA testing of new infrastructure components, including integration of energy alternatives to increase operational efficiencies This project aims to investigate the potential for incorporation of renewable energy technologies into IMTA sites. The project is focused on the Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd. (KSL) Shellfish aquaculture boat in Baynes Sound, BC. Photo: Brian Kingzett west coast IMTA site as a test location for the modelling, installation and testing of a Many coastal First Nations communities in articulation with the existing industry. Moreover, renewable energy system. Model of the loads BC are highly dependent on fisheries for their the ‘social acceptance’ of any emerging and measurements of the various renewable livelihoods. In response to declining wild stocks, aquaculture industry in BC will be a central issue. energy resources at the site were assembled, some communities have engaged in fisheries Accordingly, this inquiry explores the costs/ and the optimal energy system was determined enhancement programmes while others have benefits of the shellfish aquaculture industry for to consist of a photovoltaic (PV) solar array with developed commercial aquaculture businesses. individuals living in Baynes Sound communities, battery storage and a small diesel generator The development of aquaculture, particularly and how those costs and benefits are distributed. backup. The original system was to only power finfish, within First Nations traditional territories, Preliminary findings center on jobs provided, the winches on a moveable tram shellfish however, has become increasingly controversial. ecological impacts, noise and ‘viewscape’ husbandry system, but recent analysis and While some believe aquaculture can contribute pollution, alienation of other ocean uses, and consultation with KSL has expanded the system to community social and economic development, a perceived lack of transparency in decision- design to include motive power for the tram others view it as a threat to traditional ways making. The development of a sustainable IMTA which is currently diesel operated. Final design of life. The purpose of one of our projects is to industry will also require the development of work for a ‘power trailer’ to supply the full loads improve our understanding of the concerns that effective governance structures. Accordingly, of the tram is ongoing, and when installed will different First Nations communities have with the a third project is looking at the role of science, include an array of sensors and equipment to development of shellfish and finfish aquaculture litigation, and public opinion in the contestation monitor the performance of the PV-battery within their traditional territories, and to assess and negotiation of aquaculture governance bank-genset system. The aim is to validate the role that IMTA could play in alleviating them. in Canada, with particular emphasis on the the system models while at the same time Another project is looking at the implications implications for IMTA and industry legitimization. developing a modular and scalable renewable of the emergence of IMTA on the resilience energy system for other IMTA sites. and well-being of coastal community social- jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 ecological systems. This project stems from the project lead: Mark Flaherty (UVic) jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 observation that IMTA initiatives will not arise Project team: Grant Murray, Linda D’Anna (VIU); project lead: Curran Crawford (UVic) Anna Belanger, Katie Tebbutt, Erin Latham (UVic) in a vacuum and that any movement towards Project team: Stephen Cross, Eric Hoevenaars, Contact: [email protected] Adam Gray (UVic); Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) IMTA will involve an evolution from and/or an Contact: [email protected]

Use of Blue Mussels as a biological means to reduce the horizontal transmission of Loma salmonae (agent of microsporidial gill disease of salmon) In an effort to better understand and predict is underway to more fully understand the the interactions of disease causing agents dynamics of uptake, persistence, degradation, within an IMTA setting, we have developed a and the role of environmental variables, of laboratory based model system to study the this spore-producing pathogen within Blue fate of a microsporidian fish pathogen (Loma Mussels. Results from these studies will provide salmonae) within extractive shellfish species. aquaculturists with the necessary data to make Loma salmonae, which transmits between fish the best choices regarding harvest times of via an environmentally resistant spore, has different resources within an IMTA setting. been shown to be taken up by Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) where the spore can remain jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 viable for at least three weeks. On the one hand, project lead: David Speare (UPEI – AVC) this suggests that mussels may serve a role in Project team: Jan Lovy, Nicole Guselle, Sarah McConnachie (UPEI – AVC) bioremediation, but it also cautions that shellfish The SEAtram shellfish system and hoists developed at the Contact: [email protected] Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd. IMTA site. Photo: Eric Hoevenaars may act as a reservoir for fish pathogens. Work (UVic)

52 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 CIMTAN

Cultivation of complementary inorganic extractive Presence, effect of species for increased system performance and bioaccumulation of therapeutants in polychaetes Nereis virens, an annelid worm, is being considered as a co-extractive species in IMTA. Our research question relates to the potential for this species to be affected by pesticides and drugs used to treat Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) against infestations of sea lice. The drug emamectin benzoate (EB), while not lethal to N. virens at environmentally relevant concentrations, has been shown to affect burrowing behaviour and to reduce worm growth at those concentrations. These results suggest that the use of EB may negatively affect worms and limit their potential to be grown in IMTA situations. Testing is underway to determine how the pesticide, deltamethrin, affects N. virens.

jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 project lead: Les Burridge (DFO – SABS) Project team: Karen Kidd, Thierry Chopin, Geoff McBriarty (UNBSJ); Gregor Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS); Shawn Robinson, Jordana Van Geest (DFO – SABS) Contact: [email protected] Cultivation on twine of young blades of the red alga Palmaria palmata (Dulse). Photo: Constanza Chianale (UNBSJ)

The inorganic extractive component of in fish feed formulations as alternate protein the IMTA system on the east coast has been sources to fishmeal and land plant proteins. the two kelps Saccharina latissima and Alaria On the west coast, the potential of integrating esculenta since 2001. On the west coast, Ulva sp. cultivation into the system design is Saccharina latissima has been cultivated since underway to determine the level of production 2007. These seaweeds are cultivated first in that could be generated within the infrastructure the laboratory, from September to November, configuration, and the potential value of this and then at the sites from November to June/ seaweed as a feed additive to fish feeds. July. They need to be harvested in late spring/ early summer before the erosion of the blades, jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 and their fouling, compromise the harvest and project lead: Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) quality of the derived products. The project is Project team: Constanza Chianale, Ellen Belyea (UNBSJ); Stephen Cross, Nick Sherrington (UVic) now investigating two new candidate species, Palmaria palmata (Dulse) on the east coast Contact: [email protected] and Ulva sp. (Sea Lettuce) on the west coast, 30 – day experiment testing the effect of emamectin whose cycles and characteristics allow growth benzoate on the polychaete worm Nereis virens. The of the macroscopic stages during the summer sediment used is silica sand from Fisher Scientific and the worms are from the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture to provide biomitigative biomass during that Research in Franklin, Maine, USA. Photo: Geoff McBriarty time of the year and, consequently, an overall (UNBSJ) increase of the inorganic biomitigative capacity of the IMTA systems. On the east coast, results accumulated so far have provided significant information on the biology of P. palmata, especially during fall and winter when very little information is available on this species. The optimal culture conditions and methods for the different stages of the life cycle are now being A line of the cultivated kelp, Alaria esculenta, at an IMTA defined. Research is also underway to explore site in the Bay of Fundy, NB. Photo: Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) the use of seaweeds for partial substitution

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 53 CIMTAN

Economic and financial modelling of IMTA Optimizing IMTA species component stocking densities and infrastructure orientation to maximize overall system efficiency Understanding the dynamics of the flow of energy within an IMTA farm site will be important in helping practitioners design the systems of the future. Initially, IMTA developed independently on each coast, with integrated aquaculture systems being developed through modifications of existing infrastructures used for the culture of salmon within these regions. Although each regional development has examined the potential of IMTA on differing primary infrastructures (cage system configurations), the position of the various extractive species within the water column are similar and, in fact, dictated not by a desired husbandry-related need, but rather The Seattle Fishermen’s Wharf Market was visited by Winnie Yip to conduct interviews with consumers. Photo: Winnie Yip by their inherent and individual biological/ ecological requirements (i.e., food availability, In 2012, this project completed one study classes that ranged from 3.5% to 41.6% for light, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and began two others. The former study IMTA, over conventionally produced Atlantic levels, water flows, wave exposure, etc.). investigated the willingness-to-pay for IMTA Salmon, while CCA enjoyed only modest price The objectives of this project are to assess versus closed containment aquaculture (CCA) premiums. The new studies will implement a the characteristics of IMTA sites in BC and in salmon in the USA Pacific Northwest. Results of valuation study to value the ecosystem benefits NB, based on the existing studies to-date, a discrete choice experiment (DCE), combined of IMTA and evaluate nutrient credits as an and to determine what the potential future with a latent class analysis (LCA), revealed a incentive for the adoption of IMTA. configurations might be through a combination willingness-to-pay a price premium of 9.8% of empirical studies and modelling. This project jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 and 3.9% for IMTA and CCA, respectively. It was designed to start later in the CIMTAN project lead: Duncan Knowler (SFU) was also revealed that 44.3% and 16.3% of the research cycle and is just now being initiated. respondents preferred the adoption of IMTA Project team: Winnie Yip, Kim Irwin, Stephen Crampton (SFU) and CCA to conventional salmon farming, jan. 2013 – dec. 2014 Contact: [email protected] respectively. A closer look at the LCA results project lead: Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS) identified price premiums for three distinct Project team: Stephen Cross (UVic); Chris Pearce (DFO – PBS); Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ) Contact: [email protected] Evaluating the performance of proposed and existing IMTA sites using an ecosystem modelling approach This project recently began as a result of last cages as porous structures. In order to create year’s CIMTAN technical workshop entitled an ecosystem model of an IMTA site and “Spatial Modelling of Integrated Multi-Trophic surrounding waters, FVCOM is being coupled Aquaculture Shellfish”. While modelling efforts to a shellfish scope for growth model, an algal were progressing with the inorganic extractive sub-model and a fish sub-model. This approach component (e.g., kelps) and deposit feeders will enable comparisons of shellfish produced in (e.g., sea urchins), it became clear that typical an IMTA system to production in a monoculture mass balance modelling techniques could system, as a means to describe growth, nutrient not adequately capture system dynamics of abatement potential and facilitate management co-cultured shellfish, on combined diets of decisions. natural and fish farm particulates, under the Sept. 2012 – dec. 2014 high temporal and spatial resolutions necessary Salmon aquaculture farm in the Bay of Fundy, NB. Polar to describe an IMTA system. Consequently, project lead: Jon Grant (Dalhousie U.) circle cages are arranged over a square sub-surface grid modifications to the Finite Volume Community Project team: Gregor Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS); configuration. Photo: Cooke Aquaculture Inc. Ramón Filgueira (Dalhousie U.) Ocean Model (FVCOM) used by DFO are presently underway to enable operation Contact: [email protected] at resolutions of 10 m while including fish

54 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 CIMTAN

Quantifying energy and nutrient dispersal and scales of Mathematical modelling influence on wild species from open-water IMTA sites for open-water IMTA accumulation and instantaneous growth rates – Developing tools to for colonising species such as the Vase Tunicate support system design and (Ciona intestinalis) and their proximity to fed measures of sustainability aquaculture sites in the field and measured levels of feed exposure in the laboratory. In Developing IMTA practices aim to reduce addition, we are investigating the possibility the load of soluble inorganic (e.g., ammonia of using the variations in colour characteristics and phosphate) and solid organic nutrients (chroma, hue and lightness measured with a (e.g., faeces and waste feed), while providing colour spectrometer) in three seaweeds (the additional ‘crops’ for diversification. Quantifying green alga Ulva lactuca, the red algae Palmaria the transfer and sequestration potential of palmata and Porphyra purpurea) as a faster nutrients in open-water IMTA is important and cheaper proxy for algal tissue nitrogen for metrics of sustainability and bioeconomic content determination to replace tedious and decisions. This project investigates the Andrew Cooper and Jonathan Day installing PVC expensive chemical elemental analyses. These efficiencies of species groups that sequester biocollecting plates at an IMTA site. Photo: Gregor Reid new methods will provide tools for CIMTAN to soluble inorganic nutrients (e.g., seaweeds), investigate further performance of IMTA with ingest organic particulates (e.g., shellfish) and New monitoring techniques need to be respect to nutrient recycling in the environment. those that ingest the larger organic material developed to quantify nutrient availability that can settle (e.g., deposit feeders). The way and dispersal from open-water IMTA sites in jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 these groups interact with each other, as part wild species. New work includes developing project lead: Andrew Cooper (DFO – SABS) of a complete system, and with the external robust procedures (biocolonisation rates of Project team: Thierry Chopin, Jonathan Day (UNBSJ); environment, is presently being modelled. Shawn Robinson, Fred Page, Les Burridge (DFO – SABS) PVC biocollecting plates and RNA/DNA ratio) One example of the work currently under to quantify correlations between biomass Contact: [email protected] way is the investigation of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) as a representative deposit feeder in IMTA systems. The role of microbes in the nutrient recycling of organic Sea urchin scope for growth on diets of kelp (Saccharina latissima; a natural food source), material from IMTA sites salmon feed and salmon faeces are being This project is documenting the abundance modelled with the results compared to actual jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 of microbes in and around aquaculture sites, growth. Respiration, excretion and absorption project lead: Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS) identifying the species mix present and efficiencies are being measured for model Project team: Ben Forward (NBRPC); Thierry Chopin, measuring their metabolic activity on organic Brent Ellis, David Thumbi (UNBSJ); Terralynn Lander inputs. Understanding the metabolic response carbon for incorporation into the energy flow (DFO – SABS) and growth of the Green Sea Urchin on diets of models of the IMTA sites. The work is occurring Contact: [email protected] salmon culture organics will guide future use of on IMTA sites in both the Bay of Fundy in NB this species in IMTA systems to help reduce the and Kyuquot Sound in BC. Epifluorescent amount of organic carbon reaching the benthos microscopic techniques using DNA stains while providing additional potential for market are being used for enumeration; Denaturing diversification. Data from this and several other Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) is used for CIMTAN projects are used to supply IMTA model identification; and oxygen optode technology inputs. Some of these modelling efforts recently is used to measure oxygen uptake. The first supported a Fisheries and Oceans Canada phase of the research was to study the microbial Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat peer- populations in the water column. Results review on the organic extractive component indicate that for respiration rates, organism of IMTA in the Bay of Fundy. Ultimately, project counts, and species composition, there is more results will help us understand the system variation with depth than there is in horizontal performance of open-water IMTA from a distance from the site suggesting that the Digitized image of bacteria, on a 0.2 µm pore size filter, physical, biological and economic perspective, tidal mixing may be important in determining captured in the water column around an IMTA site. to assist with informed decision making at the microbial densities around farms. The sampling Bacterial nucleic acids have been stained with DAPI stain farm and ecosystem management level. in order to visualize the number of organisms. Photo: will be continued over different seasons. Terralynn Lander (DFO) jan. 2010 – dec. 2014 project lead: Gregor K. Reid (UNBSJ/DFO – SABS) Project team: Bruce MacDonald, Thierry Chopin (UNBSJ); Tillmann Benfey, Nicole Leavitt (UNBF); Peter Cranford (DFO – BIO); Shawn Robinson (DFO – SABS); Margaret Quinton (U. Guelph) Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 55

SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

Proof of concept of a scalable hatchery system An investigation of the lipid and fatty acid Genomic and physiological processes during using modular principles to increase production composition of the Blue Mussel with reference the larval ontogeny of the Blue Mussel: and survival for commercially important Mytilus to palatability and taste during conditions of impact of eicosanoid precursors species extended holding Technical-economic assessment of an Development of genomic health assessment New and innovative equipment for mussel integrated mussel post-harvest process tools for marine mussels (MYT-OMICS) processing industry The Eider Spider: Development and Design, installation and assessment of an Comparison of the health and condition of experimental testing of a novel method to innovative duck deterrent system to reduce cultured mussels from deep and shallow deter sea duck predation on mussel farms predation of high value aquaculture Mytilus water sites in Newfoundland with reference product and minimize duck mortality to environmental conditions, condition index, Developing an innovative treatment system for physiological stress and lipid biochemistry Vase Tunicate fouling on cultured Blue Mussels Increasing vacuum packaging efficiencies in Blue Mussel processing A project to develop and introduce automated, Impact of biotic and abiotic factors on the digital imaging technology to the grading mechanical properties of the byssus of the Arctic ice boom innovation for mussel farm process in Canadian mussel plants Blue Mussel: a marketable biomaterial protection Mussel larvae production enhancement Culture density, biomass-density relationship, Improvement of quality and productivity by restocking mussel beds in Bassin du and self-thinning in molluscs associated with live Blue Mussel inspection Havre-Aubert, Magdalen Islands through the installation of automated sorting Bioenergetics and mollusc food ingestion equipment Evaluation of Blue Mussel processing plant holding systems in PEI

56 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

Proof of concept of a scalable hatchery system using Development of genomic modular principles to increase production and survival health assessment tools for commercially important Mytilus species for marine mussels uses green technologies that reduces energy (MYT-OMICS) requirements and improves environmental The BC coastline is under increasing pressure performance. The increasing demand for from competing coastal zone utilization and mussels and the relatively high value of the potential climate change impacts, highlighting quality-controlled Island Sea Farms product the need for effective diagnostic tools of presents an opportunity to market the new coastal ecosystem health and function. One technology to interested growers in the of the major problems in assessing shellfish BC shellfish industry as well as to mussel health is how to determine the organism’s producers around the world. response to multiple stressing agents in the Island Sea Farms has calculated the innovative natural environment such as temperature, modular hatchery will increase the production salinity, oxygen levels and diet as well as to of mussel seed by 50%. The three modules anthropogenic effects such as xenobiotic Grant Hunt and the mussel larvae rearing tanks. Photo: (algal production, larval production, and pollution and aquaculture husbandry methods. Paul Simpson (Island Sea Farms) nursery culture) have been constructed, Unexplained shellfish mortalities in four major integrated and optimized to create greater BC aquaculture companies accounted for $6 Mussels are one of the fastest growing efficiencies and enhance output. Each module million in lost sales in 2007 alone. It is likely aquaculture products and the market demand was designed to be constructed separately and that the complex interaction of these factors is far exceeds the current supply. Unfortunately, scaled to production requirements allowing for responsible for the mass mortality events seen, the lack of appropriate mussel seed has incremental increase as required or over time. although it is not known to what extent each hindered industry development. factor contributes and what combinations result Island Sea Farms, a BC mussel production APR. 2011 – MAR. 2012 in fatalities. company has designed an innovative hatchery Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Klahoose First Marine mussels (Mytilus spp.) are dominant for mussels that will increase the production of Nation members of coastal and estuarine communities seed by 50%. The reliable supply of additional project lead: Paul Simpson (Island Sea Farms) and are established worldwide keystone bio- seed will be used to stabilize and expand Project team: Paul Simpson, Grant Hunt, Wendy Brown, indicator species and aquaculture organisms. the BC industry through joint venture and Ingrid Niamath, Greg Steine (Island Sea Farms); Within this project we will develop genomic Kathy Francis (Klahoose First Nation) other collaborative culture arrangements information and tools for use in the study of with current shellfish growers and First collaborators: Klahoose First Nation; World Fisheries Trust Mytilus spp. We will use these tools to examine Nations. The innovative hatchery design the stress responses of Mytilus spp. with the Contact: [email protected] goal of understanding the causes of seasonal mortality. An understanding of the factors Design, installation and assessment of an innovative responsible for significant mortality events can duck deterrent system to reduce predation of high be used by the shellfish industry to develop management practices to reduce their losses. value aquaculture Mytilus product and minimize duck In addition genomic information and tools mortality developed within this program will be available Like other mussel aquaculture growing the combination of these three elements that for use by other research groups. This project areas of the country, British Columbia has make it possible to address all of the current is complementary to our Genome BC project experienced significant losses due to marine problems. funded under the Science Opportunities Fund program. diving duck predation. Current techniques Predation by diving ducks is the main problem for mitigating loss from duck predation are for the mussel culture industry in BC and sept. 2009 – june 2012 ineffective, frequently results in death of the many other areas of Canada. The use of this Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research duck, and often becomes a safety hazard for innovative system will remove a constraint and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Taylor farm workers and divers. Island Sea Farms Shellfish Canada; Genome BC Science Opportunities to sustainable production while increasing Fund has developed an innovative duck predator the competitiveness of the Canadian mussel project lead: [email protected] deterrent system to reduce predation of farm industry in a healthy and productive ecosystem. raised mussels and to minimize harm to ducks. Project team: Helen Gurney-Smith, Don Tillapaugh (VIU) collaborators: Bill Taylor (Taylor Shellfish Canada) The innovative Duck Deterrent System was Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 designed with three parts — an unique net Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Contact: [email protected] Access Program (AIMAP) system that envelopes groups or single rafts project lead: Paul Simpson (Island Sea Farms Inc.) with protection under the rafts as well as on the Project team: Ron Francis, Linda Hiemstra (Island Sea sides, a specially designed net deployment and Farms Inc.); Samantha Richman (U. Rhode Island); Erika retrieval platform to efficiently handle the net Lok (Canadian Wildlife Service); Gregor Reid (DFO) envelopes, and a net maintenance and cleaning collaborators: Campbell River Netloft system, re-purposed from the salmon farming Contact: [email protected] industry, to remove heavy bio-fouling. It is www.islandscallops.com

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 57 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

Increasing vacuum Arctic ice boom innovation for mussel farm protection packaging efficiencies in Blue Mussel processing Allen’s Fisheries Ltd. (AFL) in partnership with Badger Bay Mussel Farms Ltd. proposes to upgrade their vacuum packaging equipment for Blue Mussels. This specific processing equipment is currently being used for European mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis; at Allen’s the equipment will be used to process Blue Mussels, Mytilus edulis. Vacuum packaging of mussels is a way to deal with the peaks and valleys of production due to the natural inconsistencies in farm based supply. This vacuum packaging equipment will be the first of its kind in North America. Unlike North American companies, European companies are further advanced; they spend more time and resources in research and development of processing equipment. Europe is focused Protection from bay ice damage by the use of an ice boom. Photo: L.C. Halfyard (Sunrise Fish Farms Inc.) on equipment efficiencies and reducing the New ice boom technology is being developed Atlantic Marine Services Inc. is leading the amount of labour needed to complete a task. by Sunrise Fish Farms Inc., one of the fabrication and breaking strength testing of the For instance, the debysser has a higher speed Newfoundland pioneers for cultured Blue new ice boom system. The design includes a and is said to give a better product with less Mussel technology for our cold Arctic waters. submerged skirt system that will allow bay ice breakages than the North American equipment. To meet the demand for increased production, to catch in the mesh, preventing the boom from This is an opportunity to adopt equipment from security of existing and new growout waters is lifting, and preventing ice slipping underneath other markets to make the product competitive necessary. Many sites on the northeast coast as occurs for a typical surface boom. The boom in international markets. Advancements in of NL are at risk during the winter/spring ice will be in place before freeze-up in December vacuum packaging equipment will lead to a conditions. Existing ice boom technology helps 2012, allowing in-situ performance testing better product line as a cheaper cost to the to control most bay ice conditions, but has during the 2013 winter season. processing industry. limitations when winds and currents allow ice to slice under the boom to enter the site, and APR. 2012 – mar. 2013 APR. 2011 – dec. 2012 potentially damage floats and mussel lines. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP); National Research Council Access Program (AIMAP) Partners in this project include North Atlantic (NRC) project lead: Craig Allen (Allen’s Fisheries Ltd.) Marine Services Inc. in its St. John’s and Halifax project lead: Laura C. Halfyard (Sunrise Fish Farms Inc.) Project team: Craig Allen, Sean Allen (Allen’s fabricating facilities. Also, C-CORE, based at Project team: A. Job Halfyard, Trenton Johanson Fisheries Ltd.) the Memorial University of Newfoundland, (Sunrise Fish Farms Inc.) Contact: [email protected] is providing engineering advice on local ice collaborators: North Atlantic Marine Services Inc.; C-CORE www.allensfisheries.com conditions, as well as potential stresses on the ice boom and shore mooring systems. North Contact: [email protected]

Improvement of quality and productivity associated with live Blue Mussel inspection through the installation of automated sorting equipment Allen’s Fisheries Ltd. (AFL) proposes to AFL has completed preliminary investigation performance is significantly reduced as the purchase and install an automatic sorting and into available technology and have concluded shift progresses and is influenced by employee defect removal system supplied by Best Sorting the processing advantages of incorporating vision, process lighting and worker fatigue. Systems Inc., Belgium, to improve the quality new automating sorting technology. The use of live Blue Mussels processed at the plant and of automatic sorting systems will provide APR. 2012 – mar. 2013 improve plant productivity. The technology improved finished product quality, increased Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Fisheries does not exist in Canada and has not been used productivity and volume. The system would Technology and New Opportunities Program (DFA- to sort mussels. provide inspection capacity up to 8,000 kg FTNOP); National Research Council (NRC) The goals/objectives of this project are to per hour or double the current production project lead: Sean Allen (Allen’s Fisheries Ltd.) improve productivity and quality of finished level. Manual inspection processes are Project team: Richard Allen, Craig Allen (Allen’s Fisheries); Bob Hardy (Hardy Fish Co. Ltd.) mussel products and to reduce producing costs. labour intensive, not always effective and often monotonous. The manual inspector Contact: [email protected] www.allensfisheries.com

58 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

An investigation of the lipid and fatty acid composition of New and innovative the Blue Mussel with reference to palatability and taste equipment for mussel during conditions of extended holding processing industry The Newfoundland mussel culture industry variability in biochemical composition of Blue In 2010, planning began for a major is poised to undergo a period of significant Mussels (Mytilus edulis) with a focus on lipid and retooling at PEI Mussel King concentrating expansion in production and therefore the fatty acid content under industrial standards on modernizing its facility and increasing amount of harvested fresh product will for long-term holding and then, through the its capacity for value added production. increase. In many cases the product may be use of panel taste testing, determine if potential The project had many parts, but the most held at processing facilities awaiting transport. variations in lipid and glycogen content will consideration was given to finding innovative Unfortunately, storage of mussels over longer affect product quality. equipment solutions to automate key processes. periods has been found to result in reduced Specifically, the project was for the purchase of sept. 2011 – MAR. 2013 meat yield, quality, and mortality. Recent work a complete line of equipment for the automated on a related project has indicated a significant Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Norlantic vacuum-packaging of in-shell mussels. This loss in dry weight and condition index in Processors Ltd. equipment installed is the first of its kind in mussels held for as little as one month during project lead: Harry Murray (DFO) the Canadian mussel industry. Generically summer and fall. These types of changes in Project team: Lynn Hobbs, Sharon Kenny, known as a horizontal-form-fill-seal (HFFS) line, meat quality can be reflected in lipid, fatty acid, Gehan Mabrouk (DFO) such equipment is commonly used in many and glycogen content and hence taste and collaborators: Terry Mills (Norlantic Processors Ltd.) packaging applications. However, the special palatability. The current project will examine the Contact: [email protected] challenge of packing whole shell mussels required a fully-customized line with one-of- a-kind innovations. The installation of this Comparison of the health and condition of cultured equipment has been very successful, meeting and exceeding the proponents’ expectations. mussels from deep and shallow water sites in The greatest cost savings resulting from this Newfoundland with reference to environmental project is in the direct labour column. Based on conditions, condition index, physiological stress and the same process steps pre- and post-project, lipid biochemistry Mussel King expects to realize a 75% saving. Film costs are higher, but these are offset with The Newfoundland mussel culture industry and potentially greater water quality which savings in labels. Mastering the mussel pouches is poised to undergo a period of significant should support improved culture conditions at the time of production represents a yearly expansion in production due to increased and a corresponding decrease in animal saving and less waste in product and packaging utilization of existing approved culture sites as stress, ultimately improving mussel condition material. well as the development of new sites. Mussels and health. This project will characterize and are typically cultured in sheltered near shore compare seasonal changes in environmental Pressure to lower costs, a smaller and more areas (river mouths, estuaries, harbours, and conditions in offshore deep water and standard sophisticated labour force, and the need for shallow bays); however, these sites can be coastal shallow water mussel culture sites in new production capabilities have all driven this negatively affected by land run-off, especially Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. Researchers innovative project. during times of significant precipitation, will investigate potential correlations with apr. 2011 – MAr. 2012 exposing mussels to land-based contaminants. mussel condition, physiological stress indicators Funded by: Province of Prince Edward Island co-funded Benthic deposition (i.e., mussel drop off, and lipid biochemistry to determine the by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access faecal material, and rejected particles known environmental sustainability of each culture site. Program (AIMAP); Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) as pseudo-faeces) and increased pressure for *Ecological Carrying Capacity: is the highest project lead: Esther Dockendorff (PEI Mussel King Inc.) lease space in these areas has raised concerns stocking density that can be cultured without Project team: Scott Dockendorff (PEI Mussel King Inc.) regarding the ecological carrying capacity* and compromising other components of the ecosystem Contact: [email protected] sustainability of coastal shallow water culture (for example: phytoplankton depletion) sites. Recent interest in the development of www.peimusselking.com offshore deep water bivalve culture could july 2012 – MAy 2015 potentially reduce many of the issues associated Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and with near-shore sites. Deep water offshore Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Norlantic Processors Ltd. sites show less benthic impacts by deposition, higher chlorophyll concentrations, and project lead: Harry Murray (DFO) experience natural upwelling events which Project team: Kim Hobbs, Sharon Kenny (DFO) can bring additional nutrients and particles collaborators: Terry Mills (Norlantic Processors Ltd.) into the water column. Offshore sites offer a Contact: [email protected] combination of a concentrated food source

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 59 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

A project to develop and introduce automated, digital Mussel larvae production imaging technology to the grading process in Canadian enhancement by mussel plants restocking mussel beds in Bassin du Havre-Aubert, Magdalen Islands Mussel production has been an important part of Magdalen Islands aquaculture industry for the previous thirty years. Natural mussel spat is facilitated via rope collectors set in the shallow Bassin du Havre-Aubert (BHA). This is the first crucial step in the mussel growing process on the Magdalen Islands. When grown sufficiently, juvenile mussels are socked (placed in plastic rope nets) and transferred to one of two mussel farm sites. Since 2004, mussel growers have observed three years in which seed collection in BHA was very poor. Many reasons have been advanced in an attempt to explain this drastic decline of spat abundance. One of them focusses on mussel biomass and, through that, spat production. Blue Mussel imaging sorter. Photo: Confederation Cove Mussels Co. Ltd. Mussel beds were inventoried between 2001 Confederation Cove Mussels Co. Ltd. in a consistent pattern at high speed. and 2009, and it was found that biomass had declined by 98 %. Decreased mussel biomass developed a fully operational mussel grading This new automated grader will change the and wide distribution over BHA could explain system. This innovative grading system uses fundamentals of processing and deliver observed spat declines and, therefore, mussel image acquisition and analysis using a specially significant concrete and indirect benefits to the seed collection success. designed software algorithm to grade mussels at industry including lowering and controlling a high speed. Mussels are fed over four grading labour costs, improving both quality and food Since 2009, Merinov-Centre des Îles has belts and their images are acquired in real time safety performance and making the whole been involved in a new project on mussel to allow grading at a rate of 8 mussels per second grading process more consistent and predictable. bed restoration in BHA. Collectors were first per lane or 25-30 mussels per second per unit. installed at grower installations in the bay. Mussels are separated at high speed for such apr. 2011 – MAr. 2012 The following summer, mussel seeds were elements as size, shape, and meat content, while Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market removed from collectors and grown in socks for also identifying and removing any defective units. Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA); Province of Prince Edward one year to contribute to the spawning effort. Digital imaging technology is dependent Island Finally, mussels were seeded on the bottom on the object being in a consistent location project lead: Len Currie (Confederation Cove Mussels close to grower installations. Results from seed and format to give a repeatable process. The Co. Ltd.) harvesting in the year following the first and greatest technical challenge was resolved Project team: Melanie Waite (Confederation Cove the second restocking attempt have indicated Mussels Co. Ltd.) in the application of the Auxiliary Handling significant success in BHA mussel restoration. collaborators: Lizotte Consultants; Atlantic System Equipment. A great deal of energy was spent Manufacturing on designing mussel handling equipment that June 2011 – Mar. 2014 Contact: [email protected] could effectively singulate and organize mussels Funded by: MAPAQ http://confederationcove.com project lead: Carole Cyr (Merinov) Project team: Carole Cyr, Lisandre G. Solomon, François Bourque (Merinov) Evaluation of Blue Mussel processing plant holding Contact: [email protected] systems in PEI As Blue Mussels become more of a commodity, shock on shelf life, and conducting a preliminary processors are looking for new and improved evaluation of emersion/immersion cycles on holding systems and methods while maintaining mussel shelf life. high product quality. Current systems have shown limited holding mussel capacity (defined june 2011 – MAR. 2014 as the length of time live mussels can be held Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: PEI Mussel in wet storage). Better holding systems and/or King (1994) Inc. practices would improve the industry’s ability project lead: Daniel Bourque (DFO) to compete in international markets. The goal Project team: Luc Comeau (DFO) will be to develop better holding methods by collaborators: Esther Dockendorf (PEI Mussel evaluating water quality in holding systems, King (1994) Inc.) assessing time of harvest impacts and thermal Contact: [email protected]

60 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

Technical-economic assessment of an integrated mussel Genomic and physiological post-harvest process processes during the larval ontogeny of the Blue Mussel: impact of eicosanoid precursors Found in many countries, Mytilus edulis is a bivalve cultivated directly in the natural environment. Therefore, survival, growth, breeding, and physiological performances depend on the environmental conditions at each aquaculture site. The effect of two essential fatty acids (EAA and EPA) on the ontogenic pre- and post-larval development was studied by monitoring the building up of energy reserves, as well as the performances in terms of survival and larval growth. Furthermore, a functional genomic approach was then implemented using an Illumina HiSeq with high sequencing capacity. In this manner, 50,000 sequences were obtained for the various larval stages. Of these, 30,000 integrate functions in biological processes, as well as growth, localization, marking, apoptosis, stress response, and behavioural processes, etc. The results of the project show an increase Floating platform used for wet holding. Photo: Jacques Dufresne (Les Moules de Gaspé Inc.) in the lipidic reserves of the larvae at various ontogenic stages. The results also put into relief the fundamental role of these fatty acids In shellfish culture, there are sometimes the costs associated with transportation and in the building up of essential energy reserves, periods of faecal coliform contamination that with pumping process and treatment water). A thereby providing for improved survival, exceed the standards set by the Canadian secondary goal involves bringing the company’s immunocompetence and stress tolerance. The Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP). This batches of mussels outside the contaminated transcriptomics approach using DNA chips obstacle limits structured annual aquaculture area in a floating platform during closed times allowed for the identification of new transcripts operational planning and effective so that they can purify themselves naturally. which are potentially involved in some major commercialization. Moule de Gaspé Inc. must A validation of the protocol will be done in biological functions, such as development now handle all processing steps previously consultation with CSSP members to determine and immunity, and also allowed for the global performed by a plant, from processing to the operational parameters for depuration in the analysis of the ontogenic transcriptome of the marketing. The proponent intends to integrate natural environment. Blue Mussel. the post-harvesting steps into one on-vessel operation and then transfer its batches of Apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 May 2010 – Apr. 2013 mussels in a wet holding system in a floating Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Funded by: Institut des Sciences de la Mer (ISMER); Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Merinov platform. A compact, innovative device (Kramer Institut universitaire européen de la mer (IUEM) project lead: Jacques Dufresne (Les Moules de Gaspé Inc.) C700) will be used to perform post-harvest Project team: Sleiman Bassim, Réjean Tremblay (UQAR); Project team: Estelle Pedneault (Merinov) Dario Moraga (U. Brest, France); Sophie Gauthier-Clerc interventions in one step, which will limit (U. Montréal) Contact: [email protected] handling and save space on-board the vessel, Contact: [email protected] as well as time and money (i.e., elimination of www.facebook.com/lesmoulesdegaspe

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 61 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

The Eider Spider: Development and experimental testing of a novel method to deter sea duck predation on mussel farms The cultivation of mussels is a growing to habituation. Protective socking material and efficient device to deter bird predation on industry worldwide, but predation by migrating has also been tested; however, results have mussel culture. sea ducks has been a challenge to mussel indicated that the socking material has growers causing major financial losses. Ice unfavourable effects on the growth rate and Apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 coverage and the ducks’ seasonal migration production level. Since sea ducks are protected Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Société de patterns limit their predation activity in most species, any deterrent method must ensure développement de l’industrie Maricole (SODIM); areas, but with the prospect of milder winters that it follows the framework of conservation Aquaculture Association of Nova-Scotia (AANS) due to global warming, losses are expected laws and regulations. Therefore, there is a need project lead: Priyum Koonjul (Valeo Management) to increase in the future. Mussel growers for a deterrent mechanism that will not only Project team: Estelle Pedneault (Merinov); André Mallet have adopted several techniques to “scare” be beneficial to the growers but would also (Mallet Research Services Ltd.) ducks off mussel farms which include loud be conservation-friendly. The Eider Spider sea collaborators: Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) recordings, pyrotechnics, shooting, chemical duck deterrent system will be tested in field deterrents, or chasing with boats; all of which trials in Quebec and Nova-Scotia to provide Contact: [email protected] have had limited success and are often subject the aquaculture industry with an innovative

Developing an innovative Impact of biotic and abiotic factors on the mechanical treatment system for properties of the byssus of the Blue Mussel: a Vase Tunicate fouling on marketable biomaterial cultured Blue Mussels This strategic research project focused on size) and the metal content of the strands Somers Island Blues Inc. of Murray River, PEI, the production of the byssus of the Blue Mussel on the mechanical properties of the byssus. will develop and assess a prototype system (Mytilus edulis). The project had two main Furthermore, byssus production with a high 13 designed to mitigate the impact of Vase objectives. The first objective was to identify the level of stable carbon isotope ( C) and infrared Tunicates on the applicant’s mussel farms. The biotic and abiotic parameters responsible for analyses enabled us to understand better the proposal is supported by a proof of concept the weakening of the byssus and the fall-off of structure and composition of the byssus. Finally, that followed recommendations from the AIF the mussels during rearing, in order to improve this project led to the development of methods Underwater Tunicate Treatment Trials Report. the management of mussel production and for the synthesis of biopolymers using byssus Air will be injected immediately behind the promote sustainable aquaculture. The second hydrolysate. nozzle and a funnel (plastic cone — approx. objective was to explore the use of the byssus as Oct. 2009 – Nov. 2012 7" long) will be placed around the front of the an innovative and highly value-added product, Funded by: NSERC; RAQ nozzle to enable the water jet to travel from the notably by drawing on the unique mechanical project lead: Isabelle Marcotte (UQAR) tip of the nozzle to the treatment material at the properties of the byssal threads to develop Project team: Bertrand Genard, Remy Hennebicq, Réjean end of the cone. biomaterials like nanofibres, biocompatibles, and biopolymers, etc. Our work demonstrated Tremblay (ISMER); Frédéric Byette, Marc-Olivier Séguin The sprayer will be mounted on a treatment Heine, Alexandre A. Arnold (UQAR), Christian Pellerin the impact of the rearing site (lagoon or (UDEM); Bruno Myrand (Merinov) platform custom designed for this project. All open water), the reproductive effort (clutch Contact: [email protected] other equipment necessary for operating the system (e.g., motors and pumps) will be built into the frame of the platform and hydraulic, water, and air lines will be run under the deck to the sprayer assembly. This will reduce unnecessary clutter around the sprayer and make the system safer. In terms of efficiency, Somers Island Blues Inc. believes that a dedicated treatment system is the next step in managing the current tunicate infestation.

apr. 2012 – MAr. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Province of Prince Edward Island project lead: Chris Somers (Somers Island Blues Inc.) collaborators: Province of Prince Edward Island Contact: [email protected]

Mussel sock in the Gaspé. Photo: Réjean Tremblay (ISMER)

62 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: MUSSELS

Culture density, biomass-density relationship, Bioenergetics and mollusc and self-thinning in molluscs food ingestion Bioenergetics helps us understand how environmental variables act on the growth of organisms in culture. It has applications in a variety of domains, such as support capacity, understanding environmental impacts of aquaculture, and forecasting climate change effects. Along with temperature, food ingestion is a crucial component of bioenergetics. The model species in our work is the Blue Mussel. However, our results are applicable to a wide variety of organisms. In a recent communication, we showed that the classic model describing food ingestion is inadequate. As a result, we developed a model based on a regulation by the animal’s internal state. This model successfully describes effects such as, the spatial variability of growing conditions and physiological flexibility of feed in organisms. The next steps will focus on the analysis of an experiment testing our regulation model and, if necessary, improving it. We will also examine its performance in culture situations observed in France.

apr. 2010 – Mar. 2012 Funded by: DFO project lead: Marcel Fréchette (DFO) collaborators: José Urquiza, Gaétan Daigle, Dominique Rioux-Gagnon (U. Laval); Marianne Alunno-Bruscia (IFREMER, France) Contact: [email protected]

Harvesting mussels grown using a self-thinning technique. Photo: Marcel Frechette (DFO)

Aquaculture requires crucial decisions, among other things, initial culture density. regarding the stocking density of culture We have produced a mathematical model structures. Populations must be high enough that can take this effect into consideration to ensure profitability, but low enough to without multiplying the density levels studied. prevent overpopulation. An approach borrowed Also, our results indicate how mass mortality from forestry allows us to address this issue observed in scallop cultures in Asia was linked to systematically. It involves studying the biomass- self-thinning. In the next steps, we will examine density relationship and self-thinning. This the issue to determine whether clam dispersion approach is currently little-used in aquaculture can be better predicted through the biomass- research and development. The purpose of this density relationship. Blue Mussels. Photo: Marcel Frechette (DFO) project is to provide examples of this theory for use in and development of mathematical 1990 – Mar. 2012 models to facilitate its understanding and Funded by: DFO practical use. We previously worked with the project lead: Marcel Fréchette (DFO) Blue Mussel (Mytilus spp.). This work targets collaborators: José Urquiza, Gaétan Daigle, Dominique Maheux (U. Laval); Marianne Alunno-Bruscia (IFREMER, the Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) France) and the Surf Clam (Spisula solidissima). Our Contact: [email protected] work suggests that self-thinning depends on,

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 63 SHELLFISH: OYSTERS

An innovative approach for seed sorting Baseline testing of tray rack inserts for a floating in small farm operations upweller nursery system

Innovations to produce single oyster seed Development of an oyster grader targeting size in Pendrell Sound (length) and unit specific to growers’ operations

Oyster production in hanging structures Development of tools to evaluate American suspended from mussel long lines in Magdalen Oyster shelf life Islands Comparison of an offshore and inshore site Introduction of commercial shell crushing for oyster aquaculture technology to the BC oyster aquaculture industry Influence of Eastern Oyster aquaculture on eelgrass populations and their recovery Development of a modified assay for use in temperate waters and its application through an Turning of OysterGro cages assessment of stress tolerances among oyster Investigation into the decline of oyster stocks with varying levels of heterozygosity production in the Hillsborough Bay area of PEI

A new method of growing bivalves Assessing seasonal variations in the in suspended culture physiological health of the Eastern Oyster

Optimization of the quality assurance process High density larval tanks for the American for the marketing of NB oysters Oyster breeding program in New Brunswick

64 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OYSTERS

An innovative approach for seed sorting in small Innovations to produce farm operations single oyster seed in Pendrell Sound Aphrodite’s Garden Oyster Co. will utilize unique methodologies for producing single oyster seed, in commercial quantities, locally, from the wild oyster spatfall in Pendrell Sound, offering lower costs to local growers, through innovation in the spat collector medium, initial nursery rearing stage, and sorting/processing in preparation for market. These innovations greatly reduce the carbon footprint of the unique seed production process by eliminating reliance on energy intensive hatchery operations. The work plan includes the use of re-manufactured materials and the natural spawning cycle of the oyster. Once set, most seed will normally mature in clumps of two or three oysters. Aphrodite’s Garden Oyster Co. Mobile floating seed sorter and handling system. Photo: Yves Perreault (Little Wing Oysters Ltd.) intervenes at this stage to produce single seed, which has a much higher value to growers. This project has developed a novel mobile of labour. This enables farmers to invest more floating seed sorter and handling system for time into other production stages and to reduce The projects outcomes will be: 1) increasing oysters. It involved the purchase, assembly, overall costs per unit. productivity of area farms; 2) creating employment; and 3) protecting and enhancing a and testing of seed handling equipment Little Wing Oysters Ltd. recommend other small comprised of a seed screening machine, a valuable asset on the BC Coast. These outcomes firms consider similar investments. Growers will comprise: 1) innovation in the seed collector specialized working raft, a system housing, across Canada can access the plans and final solar power generation equipment, and other substrate; 2) subsequent development of prototype system evaluation by contacting the new equipment to deploy and retrieve these component equipment. Testing of this unique project lead. system resulted in a benchmarking study of collectors; 3) design and construction of a seed stripper to remove the seed; and productivity gains measured against past Apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 4) development of a process to sort the single production costs and values. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: French’s Clams; seed from clustered product. The innovative system delivered a much greater NRC; VIU CSR This project will secure excellent value in an increase to farm productivity than anticipated. project lead: Yves Perreault (Little Wing Oysters Ltd.) A production increase of 75% was forecast; economical, natural product: viable, mature Project team: Edward Bereziak, Bob Paquin oyster seed for local growers, to re-access however, actual output increased by more than (Little Wing Oysters Ltd.) markets held by Pendrell seed prior to 300%. collaborators: Patrice Mulot (S.A.S Mulot); Paul Steffens (PSA Engineering); Helen Gurney-Smith (VIU CSR); 1986. This is expedited while increasing This system is specifically designed to meet the Mark Long (Solar power consultant) environmental performance, using Pendrell’s needs of small farm operations. Mechanization Contact: [email protected] natural productivity to provide a sustainable of the seed grading stage clearly delivers a http://lwo-aimap2011.blogspot.ca/ alternative to non-local energy-intensive higher production rate with the same amount hatchery seed.

Apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 Oyster production in hanging structures suspended Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market from mussel long lines in Magdalen Islands Access Program (AIMAP) project lead: Ed Bereziak (Aphrodite’s Garden Oyster Co.) The main objective of this project was to were noticed for this type of structure. These Project team: Lynn Paris, Bernard Hodges, John Svoboda; evaluate the bio-technico-economic potential oyster mortalities/losses seem to be related with Dave Hameline (Aphrodite’s Garden Oyster Co.); Yves of oyster production using hanging structures. epibiont fouling on the oyster shell. A two-year Perrault (Little Wing Farms); Doug Bruce (Brock U.); Karen Three rearing structures were compared: 1) project, which began in September 2011, will Burke Da Silva (Flinders U.) Japanese lanterns; 2) oysters grown on vertical examine oyster structure cleaning techniques in Contact: [email protected] rope (glued); and 3) oysters grown on horizontal an effort to solve the fouling problem. rope (rack). These structures were set on long lines at two mussel culture sites; House Harbour Apr. 2010 – Dec. 2013 lagoon and Plaisance Bay offshore site. Oyster Funded by: Innovamer (MAPAQ); Canada Economic Development Agency (CED) growth was greater for oysters cultured on project lead: Lisandre G. Solomon (Merinov) vertical ropes in the lagoon. Oysters grew to Project team: Lisandre G. Solomon, Carole Cyr (Merinov); about double their original size (from 30 to 67 Jean-François Laplante (UQAR/MAPAQ); Moules de mm in average) in one and half years. However, culture des Iles; Moules du Large high percentages of mortality and oyster loss Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 65 SHELLFISH: OYSTERS

Introduction of commercial shell crushing technology Development of a modified to the BC oyster aquaculture industry assay for use in temperate The purpose of this industry led benchmarking The introduction of a shell crushing technology waters and its application study was to locate a suitable technology to to support British Columbia’s shellfish sector through an assessment of reduce oyster shell volume for the purpose of is an opportunity to improve environmental lowering material handling costs, and to enable performance and meet the needs of secondary stress tolerances among value-added post processing opportunities in markets. We believe that this technology oyster stocks with varying secondary markets. Two examples of secondary will benefit the entire shellfish industry and levels of heterozygosity markets are animal feed supplements and water Fanny Bay is in an excellent position to help There are many factors contributing to oyster filtration. introduce this solution and lead the way to more losses, but for the most part, all these factors are sustainable production. Three different technologies were tested — a related to stress. Stress can be caused by sub- dual rotor shredder, a hammer mill, and a cage Apr. 2011 – mar. 2012 optimal husbandry practices, environmental mill. Each machine had Pacific Oyster shell run Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market conditions, or the presence of pathogens. Rapid through them under three different conditions Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Fanny Bay Oysters initial assessments of bivalve immune status — dry seasoned, wet seasoned, and green. Both project lead: Brian Yip (Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC) can be measured using cellular biomarkers, in the dual rotor shredder and the hammer mill Project team: Chris Barker (Taylor Shellfish); Alex Munro, lieu of the more traditional long term indicators performed very well, while the cage mill is not a Mandy Prowse (Fanny Bay Oysters) such as growth rates, mortality and condition viable option due to material feed issues. All of Contact: [email protected] index. The present investigation will verify the machines produced much finer particle sizes www.taylorshellfishfarms.com the potential for error when using a cellular than expected. biomarker (neutral red retention assay) in oysters exposed to low water temperatures and attempt to improve this method in a controlled A new method of growing bivalves in suspended culture setting, so that it can be applied with confidence Bivalve aquaculture currently utilizes two cultured bivalve species in British Columbia — in the field. Fitness of oyster stock sources main farming practices: intertidal (bottom Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and Manila will be assessed by measuring level of genetic or beach) and deep-water (off-bottom, or Clam (Venerupis philippinarum) — during nursery variation in a population (heterozygosity). Once suspended) culture. Suspended culture offers and grow-out. Our method has the potential to levels have been measured, stock sources with a number of advantages, but is often hindered improve the efficiency of grow-out systems for the highest and lowest levels of heterozygosity by two issues: biofouling and shell deformities. these and other bivalve species. will be assessed for their tolerance to stressful The goal of our project is to assess the efficacy conditions. of expanded clay aggregate and lava rock as jan. 2011 – mar. 2012 novel growth media for bivalves in suspended Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research may 2011 – mar. 2013 and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Mac’s culture. Both media are lightweight, natural, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Oysters Ltd. Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Elsipogtog pH neutral, chemically inert, affordable, and project lead: Anya Dunham (DFO) Fisheries reusable. We anticipate these media to brush off Project team: Rob Marshall (Mac’s Oysters Ltd.) project lead: Carla Hicks (DFO) biofouling, provide structural support, and act collaborators: Mac’s Oysters Ltd. Project team: Denise Méthé, Luc Comeau (DFO); as a tumbling agent to prevent clumping and Réjean Tremblay (UQAR) Contact: [email protected] shell deformities. We focus on the two primary collaborators: Blayne Peters (Elsipogtog Fisheries) Contact: [email protected] Optimization of the quality assurance process for the marketing of NB oysters La Maison Beausoleil (2010) Inc. of Neguac, others need to be adapted to enable component NB, is supplied with oysters by over forty integration. A production line including a producers and can receive product from many destacker and conveyor for full containers, different suppliers at the same time. This is the empty container return, an inverter for full main reason why the company wants to develop holding tanks, a washer, a unit charger, and a an oyster processing line to automate receiving, unit elevator will be developed and installed in washing and oyster storage in holding tanks. the receiving area of the factory. This automation will need to be integrated into the process of product traceability to reduce mar. 2011 – mar. 2013 production costs, increase productivity, and Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP); IRAP; Province of New maintain its position relative to standards and Brunswick international competition. The project involves project lead: Amédée Savoie (La Maison Beausoleil Inc.) the mechanization and automation of the steps Project team: Annie Thibodeau, Martial LeClerc (La associated with oyster washing at receiving Maison Beausoleil Inc.); Cube Automation; Vendée and loading of the product to storage holding Concept tanks. Many of the components of automated Contact: amédé[email protected] production line need to be developed while

66 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OYSTERS

Baseline testing of tray rack inserts for a floating Development of an Oyster upweller nursery system Grader targeting size (length) and unit specific to growers’ operations The project involves the development, adaptation and demonstration of a mechanized technology that will encourage site expansion, increase production of oysters, and allow for reduction in production costs thereby increasing profit margins for the growers. This project will take place in Bouctouche, NB, and involves a technology to grade and count oysters, the plant design layout preparations for the new and innovative technology, the acquisition, commissioning, and validation of the equipment, the development of an oyster washer, a profitability study, and a final report and communications.

mar. 2012 – mar. 2013

Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: National Research Council – IRAP; Province of New Brunswick project lead: Donald Jaillet (Jaillet Aquaculture Inc.) Project team: Mike McKenna (Atlantic System Manufacturing); Carl Brothers (Frontier Power Systems Inc.) BC shellfish farm. Photo: DFO Contact: [email protected]

Mac’s Oysters Ltd. will complete early system should reduce these rates significantly, commercialization and baseline testing of a and increase overall productivity. There are new rack and tray insert system for the bins two systems that we will implement and test, a Development of tools to (silos) of a floating upweller nursery (FLUPSY). fully upwelling rack where the water is forced The system will be comprised of aluminum up through the bottom of all trays, and an evaluate American Oyster racks that hold seed trays and are suspended upwelling/stacked raceway system where water shelf life within the FLUPSY bins. These trays increase is forced up through the bottom of the bin and Oysters continue to be popular seafood the culture surface area, allowing for a greater then flows across the top of each tray. enjoyed by many. Because raw oysters in the volume of seed than previously possible. This The preliminary trials have shown favourable shell are living organisms, they need to be system reduces crowding and has tremendous results with respect to growth and survival. For stored under optimal conditions to avoid rapid potential to improve production through this reason Mac’s Oysters believe that they are loss of quality. Growers in Atlantic Canada have increased survival and potentially higher ready to move this system to commercial scale. indicated that there are seasonal variations stocking densities. in oyster shelf life. Previous studies have Demand for the product continues to increase, Apr. 2012 – mar. 2013 mostly focused on traditional winter markets yet the production from our FLUPSY is at a Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market without considering how harvesting time and Access Program (AIMAP) steady-state. Mortality rates are the major factor other husbandry practices associated with project lead: Rob Marshall (Mac’s Oysters Ltd.) limiting overall production and are associated aquaculture may affect the oyster shelf life. This Project team: Ron Willis, John Foster, Tom Haas, with periods of rapid growth which increase the Janet Clark (Mac’s Oysters Ltd.) research will focus on the development of tools volume of seed beyond the carrying capacity or techniques to: 1) determine shelf life of C. Contact: [email protected] of the system. Increasing culture surface area virginica; and 2) predict oyster shelf life prior to www.macsoysters.com through the implementation of the rack and tray storage.

sept. 2011 – mar. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: La Maison BeauSoleil Inc. project lead: Daniel Bourque (DFO) Project team: Luc Comeau (DFO) collaborators: Amédée Savoie (La Maison BeauSoleil Inc.) Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 67 SHELLFISH: OYSTERS

Comparison of an offshore and inshore site for oyster Influence of Eastern aquaculture Oyster aquaculture on eelgrass populations and their recovery The aim of this project is to determine the extent and rate of recovery of eelgrass affected by two types of oyster culture methods (suspended bag and bottom table oyster culture) in order to develop best management practices for minimizing impacts on benthic habitat. The first objective is to monitor fine spatial and temporal scale recovery of eelgrass exposed to varying levels of benthic shading and organic enrichment from suspended bag culture structures with various oyster stocking densities. The second objective is to provide regional information on the influence of off bottom (table) culture of Eastern Oysters on eelgrass while determining the Modified Mediterranean French string technique — 100 string unit developed by MP Aquaculture Inc. Photo: Kenny extent of recovery during fallowing periods Aquaculture, MP Aquaculture Inc. for this culture method. There is a lack of reliable information about how to best place Comparison of an offshore and inshore survival, and market quality of oysters between oyster tables in successive years in order site for oyster aquaculture using the French an offshore and inshore site; 3) to compare to minimize cumulative impacts to benthic string technique in the Baie des Chaleurs, fouling at an offshore and inshore site; and 4) habitat (eelgrass). While data on the impacts New Brunswick. The primary objective of this to monitor the environmental parameters at an to sea grass related to this culture method study is to assess the performance of oysters offshore site and an inshore site. are available, very little research exists on the suspended on French strings in an exposed subsequent recovery of sea grass from such offshore environment compared to a sheltered july 2009 – mar. 2011 impacts. Furthermore, no known published inshore environment with respect to their ability Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Kenny results exist on impacts to and recovery of to rapidly attain market size. Aquaculture eelgrass loss and its subsequent performance We will test whether oyster shell growth project lead: Monique Niles (DFO) during various recovery scenarios. This project rates and reproductive rates are similar Project team: Luc Comeau, Leslie-Anne Davidson (DFO); will allow industry to develop best management Sylvio Doiron, (NBDAA) between offshore and inshore sites. Specific practices to minimize initial impacts to benthic objectives of this research are: 1) to transfer the collaborators:Thomas Kenny (Kenny Aquaculture); Marcel Poirier (MP Aquaculture Inc.) habitat as well as promote recovery in instances Mediterranean oyster culture technique (oysters where impacts do occur. Contact: [email protected] on stings) to an offshore New Brunswick site; 2) to compare the growth, reproductive condition, may 2010 – mar. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: L’Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltée Turning of OysterGro cages project lead: Marie-Hélène Thériault (DFO) Our project aims to develop a reliable are out of the water, the greater their mortality. Project team: Simon Courtenay, Marc Skinner (DFO) approach to cage flipping (i.e., turning cages To reduce mortality as well as the growth loss collaborators: André Mallet, Claire Carver (L’Étang over) in order to control biofouling of the cages that results from being out of the water, the Ruisseau Bar Ltée) and the oysters they contain, with a view to optimal out-of-water time for eliminating Contact: [email protected] improving net productivity and the economic biofouling needs to be determined, based on viability of the oyster breeding industry. the size of the oysters. The first objective is to determine the optimal sept. 2009 – mar. 2012 frequency for flipping cages, the one which Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research will eliminate the largest possible quantity of and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: biofouling while reducing economic losses Aquaculture Acadienne Ltée; King Aquaculture; due to raising the cages out of the water and Donald Jaillet to breaking of the frill. This will be useful to the project lead: Angeline Leblanc entire oyster industry in southeastern New Project team: Marc Ouellette (DFO); Marie-Josée Maillet, Marcel Léger (NB Ministry of Agriculture and Brunswick. Aquaculture); Florent Garnerot, Chantal Gionet (CZRI); The second objective is to determine the Erick Battaler (U. Moncton) collaborators: Maurice Daigle (Aquaculture Acadienne shortest out-of-water time that will achieve a Ltée); Armand King (King Aquaculture); Donald Jaillet Eelgrass. Photo: S. Pereira (DFO) high degree of elimination of fouling organisms. Contact: [email protected] The longer the period during which the oysters

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Investigation into the decline of oyster production in the Assessing seasonal Hillsborough Bay area of PEI variations in the The overall goal of this project is to investigate production problems based data analysis and physiological health of the the decline in oyster production in natural and biological plausibility; and 5) develop potential Eastern Oyster enhanced populations in the East, West, and mitigation measures to improve the oyster Cumulative mortality is a major issue within North rivers of the Hillsborough Bay area. fishery in these rivers (i.e., identifying areas for oyster culture. Under optimal conditions, a productive enhancement and fishing of wild The specific objectives of the project are to: mortality of 5% per year is often observed, oysters). 1) establish whether the oyster production however, these numbers can vary considerably problem involves recruitment, growth and may 2012 – july 2013 between lease sites. Producers compensate for mortality; 2) establish the spatial extent of Funded by: PEI Aquaculture and Fisheries Research these losses by increasing the number of oysters the oyster production problem; 3) identify Initiative; PEI Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture cultivated on their leases. However, increasing environmental and human activities that could and Rural Development co-funded by: PEI Shellfish the number of oysters on each lease can greatly Association (PEI SA) cause a decline in production by degrading impact the environmental footprint of the site. project lead: Sophie St-Hilaire (UPEI) habitat given: human or animal disturbance Valuable resources within the ecosystem are lost to the beds, predation, sediment, water Project team: Jeff Davidson, Pedro Quijon, Erin Rees, Jonathan Hill (UPEI); Frank Hansen (PEI SA); Aaron (e.g., phytoplankton, nutrients, etc.) and on-site quality, and food availability; 4) produce a Ramsay (PEI DFARD) biodeposition is increased, without any return document that describes the extent of the collaborators: PEI Shellfish Association; Department of to the industry or consumers in terms of more oyster production issues in the Hillsborough Bay Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Rural Development (DFARD) oysters. This environmental impact becomes estuaries and the most likely cause(s) for the Contact: [email protected] even greater in areas of reduced water exchange and areas of maximised carrying capacity. In New Brunswick, oyster mortalities appear to be closely related to environmental factors (e.g., High density larval tanks for the American Oyster temperature, salinity, etc.) and husbandry or breeding program in New Brunswick rearing practices. The physiological health of the animal can determine how well it adapts and recovers from exposure to potential stressors. This study will assess variations in the health and condition of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in New Brunswick in response to environmental changes to identify critical periods of physiological stress. This information will allow the development of management plans and best practices to help oyster producers avoid supplementary stressors, thus reducing mortalities and optimizing resource utilization. This could lead to more environmentally responsible operating practices for the oyster culture industry.

Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2015 High density larval rearing tanks. Photo: Joël Cormier (CZRI) Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP); La Maison BeauSoleil The Coastal Zones Research Institute (CZRI) 2007 with promising results (10 to 21% faster Inc. acquired recently the Cawthron ultra density growth in some families). In 2012 – 2013, the project lead: Daniel Bourque (DFO) larval system from New Zealand to scale up breeding program will move to the production Project team: Denise Méthé (DFO) its oyster breeding program. The system of the second generation cohort (F2) and enter a Contact: [email protected] consists of 60 2.6-liter tanks. They will serve to new era for the benefit of oyster hatcheries and increase significantly the number of families growers of New Brunswick. and larvae being produced every year, and foster the production of high performing mar. 2012 – mar. 2013 spat. This acquisition enhances the selection Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP); New Brunswick Department of breeding program to improve performance of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries; New Brunswick the American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and Professional Shellfish Growers Association initiated in 2005 by CZRI, thanks to the funding project lead: Chantal Gionet (CZRI) from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Project team: André Dumas, Steven Mallet, Mélanie the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, DeGrace, Josée Duguay, Rémy Haché, Yves Hébert, Isabelle Thériault, Marc-André Paulin (CZRI) Aquaculture and Fisheries. Two cohorts of first Contact: [email protected] generation (F1) were produced in 2005 and

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 69

SHELLFISH: OTHER Ecological interactions between benthic- Optimization of hatchery-nursery practices for The use of shells to increase recruitment and ranched and wild California Sea Cucumbers production of Sea Scallop spat in 10 m3 tanks in survival of Quahogs and Soft Shell Clams Newport Nutritional requirements for sustainable crayfish Connectivity of Soft Shell Clam populations aquaculture in British Columbia Revision of the code of practice for the shellfish at various time and space scales industry based on an evaluation system for Development of a nursery heating system to standard operating procedures Adaptation of operations management software increase the production and availability of seed and “Le Mariculteur” mussel farming equipment for the BC shellfish aquaculture industry Comparing culture gear and adapting off-shore giant scallop culture husbandry to Baie des Effect of adaptation to temperature on the Are shellfish transfers a likely vector for aquatic Chaleur, NB behaviour of stage IV larvae of the American invasive species movement from the west to the Lobster east coast of Vancouver Island? Cost reduction to produce American Lobster stage IV postlarvae for wild release Use of diets enriched with stable isotopes Remodelling the scallop lantern net (13C) to optimize nutrition in the hatchery An assessment of the genetic and health status culture of bivalves Determination of optimal microalgal diets of the native Basket Cockle in BC for aquaculture and feeding rations for larvae and seed of operation facilitation Optimization of scallop hatcheries by the Geoduck Clam controlling the conditions of continuous An innovative approach to nursery technology stream production A pilot-scale wet-holding installation for for the production of large Geoduck Clam seed: increasing Bay Scallop sales the missing link for Geoduck aquaculture in BC

Geoduck grow-out using an innovative Evaluation of risk mitigation measures for suspended culture technique the potential introduction of invasive alga to The ecological effects of clam harvesting by facilitate bivalve spat transfer requests mechanical means in St Mary’s Bay, NS Optimizing hatchery-based Sea Scallop The influence of Manila Clam farming on settlement biogeochemical fluxes

70 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OTHER

Ecological interactions between benthic-ranched and Nutritional requirements wild California Sea Cucumbers for sustainable crayfish In British Columbia, the California Sea aquaculture in British JULY 2012 – JULY 2014 Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) supports Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Columbia a limited, but high-value fishery. Recently, Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Klahoose Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) increased market prices have generated a great Shellfish Limited Partnership; Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd.; command a high price in both foreign and deal of interest in farming sea cucumbers. Many Viking Bay Ventures domestic markets. Although this species is of the proponents are interested in benthic project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO – PBS) cultured in foreign countries, there have been ranching on the nutrient-rich seafloor beneath Project team: Laura Cowen, Paul van Dam-Bates (U. Victoria); Dan Curtis, Nick Duprey, Claudia Hand few attempts to raise Signal Crayfish within existing finfish and shellfish aquaculture (DFO – PBS); Scott McKinley (UBC); Troy Bouchard (Viking their native range which extends into southern sites. Research is required, however, to: 1) Bay Ventures); Stephen Cross (Kyuquot SEAfoods Ltd., British Columbia. We are currently undertaking examine growth and survivorship of sea UVic); Chris Roddan (Klahoose First Nation) research to establish culture techniques for this cucumbers in this nutrient-rich zone; 2) Contact: [email protected] species. This work has included: 1) developing determine the success of maintaining cultured protocols for raising juvenile crayfish from the sea cucumbers within the boundaries of the egg stage to 1 year; 2) investigating growth farm site, with and without fencing; and 3) and survival of juvenile crayfish raised on a address the management concern that wild “typical” reference diet and diets where a large (non-seeded) sea cucumbers will immigrate percentage of the protein source was from onto the culture site and be harvested as sustainable ingredients (duckweed or soybean cultured product. We are currently undertaking meal); and 3) determining the digestibility and research to: 1) investigate the movements of therefore the potential effectiveness of these adult sea cucumbers near aquaculture sites feed ingredients for adult Signal Crayfish. to determine potential interactions between Recent results have shown good growth and benthic-ranched and wild animal; 2) examine survival of juvenile crayfish up to 1 year of age the effects of stocking density and nutrient when raised in vertical incubators designed levels on the growth and survivorship of juvenile for salmon culture. Juvenile crayfish showed sea cucumbers both underneath and away similar growth and survival when raised on from shellfish farms; and 3) examine if there California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californius). diets where either plant (duckweed or soybean is a reduction in organic loading underneath Photo: Dominique Bureau (U. Guelph) meal) or animal based (fishmeal) ingredients shellfish farms when sea cucumbers are present. were used as the primary protein source. These results suggest that Signal Crayfish are a good candidate for sustainable freshwater Development of a nursery heating system to increase the aquaculture in British Columbia and further work examining the digestive capabilities of this production and availability of seed for the BC shellfish species is currently underway. aquaculture industry Securing a stable supply of seed is a major price earlier in the year. Growers will be able JULY 2010 – JULY 2012 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and constraint to continued development of to extend the growing season, and compete Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Asturia the shellfish industry. Although significant domestically with seed imported from the US. Aquaculture Crayfish Consulting; Cordova Bay Golf hatchery capacity can be found in BC, domestic Successful development of the nursery heating Course hatcheries are generally unable to compete with system will benefit not only the company project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO) the price and availability of US seed. through sales of seed and increased jobs but Project team: Dan Curtis (DFO); Zeljko Djuric (Asturia Aquaculture Crayfish Consulting); David Groves (Broken This AIMAP project will develop and also the entire BC shellfish farming sector due Briar Enterprises Ltd.); Dean Piller (Cordova Bay Golf demonstrate a novel nursery heating system to the industry-wide need for a stable supply Course) specifically suited for colder climates such as of seed. In addition, this project will serve as a Contact: [email protected] Canada to increase production and availability technology demonstration project for the Pacific of domestic shellfish seed supplies. The project shellfish industry. will outfit current in-ground nursery facilities Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 with a solar powered heater along with a Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market custom pond cover to help retain heat. Current Access Program (AIMAP) technologies including propane are not cost project lead: Robert Saunders (Island Scallops Ltd.) effective to heat such facilities over the winter Project team: Yingyi Chen, Lisa Vernon, Barb Bunting months. (Island Scallops Ltd.) It is anticipated that this project will result in Contact: [email protected] reducing the cost of heating seawater enough to www.islandscallops.com increase the availability of seed at a competitive

Adult Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in a rearing tray. Photo: Anya Dunham (DFO)

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Are shellfish transfers a likely vector for aquatic invasive species movement from the west to the east coast of Vancouver Island? Wild and cultured Manila Clams (Venerupis the east coast of VI. This project will quantify philippinarum) and Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea the potential risk of AIS spread from the west gigas) harvested on the west coast of Vancouver to east coast of VI associated with current Island (VI) must be sent to processing plants shellfish transfer protocols by: 1) enumerating on the east coast of the island since presently Green Crabs on Pacific Oysters, Manila Clams, there are no commercial shellfish processing and California Mussels from areas with Green plants located on the west coast of VI. In the Crab populations on the west coast of VI; 2) past, processors have been permitted to “wet enumerating Green Crabs on west-coast VI store” large quantities of harvested shellfish shellfish products obtained from processors; in the intertidal zone next to their processing and 3) building a database of the historical plants or on aquaculture tenures, processing numbers and weight of shellfish transferred shellfish as time and markets allowed. There from the west coast of VI to east-coast VI were concerns, however, that this practice could processors. Currently, more research is needed lead to the spread of the invasive European in this area to assess the risk of this particular Green Crab (Carcinus maenas), that currently AIS vector. only occurs on the west coast of VI, and other non-indigenous aquatic invasive species (AIS) June 2011 – MAR. 2013 Adult European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas). Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory from the west to the east coast of VI. Photo: Miranda deVisser Research (PARR) co-funded by: Mac’s Oysters Ltd. The project’s main objective is to assess Project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO) whether shellfish as transferred by the shellfish Project team: Lyanne Burgoyne, Dan Curtis, Graham industry and others can act as potential vectors Gillespie, Tom Therriault, Matt Thompson, Haley Matkin for the spread of AIS, with particular focus on (DFO) the European Green Crab, from the west to collaborators: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); Mac’s Oysters Ltd.

Remodelling the scallop lantern net tenures. Growth of the industry in part relies epiphytes, the nets approached the maximum on innovations in farming technology and swing load rate for the booms on the work boats increases in production efficiency. This project and were not very manageable. attempted to improve the production efficiency Further trials will continue to assess growth of scallop farming during the ocean grow-out. rate and survival of scallops in the new lantern The standard technique used for the grow-out nets, but based on area alone the new design of scallops in BC is the cylindrical “lantern” net. significantly increases the capacity of a farm This project remodeled the traditional lantern by at least 50%. This is a useful step forward net to increase farm efficiency and productivity for scallop aquaculture that increases farm without increasing farm footprint. The team productivity and decreases production cost. designed, built and tested a new, larger- diameter lantern net in anticipation of increased Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2012 capacity. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) Although the new net design did not prove project lead: Rob Saunders (Island Scallops Ltd.) Redesigned scallop lantern net. Photo: Barb Bunting to be suitable for the intended purpose of Project team: Bruce Evans, Lisa Vernon (Island Scallops (Island Scallops Ltd.) growing scallops to harvest size, it did show Ltd.) potential for culturing smaller scallops during Contact: [email protected] Further expansion of the BC scallop the intermediate growth stage. The primary www.islandscallops.com aquaculture industry is currently constrained problem with the net designs was that, fully by the challenge of acquiring suitable new farm loaded with large scallops and fouled by

72 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OTHER

Determination of optimal microalgal diets and feeding A pilot-scale wet-holding rations for larvae and seed of the Geoduck Clam installation for increasing Bay Scallop sales To date, three issues have prevented the significant expansion of Bay Scallop culture in the Maritimes: the short shelf-life which undermines attempts to reach distant markets; the inability to survive our cold winters; and, under-developed markets. The objective of the project is to design and install a pilot-scale wet-holding system for Bay Scallops using recirculation technology and to better define the required environmental conditions to sustain high survival. Each 1200-L holding tank will be stocked with 4 stacks of 11 Dark Sea trays containing 20 lb of Bay Scallops per tray (880 lb or 400 kg/tank). Four air injection rings were installed in each tank at Juvenile Geoduck Clams (Panopea generosa). Photo: Chris Pearce (DFO) the base of each stack of trays to promote water circulation and ensure adequate oxygenation. The aquaculture industry of Geoduck Clam diets for the seed. The results of this project will Blocks of 10 holding tanks will be coupled to a (Panopea generosa) in British Columbia has contribute significantly to the establishment re-circulating reservoir fitted with a coupling coil been constrained by the lack of a reliable seed and refinement of hatchery-rearing protocols of to maintain constant temperature in the system. supply, indicating inadequacy with the current Geoduck larvae and seed, as well as to further The effect of temperature and tray stocking hatchery production strategy. This project is expansion of the aquaculture industry of this density on survival and product quality will be aimed at identifying the optimal microalgal diets species in BC. evaluated. The importance of using air-lifts to and specific nutritional requirements (especially re-circulate the seawater in each of the holding fatty acids) for larvae/seed of Geoduck Clams Aug. 2010 – Sept. 2012 tanks will be tested by comparing several and ascertaining the vital nutrients imparting Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and configurations. Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Klahoose high nutritional value to the diets. The research Shellfish Limited Partnership The project will take place at L’Étang Ruisseau Bar in Shippagan, NB. The results from this will also identify optimal microalgal rations for project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO) both larvae and seed, as well as examine the project will be immediately evident and useable Project team: Bianca Arney (UBC); Wenshan Liu (UBC/ optimal rearing temperature and the possibility DFO); Ian Forster, Laurie Keddy (DFO); Chris Roddan by the aquaculture industry for the marketing of of replacement of live microalgae with (Klahoose First Nation) Bay Scallops. commercially-available, spray-dried, microalgal Contact: [email protected] mar. 2011 – Mar. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: National Research Council – IRAP; Province of New Brunswick Geoduck grow-out using an innovative suspended project lead: André Mallet (L’Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltée) culture technique Project team: Claire Carver (Carver Marine Consulting); Claude-Henri Hébert (Losier, Larocque, Doiron, Hébert) Geoduck aquaculture in British Columbia The project results may be of interest to shellfish Contact: [email protected] has been challenged by a lack of sea bottom farmers with existing deepwater tenures in tenures and a very long growing period to reach BC, particularly those employing raft culture of traditional marketable size (7 — 10 years to oysters and mussels. Farmers may be able to reach (~700 g). This AIMAP project addressed diversify production with the addition of a new, both issues by employing off-bottom suspended high value product. technology to produce a new “Baby Geoduck” product. The new product has been successfully Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2012 test marketed and grows to market size in 18 to Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Island Scallops 24 months. Ltd. The primary goal of this project was to develop project lead: Yu-Xin An (Maplestar Seafood Ltd.) and test the innovative approach for culturing Project team: Francis Tran, Simon Yuan, Wenshan Liu Geoduck. The longer-term object of the (Maplestar Seafood Ltd.) project was to introduce the “Baby Geoduck” collaborators: Island Scallops Ltd. (100 — 150 g) to market. Further development Contact: [email protected] of the use of the suspended, off-bottom shellfish raft system continues at the Maplestar Seafood Ltd. farm at Nanoose Bay, BC.

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 73 SHELLFISH: OTHER

The ecological effects The influence of Manila Clam farming on of clam harvesting by biogeochemical fluxes

mechanical means in St This research examines how farmed [NH4, NO3, NO2, PO4, and Si(OH)4] and oxygen Mary’s Bay, NS Manila Clams (Venerupis philippinarum), the levels and how they change over time. After nets placed on beaches to protect them incubations to determine fluxes, samples were Traditional hand harvesting is not considered from predators, and the fouling organisms taken to evaluate organic matter, meio- and to be a sustainable practice for providing seed growing on these nets modify nutrient fluxes macrobenthic infaunal communities from for the development of clam aquaculture in and benthic respiration in coastal British each plot. It is anticipated that the presence Nova Scotia for various reasons, including social Columbia. We did an extensive manipulative of clams, nets, and fouling will all increase and economic factors. The clam aquaculture experiment to separate these effects in Fanny fluxes and respiration. Results from this study industry has experienced major challenges in Bay, Vancouver Island. Naturally occurring will provide managers and the industry a the recruitment and retention of clam diggers, Manila Clams were removed from sixty 2.25 better understanding of the influence of clam as well as a lack of interest from the younger m2 plots and the plots then manipulated to aquaculture on benthic respiration and nutrient employable population, resulting in an aging create 6 different treatments to evaluate the fluxes in coastal zones and the factors that employee-base. Additionally, traditional hand effect of 2 factors: Clams (two levels: with or account for them. harvesting is very labour-intensive and involves without clams) and Nets (three levels: with the use of a clam hake — with tines that measure cleaned nets, with fouled nets, and without Sept. 2011 – Dec. 2013 about 15 cm in length, to dig up and turn over nets). Plots were allowed to stabilize for one Funded by: Canadian Healthy Oceans Network (CHONe) the sediment. A mechanical clam harvester co-funded by: RAQ; DFO month before sampling was done. To evaluate has been used in Washington and British project lead: Philippe Archambault (UQAR) biogeochemical fluxes, benthic respiration Columbia, and there is increased interest in chambers were placed on the surface of each project members: Marie-France Lavoie (ISMER); utilizing a modified version of this harvester Christopher McKindsey, Christopher Pearce (DFO) plot and water samples from within them taken to compliment hand harvesting of Quahogs collaborators: Mac’s Oysters Ltd. over a period of a few hours at high tide. Water (Mercenaria mercenaria) in St Mary’s Bay, Nova Contact: [email protected] samples will be analyzed to evaluate nutrient Scotia. This project will compare the ecological effect of traditional hand harvesting and a mechanical clam harvester. It will investigate the effects of each harvest technique on the ecological health and production of the area through the monitoring of the clam population, associated fauna and flora, and various physical and chemical parameters. Methods for reducing the ecological impact of harvesting, such as replanting pre-recruits on size-class plots and reducing repeated harvesting efforts, will also be investigated.

Aug. 2012 – May 2014 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Innovative Fisheries Products Inc. project lead: Thomas Landry, Angeline Leblanc (DFO) collaborators: Doug Bertram (Innovative Fisheries Products Inc.) Contact: [email protected]

Fauna (Manila Clams) inhabiting beach plot beneath benthic respiration chamber used in the experiment. Photo: Pauline Robert (UQAR)

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Optimization of hatchery-nursery practices for production of Sea Scallop spat in 10 m3 tanks in Newport The project involves producing Sea Scallop of reliable and reproducible protocols for spat using an innovative hatchery-nursery spat production will increase environmental method in 10 m3 tanks. As this is the first Sea performance, encouraging the sustainability Scallop hatchery-nursery of this scale in Canada, of the aquaculture industry. The expertise it the methods, procedures and farming systems develops through its participation in this project used include several innovative elements (i.e., will enable the company to achieve its economic 10 m3 tanks and an intermediate culturing area development potential and become a world for attachment) that have never been tested for leader in the production of scallop spat. larval production. These innovative processes will improve the company’s competitiveness, Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2013 which is targeting an annual production of Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Ministère Revenu 25 million spat. By optimizing its practices in du Québec hatcheries and nurseries, the company will project lead: Jean-Philippe Hébert (Fermes Marines du increase profitability by obtaining a better Québec Inc.) 10 cubic metre tanks. Photo: André Drapeau (DFO) survival rate and an increase in high-quality project team: Caroline Durant, Antoine Dumais-Roy, larvae with a high concentration of lipids, Marie-Hélène Desroches (Fermes Marines du Québec Inc.) thereby fostering optimal metamorphosis. collaborators: Réjean Tremblay (UQAR/ISMER) Through the company’s vertical-integrated production system, the implementation Contact: [email protected]

Revision of the code of Comparing culture gear Cost reduction to produce practice for the shellfish and adapting off-shore American lobster stage industry based on an giant scallop culture IV postlarvae for wild evaluation system for husbandry to Baie des release standard operating Chaleur, NB In 2002, the Maritime Fishermen Union procedures This study looks at the performance of Giant teamed up with the Coastal Zones Research Institute (CZRI) to develop a simple and efficient The project, sponsored by the New Brunswick Scallops cultured in an exposed offshore technique for mass production of American Professional Shellfish Growers Association environment using various husbandry Lobster (Homarus americanus) postlarvae (NBPSGA), involves an update of the existing approaches in order to minimize the negative stage IV for re-stocking initiatives. In 10 years, code of practice. This code currently exists in impact of temperature fluctuations. Growth the CZRI went from a modest 1,500 to over the form of Standard Operating Procedures and reproductive condition of Giant Scallop 425,000 postlarvae in 2012. The CZRI continues and was recently produced for the eastern cultured at an offshore site in Baie des Chaleurs: its research and development activities in New Brunswick oyster industry. The new Best 1) in suspension using both lantern nets and collaboration with its industrial partner, Practices in Oyster Farming Management in OysterGro™ cages; and 2) on the bottom Homarus Inc., to improve the production tool will serve as reference for the mitigation using OysterGro™ cages, will be compared. The techniques and develop specialized equipment measures that will serve to minimize or curb study will also assess fouling on the culture gear for intensive rearing of lobster postlarvae. The those risks as identified by shellfish growers and monitor environmental parameters. An primarily goal is to reduce production cost to during the assessment of the Standard economic analysis of the feasibility of collecting allow the deployment of commercial hatcheries. Operating Procedures. The code will be a Giant Scallop spat at the offshore site will be The CZRI is now working on several aspects to management tool to help all shellfish growers carried out. achieve this goal: 1) the design of new tanks revise and adopt practices that will increase may 2010 – mar. 2014 to transport more postlarvae over longer their competitiveness and environmental Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and distance (higher density); 2) testing of a new performance. Development Program (ACRDP) type of frozen food; and 3) development of an project lead: Leslie-Ann Davidson mar. 2012 – mar. 2013 automatic system to count larvae. Project team: Leslie-Anne Davidson, Luc Comeau, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation Market Rémi Sonier, Monique Niles, Rachel Nowlan (DFO); Apr. 2002 – ongoing Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Province of New Sylvio Doiron (NB DAA) Brunswick Funded by: Homarus Inc.; Maritime Fishermen’s Union collaborators: Thomas Kenny (Kenny Aquaculture) project lead: Micheline Després (New Brunswick project lead: Rémy Haché (CZRI) Professional Shellfish Growers Association (NBPSGA)) Contact: [email protected] Project team: Yves Hébert, Caroline Roussel, Project team: Micheline Després (New Brunswick Marc-André Paulin (CZRI) Professional Shellfish Growers Association (NBPSGA)) collaborators: Martin Mallet (Homarus Inc.) Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 75 SHELLFISH: OTHER

An assessment of the genetic and health status of the An innovative approach to native Basket Cockle in BC for aquaculture operation nursery technology for facilitation the production of large There is significant commercial interest in BC using histology and light microscopy possessed Geoduck Clam seed: the culture of Basket Cockle, Clinocardium nuttallii, none of the following bivalve pathogens or missing link for Geoduck due to its fast growth rate, cosmopolitan diseases of concern: Marteiloides chungmuensis, aquaculture in BC substrate choice, cold water adaptation and Haplosporidium spp., Perkinsus spp., Marteilia importance to First Nations diet. We assessed spp., Bonamia spp., Mikrocytos mackini or The supply of Geoduck seed larger than the genetic and health status of cockle samples Nocardiosis. Other parasites and symbionts the standard size of 8 – 10 mm shell length from 14 widespread locations in all five BC were not associated with pathology. However, will significantly aid in the development of Shellfish Zones to inform development of a fungal infections detected up to 15% of the Geoduck (Panopea abrupta) aquaculture regulatory regime for aquaculture. specimens from six locations were associated industry in BC. Larger seed improves margins for tenure holders through higher survival of The genetic analysis, conducted with ten with significant pathology and host response. seed, improved seed performance, year round microsatellite loci developed in the study, Oct. 2010 – Mar. 2012 planting capabilities and up to a year reduction indicated most cockle samples belonged to a Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and in required grow-out time. widespread, genetically homogenous group Development Program (ACRDP) To create this supply of seed, Nova Harvest Ltd. extending from northern BC to Vancouver project lead: Helen Gurney-Smith (VIU); Island. Genetically distinct cockles on Haida Ruth Withler (DFO) will apply innovative modifications to existing Gwaii may reflect isolation-by-distance resulting Project team: Stewart Johnson, Cathryn Abbott, nursery technology for the efficient growth from restricted gene flow across Hecate Strait. Janine Supernault, Chris Pearce (DFO) and overwintering of Geoduck Clam seed. On Distinctive cockles sampled from Prince Rupert collaborators: We Wai Kai Nation (Shawn O’Connor); site, Nova Harvest will construct a land-based Centre for Shellfish Research (VIU); Aboriginal re-use nursery in parallel with outdoor algae and Georgia Strait locations shared unusual Aquaculture Association (Odd Grydeland) culture tanks where local species of algae will allele frequencies at some loci, indicative of Contact: [email protected], differentiation due to natural selection. [email protected] be gown year round as feed. A second nursery to be tested is a floating ocean-based nursery Cockles examined for parasites and disease fitted with hanging trays capable of holding substrate combined with a unique design that allows supplemental feeding of the entire floating nursery throughout the year using algae produced at the hatchery. A successful nursery design will support the growth of the Geoduck aquaculture industry through increases seed supply, improved seed health and survival while lowering seed cost to the farmers. Farmers will be able to invest if greater numbers of seed with a higher survival rate improve the operational efficiency of the tenures.

Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) project lead: J.P. Hastey (Nova Harvest Ltd.) Project team: Sean Williams (Nova Harvest Ltd.) collaborators: Huu-ay-ahy First Nations Contact: [email protected]

Basket Cockles. Photo: Helen Gurney-Smith (Centre for Shellfish Research, VIU)

76 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OTHER

Evaluation of risk mitigation measures for the potential Optimizing hatchery-based introduction of invasive alga to facilitate bivalve spat sea scallop settlement transfer requests During the life cycle of bivalves, the pelagic larval stages end with progression to benthic life via settlement and metamorphosis. Settlement is a significant limiting factor in the success of pectinid hatcheries. Although in some larval cultures, settlement success rates can reach up to 80% in good conditions, larval settlement and metamorphosis success rarely exceed 25 to 30%. Metamorphosis in bivalves is accompanied by the loss of their larval food collection system (velum) and the development of gills. This period is critical given larvae’s limited ability to feed while undergoing left: Codium fragile ssp. fragile growing on a mussel in îles de la Madeleine. right: Codium fragile ssp. fragile growing in an metamorphosis. For metamorphosis to be eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadow in îles de la Madeleine. All Photos: C. McKindsey (DFO) successful, this change must be completed The mussel farming industry in eastern of transferring Codium with spat is minimized. rapidly. Competent larvae will settle and Canada is largely based on the collection of spat The study could also potentially result in undergo metamorphosis under the influence in areas suitable for the settlement of larvae and new ways of treating other aquatic invasive of various chemical, physical and biological transfer to growing sites until the mussels attain species (AIS) while prioritizing treatments signals that are still unknown for Sea Scallops. a harvestable size. In eastern Quebec (Gaspé already known to be effective against other A project funded by the Government of region), this was typically done on a small scale invaders in the Maritimes. The effectiveness Norway was undertaken in 2007 to identify (a few kilometres). In recent years, however, of these procedures is also being evaluated signals that help to increase settlement and there have been several failures in collecting on Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) metamorphosis success in Pecten maximus. spat in the Gaspé Peninsula, forcing a number and Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica), The results show the differences in the length of mussel farmers to apply for transfers from a species also targeted by transfers between the of the settlement process, which can vary site on the south shore or Chaleurs Bay, near Magdalen Islands and the Acadian Peninsula from one to four weeks depending on the size Miscou, NB. However, this area is known to and the Gaspé Peninsula. Codium was recently of the competent larvae. Shorter settlement be infested by the invasive green alga Codium found in the Havre-aux-Maisons Lagoon on the duration favours faster growth of juveniles and fragile ssp. fragile. As a result, spat transfers Magdalen Islands and this limits transfers from represents an economic benefit for commercial cannot be authorized by the Introductions and this area, as it does from the Acadian Peninsula. hatcheries. The primary objective of this project Transfer Committee because this invasive alga, is to increase settlement/metamorphosis which affects shellfish growers’ production, has Dec. 2010 – Dec. 2012 success while reducing the time required for not yet been observed in the Gaspé Peninsula. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and completing it. The ultimate objective is to Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Société de establish a settlement rate of over 60%. To meet This potential loss of production is a major développement de l’industrie maricole (SODIM) these objectives, the following combinations concern for the industry at this time. The project lead: Chris McKindsey (DFO) project assesses the effectiveness of various will be tested: Effect of size before transfer project team: Lysandre Landry, Nathalie Simard, treatments at different stages in the Codium Matthieu Huot (DFO) in the settlement system, effect of velocity and hydrodynamic conditions in settlement life cycle likely to be associated with mussel collaborators: Léon Lantaigne (NB); Jason Simpson (PE) units, and interaction between size and spat with an emphasis on maximizing spat Contact: [email protected] survival. The results would ensure that the risk hydrodynamics.

June 2010 – Mar. 2012 FUNDED BY: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) CO-FUNDED BY: The use of shells to increase recruitment and survival Aquaculture Gaspesie Inc.; SODIM of Quahogs and Soft Shell Clams PROJECT LEAD: Jean-Marie Sévigny (DFO), Réjean Tremblay Successful recruitment of juveniles is erosion rates may explain a significant portion of (UQAR) an essential part of a shellfish aquaculture the availability in recruitment of seed stock and PROJECT TEAM: Nathalie LeFrançois, Pierre Blier, operation. This study will help us understand growth. Identifying such explanatory factors France Dufresne, Francis Dupuis (UQAR) the recruitment process for Quahogs and Soft would be helpful in the selection of aquaculture COLLABORATOR: Thorolf Magnesen (U.Bergen) Shell Clams and how to improve it. The project sites. will experiment with adding shells to sediment CONTACT: [email protected] to see if this will change chemical parameters Aug. 2010 – Mar. 2012 of the sediment, thereby increasing the Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Innovative recruitment and survival of juvenile clams, and Fisheries Products Inc. possibly the growth of older clams. A secondary project lead: Angeline Leblanc (DFO) objective is to look at recruitment and growth collaborators: Doug Bertram (Innovative Fisheries data in relation to the site’s physical attributes. Products Inc.) Characteristics such as current velocity and Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 77 SHELLFISH: OTHER

Connectivity of Soft Shell Clam populations at various Adaptation of operations time and space scales management software and “Le Mariculteur” mussel farming equipment Quebec mussel farmers currently use software known as “Le Mariculteur,” property of SODIM, to manage their mariculture equipment and their on-site stocks. This software is a tool that enables easy management of production (by site and by line), infrastructure, and workforce (by activity). It also makes it possible to view a graphic representation of mussel farming sites, capture all the database information at once, and generate reports that facilitate management. The current project was implemented with the aim of adapting the software to the process and methods involved in scallop farming. Several aquaculture practices and equipment can be used for scallop production; therefore, these steps must be standardized as part of the software’s programming. The software’s integrated features will simplify scallop farmers’ management tasks. It should be noted that this tool is user-friendly — it is suitable for use by operators who are not computer-savvy and will Sampling of Soft Shell Clams at Port Mouton, NS. Photo: Philippe Galipeau work on personal computers running Windows or Macintosh operating systems.

The Soft Shell Clam (Mya arenaria) is a species expansion northward. We also used Apr. 2011 – dec. 2012 benthic bivalve mollusc whose global natural the microsatellite markers to check whether Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market distribution presents significant potential for we could follow the larval cohorts during a Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Société de aquaculture. In the laboratory, we developed complete spawning season, from birth to développement de l’industrie maricole (SODIM) a series of eight microsatellite markers. spatfall, in Bouctouche Bay, NB. The results project lead: Sylvain Lafrance (Société de développement de l’industrie maricole (SODIM)) These were highly polymorphic and adapted showed the presence of closely related larval project team: Nathalie Méthot, Jonathan Ranger to the species in order to study the genetic cohorts and larval retention. The results will (Gascode Inc.); Mélanie Bourgeois (Culti-mer Inc.); structure of the populations at the scale of allow for improved stocking program planning Stéphane Morissette (GRT Aquatechnologie Ltée.) their distribution. The results revealed the in the context of aquaculture activities by collaborators: Joanne Miller (Pec-Nord Inc.) existence of six genetically distinct groups maintaining the genetic integrity of natural Contact: [email protected] corresponding to: 1) the northern Gulf of St. stocks. http://www.sodim.org/ Lawrence; 2) the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence; 3) the Magdalen Islands; 4) lower Atlantic Sept. 2008 – Apr. 2013 Canada; 5) the U.S. coasts; and 6) Northern Funded by: NSERC co-funded by: RAQ Europe. Genetic differentiation seems primarily project lead: Philippe St-Onge (UQAR) due to isolation by distance at the southern project team: Réjean Tremblay, Jean-Marie Sévigny range of the distribution. At the northern range, (UQAR) genetic differentiation seems largely due to collaborators: André Martel (CMN); Carly Strasser, Éric Parent, Rachel Rioux-Paré (UQAR); Kouchibouguac isolation by distance, barriers to dispersal, and National Park selection processes. The latitudinal gradient Contact: [email protected] of genetic diversity is indicative of postglacial

78 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 SHELLFISH: OTHER

Effect of adaptation to temperature on the behaviour of Use of diets enriched stage IV larvae of the American Lobster with stable isotopes (13C) It is now well known that water temperature incubated at temperatures of 12 °C and 20 °C for to optimize nutrition in strongly influences the behaviour of the the duration of the larval development. At stage the hatchery culture of American Lobster (Homarus americanus). IV, the larvae will be exposed to a homogeneous bivalves Moreover, there seems to be a correlation water column (i.e., 20 °C and 12 °C) or a between acclimation to a given temperature, the stratified water column (i.e., 20 °C at the surface stock of origin, and the behavioural responses of and 12 °C at the bottom). These experiments the species. Although several studies exist, few will also take into account the type of sediment have looked into the behavioural responses of in the selected substrate. stage IV larvae with regard to thermal gradients based on the incubation temperature and the July 2012 – July 2014 originating stock. Funded by: NSERC Canadian Capture Fisheries Research Network (CCFRN); NSERC To characterize these behavioural responses, an project lead: Leo Barret (UQAR) experiment will be conducted in the summer of project team: Gilles Miron (U. Moncton), Réjean Tremblay 2013. Several berried females from two different (UQAR / ISMER); Patrick Ouellet, Bernard Sainte-Marie stocks will be captured in the southern and (DFO) northern parts of the Gulf. For each of these Contact: [email protected] two source stocks, two sets of larvae will be

Optimization of scallop hatcheries by controlling the Juvenile post-larval Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus. conditions of continuous stream production Photo: Réjean Tremblay (UQAR) For several years now, flow-through Jan. 2010 – Jan. 2014 The composition of bivalve larvae nutrition bivalve production techniques have been in Funded by: Ministère du Développement économique, de is based on empirical data that vary greatly development, notably in France for the oyster l’Innovation et de l’Exportation (MDEIE); Programme de from one hatchery to another in terms of Crassostrea gigas, and more recently, the Ostrea soutien à des initiatives internationales de recherche et microalgae species and quantity of feed. In edulis species. This new approach has clearly d’innovation (PSIIRI); Programme Européen Reproseed; RAQ this project, a microalgae-based diet enriched demonstrated that it is now possible to achieve project lead: Marine Holbacg (ISMER – IFREMER) with 13C is used to accurately monitor the levels substantial savings in terms of labour and project team: Réjean Tremblay (ISMER / UQAR); of ingestion, absorption and incorporation of make it easier to ensure the microbiological René Robert, Pierre Boudry (IFREMER) amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates stability of aquaculture water, thereby limiting Contact: [email protected] throughout the larval development of various the development of opportunistic pathogens. bivalve species (Placopecten megallanicus, Furthermore, this technique allows for the Mytilus edulis, and Crassostrea virginica). This optimal and continuous inflow of microalgae, study is based on several microalgae species which would make it possible to set up very with different biochemical profiles, which will high-density hatcheries. This is the context in accurately establish larvae amino acid, fatty which the flow-through system was adapted to acid, and carbohydrate requirements during Pectinidae species. The larvae of this Pectinidae their development. This information will be used are known to be sensitive to bacteria in their to establish an optimal diet that will meet the rearing environment. Such bacteria are mostly nutritional needs of larvae, while preventing to blame for the massive mortality rates the rejection of organic matter inherent observed both in flow-through systems and to overfeeding or improper ingestion or stagnant water systems. The objectives of this assimilation of food in rearing tanks. The project study are to: 1) limit the bacterial load of larvae will therefore provide hatcheries with specific in the early stages and select the most effective information for optimizing their production of prophylactic measure to counter it; and 2) microalgae for feeding larvae, while preventing understand how the parameters of the culture the accumulation of organic matter, thereby chambers influence the physiology of larvae, in Experimental flow-through system used at IFREMER. reducing the risk of bacterial growth in tanks. order to optimize larval yield. Photo: Marine Holbacg (IFREMER)

May 2012 – Apr. 2014 Funded by: NSERC; Fonds de développement académique du réseau des Universités du Québec (FODAR) co-funded by: RAQ project leads: Bertrand Genard, Marine Holbach, Réjean Tremblay (UQAR) project team: Nathalie LeFrançois, Pierre Blier, France Dufresne, Francis Dupuis (UQAR) Contact: [email protected]

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 79

MISCELLANEOUS

Isolation, culture, and genomic analysis of Canadian-Aquaculture-Styrofoam®- Supporting and advancing key Canadian harmful algal species affecting aquaculture on Encasement (CASE) aquaculture standards and certification the west coast of Canada and analysis of the initiatives Harmful Algae Monitoring Program historical Assessment of a new natural ingredient database for growth and pigmentation in Atlantic Developing Camelina as the next Canadian Salmon flesh oilseed Aboriginal principles for sustainable aquaculture program phase 3: branding Identifying critical ecological thresholds FishProbio: a sustainable and effective and marketing for tunicate infestation on mussel farms alternative strategy for preventing major opportunistic infections in salmonids Integrating red macroalgae into land-based Aquaculture technology implementation marine finfish aquaculture Development of a biodiesel production process Research & development coordinator training from microalgae using cheese whey permeate Brown Alga culture trials on the Gaspé in environmental management systems to assist Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands, Québec: aquaculture industry certification Novel antifouling technologies pre-industrial scale-up in open-water and Net drying innovation in aquaculture servicing Anaerobic digestion of fish offal and sawdust semi-enclosed environments of mussel farms Development of a comprehensive fish waste Development of feed for culturing lobster larvae Assessment of the European Green Crab utilization system that produces two products: for seeding in a natural environment as a fishmeal replacement for salmonid nutraceutical fish oil and organic fish soil aquaculture diets amendment Assessing the bioavailability of methionine and lysine from different sources Development of health products derived from BC Environmental Management Code Atlantic Canada bio-resources — Nutritional of Practice Physiology of triploid fish analysis of feeds containing SDA-enriched oil for Atlantic Salmon aquaculture Impacts of shellfish aquaculture on marine A meta-analysis of essential amino acid vegetation requirements in fish Early warning and mitigation of the impact of invasive colonial ascidian tunicates The historical and social dimensions of Protective barrier to counter Sea Otter salmon aquaculture science predation

80 CANAPhoto:D IANPaul A MerlinQUACULTURE (CanAqua Seafoods R&D REVIEW Ltd.) 2013 MISCELLANEOUS

Isolation, culture, and genomic analysis of harmful Aboriginal principles for algal species affecting aquaculture on the west coast sustainable aquaculture of Canada and analysis of the Harmful Algae Monitoring program phase 3: branding Program historical database and marketing HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) are responsible existing training and surveillance strategies. for considerable economic losses due to The second goal of this project is to carry out cultured finfish/shellfish mortalities and toxic genomic analyses on shellfish gill tissues to HABs in shellfish can threaten human health. determine genomic and biological responses to With the support of the British Columbia (BC) HABs and to link these responses with particular salmon aquaculture industry, the Harmful Algae algal species. Finally, a retrospective analysis of Monitoring Program (HAMP) was established 13 years of data from HAMP will be undertaken. in 1999 to address the devastating effect This will significantly improve knowledge on of harmful algae on farmed fish. Through spatial and temporal trends of local harmful alga systematic microscopic surveillance of blooms and will contribute to improving existing water samples, HAMP has provided salmon HAB surveillance and mitigation strategies. aquaculture companies with monitoring data and early warning of HABs at farm sites. July 2012 – July 2014 APSA Certification Logo. Credit: Aboriginal Aquaculture However, more research is needed to improve Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research Association and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: the knowledge of HABs as well as the ability Creative Salmon Company Ltd.; Grieg Seafood BC to predict future blooms based on analysis of Ltd.; Mainstream Canada; Marine Harvest Canada Inc.; The Aboriginal Aquaculture Association historical data. Researchers need to identify Cleanwater Shellfish Ltd.; Island Scallops Ltd.; Little Wing (AAA) has developed the Aboriginal Principles Oysters Ltd.; Mac’s Oysters Ltd.; Nelson Island Sea Farms certain HAB species, cultivate these species Ltd.; Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC for Sustainable Aquaculture (APSA) to further for study, and analyze previous HAMP data on project lead: Chris Pearce (DFO – PBS) develop an integrated, aboriginal management harmful algae to document potential trends. The project team: Svetlana Esenkulova, Nicky Haigh and certification program for aquaculture in first goal of this project is to isolate and culture (Microthalassia Consultants Inc.); Laurie Keddy, Canada. microalgal species that are known to be harmful Erin McClelland, Kristi Miller, Amy Tabata (DFO – PBS); Barb Cannon (Creative Salmon Company Ltd.); Phase 2 of the project focuses on the audit to cultured fish and shellfish in BC. These Tim Lelliott (Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.); Peter McKenzie processes required to lend credibility to the cultures will be used for detailed identification (Mainstream Canada); Gordy McLellan (Mac’s Oysters Ltd.); Alex Munro (Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC); APSA. It includes a defendable audit approach of species, preliminary studies of physical Yves Perreault (Little Wing Oysters Ltd.); Rob Saunders and the use of qualified, professional auditors variations for each select species, development (Island Scallops Ltd.); Glenda and Henry Syrjala to determine the level of conformance to of species-specific quantitative polymerase (Cleanwater Shellfish Ltd.); Dean Trethewey (Marine Harvest Canada Inc.); Bill Vernon (Nelson Island Sea the Association’s Standard. Currently work chain reaction (PCR) assays, and creation of Farms Ltd.) continues on Phase 2 of the project. an image gallery and database of local harmful Contact: [email protected] algae. These tools will be used to improve This project, Phase 3 will expand the reach of APSA and move the program closer to the market place by establishing a brand and a marketing strategy which would include promotion of the program to First Nations and industry. The inclusion of First Nation values into a management framework has not yet been fully realized and as a consequence has resulted in much of the developmental constraints faced by industry in Canadian coastal regions, particularly BC. This project will further engage First Nations, industry and retailers with the result that all aquaculture industry sectors will have the ability to participate and demonstrate sustainability with respect to First Nation values, expectations and interests.

June 2011 – Dec. 2012 Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) project lead: Chief Richard Harry (AAA) Bloom of Heterosigma akashiwo in Kyuquot Sound, British Columbia. Photo: Nicky Haigh (Microthalassia Consultants Inc.) collaborators: Mainstream Canada Contact: [email protected]

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Integrating red macroalgae into land-based marine finfish aquaculture

left: Tumble culture concrete for growing red macroalgae in effluent from halibut.m iddle: Dr. Jang Kim holding Palmaria palmata. right: P. palmata in close up. All Photos: Peter Corey (Scotian Halibut Ltd.)

Land-based ‘closed’ marine culture systems at Scotian Halibut Ltd. Experimental factors value could be added to the fresh Dulse or Irish seem to some to be an attractive alternative to included stocking density, light intensity, nutrient Moss. open sea-cage systems, preventing escapees concentration and intermittent aeration. We and allowing proper management of solid waste estimate bioremediation of 50% of the N excreted Mar. 2009 – Nov. 2012 and pathogens. However, the eutrophication risk by 100 tonnes of farmed halibut in winter and Funded by: NSERC Strategic Grant from dissolved nitrogen (N) and phosphorus in summer could be achieved by growing 100 and project lead: Jim Duston the effluent remains unless plants are integrated 600 tonnes of macroalgae, respectively. project team: D. Garbary (StFX); P. Corey (Scotian Halibut Ltd.); J. Manriquez, S. Caines, J. Kim, B. Prithiviraj into the production cycle. We quantified N Electricity/compressed air costs and rearing (Dalhousie U.) uptake by Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus) and space requirements for tumble culture indicate collaborators: Scotian Halibut Ltd. Dulse (Palmaria palmata) between 1 – 18 °C in the integration of red macro-algae on land- Contact: [email protected] tumble culture in lab- and also pilot-scale trials based farms could only be commercially viable if

Brown Alga culture trials on the Gaspé Peninsula and Assessment of the European the Magdalen Islands, Québec: pre-industrial scale-up in Green Crab as a fishmeal open-water and semi-enclosed environments of mussel replacement for salmonid farms aquaculture diets With the work done since 2006 in reproducible on a pre-industrial scale; 3) are This project will provide the preliminary data collaboration with Les Gaspésiennes inc., a yields obtained in a small semi-exposed culture to adapt a fisheries approach to mitigate two number of steps towards mastering brown algae site in an open environment reproducible in growing concerns: 1) the management of a non- culture techniques have been completed. These the Magdalen Islands lagoons; 4) when is the native invasive species; and 2) the increasingly include artificial induction of sporogenesis, best time to transfer plants at sea; 5) is there costly exploitation of wild-caught fish for gametophyte culture in vitro, routine production a threat that algae grown in the Magdalen commercial diets used in aquaculture industries. of 2 mm plants in four weeks, the ability to Islands lagoons be colonized by the bryozoa Specifically, this project will provide catch data maintain cultures below the surface to protect Membranipora membranacea; 6) what changes that will be used to develop a fisheries plan against drifting ice and unfavourable surface have to be made to a mussel farm to incorporate to control a nuisance species and produce a layer conditions in the summer, and at-sea kelp culture; and 7) for larger scale operations, feed ingredient that can partially substitute transfer of 2 mm plants in late autumn to obtain what are the production costs for hatchery wild-caught fishmeal in commercial salmon yields of 2 to 4.5 kg wet weight by meter of line plants and how much time is associated to the diets for the maritime region. The European in early July. These results were obtained from work at-sea? Green Crab, an invasive alien species that has small-scale trials in Paspébiac, Québec, but as been negatively affecting several commercial Apr. 2010 – Mar. 2012 yet, it is not known if they can be reproduced on fisheries and ecosystems in PEI, is high in protein a larger scale or in other culture environments; Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Research and Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: SODIM; Ministère du and carotenoids making it a good candidate recently, interest in kelp culture was expressed Développement Économique, Innovation et Exportation replacement for fishmeal. by Magdalen Islands mussel producers. The (MDEIE) work that was done in the two last years on project lead: Louise Gendron (DFO) May 2012 – May 2013 Saccharina longicruris culture was designed to project team: Éric Tamigneaux (UQAR); Bruno Myrand Funded by: Innovation PEI (Centre maricole des Iles-de-la-Madeleine (CeMIM)) answer the following questions: 1) are culture project lead: Sophie St-Hilaire (UPEI) collaborators: Les Gaspésiennes inc., Les Moules de yields measured in 2008 – 2009 reproducible; project team: Mary McNiven, Pablo Quijon, Jeff Davidson (UPEI) culture des Îles inc. 2) are small-scale yields (one 50 m longline) collaborators: Fran Hansen (PEI Shellfish Association) Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected]

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Development of health products derived from Atlantic Early warning and Canada bio-resources — Nutritional analysis of feeds mitigation of the impact of containing SDA-enriched oil for Atlantic Salmon invasive colonial ascidian aquaculture tunicates Like all vertebrates, fish have a limited ability oil) that is naturally rich in stearidonic We have recently discovered two non- to synthesize linoleic (18:2n-6) and linolenic acid and that could be used as a partial or indigenous ascidians, Botryllus schlosseri and (18:3n-3) acid. These two fatty acids are complete replacement for traditional fish oil. Botrylloides violaceus, in several harbours important because they are precursors of C20 It is well-known that availability of fish oil is on the south coast of Newfoundland. Since and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). decreasing while its demand is increasing. Also, both of these species are pests of aquaculture The desaturation and elongation activities fish oil often contains organic contaminants. operations elsewhere, we designed an required for C18 PUFA synthesis from shorter Ahiflower™ oil can therefore mimic the interdisciplinary research program focused on carbon chain precursors are minimal in these beneficial effects associated with n-3 PUFA in developing gene tools for early detection and animals. As a result, these C18 fatty acids must fish oil. determination of ecological factors predicting come from the diet. Stearidonic acid (SDA, invasion fitness and future spread. Our goal is 18:4n-3) is an intermediary in the biosynthetic Jan. 2008 – Dec. 2013 to provide information to government agencies conversion of linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n-3) into Funded by: ACOA – AIF co-funded by: UMCM; CZRI; UMCS responsible for zonal closure and mitigation eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) which project lead: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) measures. project team: Marc Surette, Martin Fillion (UMCM) can lead to tissues enrichment with carbon-20 The seasonal life cycle of B. schlosseri is being and carbon-22 (C20 and C22) fatty acids. We collaborators: France Béland (CZRI) determined in Arnold’s Cove, Newfoundland, are currently testing a new oil (Ahiflower™ Contact: [email protected] including somatic growth and the rates and timing of asexual and sexual reproduction and larval recruitment. We found that growth, reproduction, and recruitment are constrained by the short growing season in subarctic Newfoundland waters. Somatic growth begins in June, sexual reproduction in late July, and recruitment occurs from August to October; all consistent with temperature-dependent predictions from the temperate native range of B. schlosseri. Thus, this species has not become genetically adapted to the short growing season in Newfoundland. However, overwintering survival of colonies is high, contributing to recruitment in the following summer. Since mitigation is more effective when applied early in an invasion, TaqMan assays are being developed with sufficient sensitivity to detect a single egg or larva in a plankton sample. Assays have been successfully developed for B. violaceus and are currently being developed for B. schlosseri. Gene sequences will also be used to infer source populations of the Newfoundland invaders.

Apr. 2009 – Mar. 2013 Funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) co-funded by: DFO From left to right: soya oil, Ahiflower™ oil, herring oil. Photo: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) project lead: Don Deibel (MUN) project team: Cynthia McKenzie (DFO); Matthew Rise, Ray Thompson (MUN) collaborators: Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association; Newfoundland Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; DFO Contact: [email protected]

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Canadian-Aquaculture-Styrofoam®-Encasement (CASE) Assessment of a new This demonstration project will encapsulate The exciting aspect of this project is the natural ingredient for existing spray foam floats in a novel affordable affordability for operations of all sizes. An growth and pigmentation in sea-worthy plastic. It will extend the equipment AIMAP investment combined with an industry Atlantic Salmon flesh life span and address aquaculture related investment will result in the development and pollution due to the breakdown of Styrofoam® adoption of this innovative solution, increasing Farming carnivorous fish dependslargely on in marine environments. The project addresses environmental performance of existing shellfish world fish meal and fish oil supplies. It is now a long standing challenge for shellfish farming. rafts and providing aquaculture waste control. well established that these key ingredients come from a heavily exploited fishery. Great Styrofoam® has long been used by the This will make aquaculture more sustainable strides have already been made in developing aquaculture industry to provide lightweight by protecting the health of Canada’s aquatic alternate protein and lipid sources. inexpensive flotation. Unfortunately the sun ecosystems. and the brine have been breaking it down into The pink colour of salmonid flesh is also a key Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 microscopic inorganic particles dispersed by economic issue in fish farming. Currently, this Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market colour is obtained by adding artificial pigments wind and tide. Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: West Coast Spray Foam to feed formulations. Although these pigments By encapsulating existing Styrofoam® floats in a are considered fit for human consumption, shell of rugged seaworthy plastic, refurbishing project lead: Julia Rendall (Bee Islets Growers Corp.) these products require the display of “artificial” them via the CASE technique can extend the life project team: John Shook, Bob Tracy, Roy Tippenhauer, Sandra Wood (Bee Islets Growers Corp.) or “added colour” label. of the floats for many more decades of use, plus Contact: [email protected] end the breakdown of foam nodules into the The objective of this project was to test the water column and onto the beaches. effects of a shrimp hydrolysate added to feed formulation on flesh growth and pigmentation in Atlantic Salmon. In addition to being an excellent source of natural astaxanthin (600 Identifying critical ecological thresholds for tunicate mg/kg), this innovative ingredient is also rich infestation on mussel farms in protein (70%) and lipids (16%). Three feeds were tested: 1) a pigment-free control feed; 2) a Bio-fouling is a well documented shellfish to estimate the tunicate biomass on mussel shrimp hydrolysate-based feed; and 3) a control aquaculture industry challenge and the recent farm structures; 2) develop a model to predict feed containing an added artificial astaxanthin invasion of several invasive tunicate species the impact of tunicate fall-off, pre- and post- source. has greatly inflated its impact. The PEI mussel treatment, on the benthic environment; and aquaculture industry has been particularly 3) assess the impact of tunicate filtration and Apr. 2009 – Mar. 2014 affected by the invasion of four new tunicate biodeposition on ecosystem productivity. Funded by: ACOA-AIF co-funded by: CZRI species: Clubbed Tunicate (Styela clava) in 1998 In 2011, habitat surveys were conducted in project lead: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) in the eastern end of the province; Golden Star St-Mary’s Bay, PEI to describe and evaluate project team: Sébastien Plante (UMCS); Jacques Gagnon, Tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) in 2001 and 2002 the aquaculture producing and the critical Nadia Tchoukanova (CZRI) and Violet Tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus) were collaborators: France Béland (CZRI); Mary McNiven habitat (eelgrass beds and shellfish reefs) areas. (UPEI) both reported on the north coast of PEI; and in These consisted of remote sensing (LIDAR) Contact: [email protected] 2004, the Vase Tunicate (Ciona intestinalis) was surveys and direct field validations. Preliminary first reported on the east coast of the island. observations were also made during treatment Efforts to control the spread of these tunicate operations to assess the area affected by the species have been relatively successful, but high pressure water treatment system. In most mussel producing areas in PEI remain addition, data from previous studies were infested with at least one tunicate species. gathered to develop and validate a population Currently, high pressure water spray is the dynamic model for the Vase Tunicate. main technique used by the mussel industry to control tunicate fouling. Lime dipping is During the winter of 2012, lab experiments were also used to control tunicates, particularly conducted to assess the impact of decomposing the Clubbed Tunicate, on mussel socks. tunicate on the sediment. Field trials were Efforts to develop the most cost-effective conducted during the summer in St-Mary’s Bay treatment strategy are continuing while specific to assess the impact of tunicate treatments on ecological thresholds are not yet established. the sea floor. The establishment of both economical July 2011 – Mar. 2013 and ecological thresholds is central to the Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory sustainability of the mussel industry in PEI and Research (PARR) could lead to the creation of the first Integrated project lead: Thomas Landry (DFO) Pest Management approach for Aquatic Invasive project team: Andrea Locke, Chris McKindsey, Monique Species. The goal of this project is to investigate Niles, Daniel Bourque, Thomas Guyondet, Luc Comeau Colourimeter used to measure the colour in salmon fillets. the ecological impact of tunicate treatment with (DFO); Jeff Davidson, Thitiwan Patanastienkul (AVC – Photo: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) UPEI); Aaron Ramsay (PEI DFARD) the following objectives: 1) develop a method Contact: [email protected]

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Aquaculture technology implementation Research & development Newfoundland Aqua Services Ltd. (NAS) has coordinator training Apr. 2011 – Dec. 2012 already undertaken a pilot project to examine Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market in environmental technology alternatives and to inform the Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: ACOA management systems establishment of a commercial land-based project lead: Boyd Pack (Newfoundland Aqua Service netwashing operation to serve the Coast of Bays Ltd.) to assist aquaculture finfish aquaculture industry in NL. The pilot project team: Ann Strickland, Owen Cox (Newfoundland industry certification Aqua Service Ltd.) project has facilitated an assessment of two of The level of document systems and record Contact: [email protected] the key pieces of technology (a drum washer keeping in the small- and medium-sized www.newfoundlandaqua.com and filtration system). aquaculture operations that make up the bulk Other major marine finfish aquaculture of the sector in Atlantic Canada is not advanced jurisdictions have moved their netwashing enough to achieve third party certification under activities onshore to land-based sites to most existing or forthcoming standards. The mitigate the biosecurity risk. NAS has recently necessity of implementing such a system and undertaken a review of netwashing practices having it verified by a consultant auditor would and protocols in Norway, New Brunswick and place a heavy financial burden upon these British Columbia, and now plans to implement businesses. This project seeks to address that a land-based netwashing system in the Coast of technical gap and alleviate the cost by using the Bays at a location in Milltown, NL. Research and Development Coordinator (RDC) NAS decided to move toward purchasing a larger as trained technical resources, available to drum washer, 30 m³ capacity as well as a vacuum association members at little or no cost. bag system that impregnates the nets with It is the mandate of the RDCs to act as scientific anti-foulant evenly and then removes excess and technical resources for association anti-foulant from the nets through the vacuum members. The project aimed at training RDCs bag system. The vacuum bag technology, in ISO 14001 Environmental Management recently developed in Norway, will be new to the Impregnator. Photo: Ann Strickland (Newfoundland Aqua Systems and certification schemes currently aquaculture industry in North America. Services Ltd.) available to the industry. ISO 14001 is a set of international standards for the development of environmental management systems and supporting audit programs; and is the standard Net drying innovation in aquaculture servicing upon which most third party certification This project is a component of a multi-year NAS has investigated drying technologies and schemes are based. This ISO based training initiative to eliminate open ocean netwashing has worked closely with Geo-Xergy Systems will provide the RDCs with the expertise to through the construction of a closed land- Inc. of Winnipeg. NAS intends to utilise assist Industry in introducing the necessary based facility. A structured approach has been geothermal sourced heat in the drying process. paperwork systems, and then be able to assess employed by Newfoundland Aqua Service Geo-Xergy’s technology is a cost-effective and or audit them against a variety of certification Ltd. (NAS) to evaluate and adapt the best environmentally friendly process to dry the standards prior to their actual certification, to technologies for each operational component treated nets. discover the “gaps” that need to be addressed. of the commercial land-based facility from The initiative is a key component of biosecurity Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2012 net washing, net disinfection, sold waste plans for the industry and a strategic piece of management, liquid waste management, and Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market private sector infrastructure required for the Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Province of Prince net drying. salmonid industry. Edward Island; Province of Nova Scotia; Province of After the cleaning and disinfection process, nets Newfoundland Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 project lead: Peter Warris (Prince Edward Island are treated with copper-based antifoulant and Aquaculture Alliance) dried before they are ready for use. Previously, Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) project team: Peter Warris (PEIAA); Danielle Goodfellow NAS relied upon natural air-drying by hanging (AANS); Darrell Green (NAIA) project lead: Boyd Pack (Newfoundland Aqua Service the nets on large poles out of doors and use Ltd.) collaborators: Global Trust Consultants of electrical fans in a net drying building to project team: Boyd Pack, Ann Strickland, Owen Cox Contact: [email protected] ‘blow-dry’ nets. This arrangement, which is also (Newfoundland Aqua Service) www.aquaculturepei.com utilized in some other jurisdictions, is weather collaborators: Geo-Xergy Systems Inc. dependent, slow, and not suitable for the Contact: [email protected] requirements and timing of customers. www.newfoundlandaqua.com

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Development of a comprehensive fish waste utilization BC Environmental system that produces two products: nutraceutical fish Management Code of oil and organic fish soil amendment Practice West Coast Fishculture Ltd. (WCF), located In the rapidly evolving aquaculture industry Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2012 at Lois Lake, BC, has a Steelhead Trout, and with the recent management change from Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Oncorhynchus mykiss, production facility Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Agri Sea the provincial to the federal government, the consisting of a hatchery, a grow-out system Biodiesel; CPI Pumps & Irrigation Inc.; Canadian Aqua BC Shellfish Grower’s Association (BCSGA) Start; Little Wing Oysters Ltd.; Mac’s Oysters Ltd.; and a processing plant. Prior to this project, Nelson Island Sea Farms Ltd.; Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC has recognized the need to bring the 2001 WCF identified several options for recovering Environmental Management Code of Practice project lead: Bill Vandevert (West Coast Fish Culture Ltd.) valuable products from fish farming and (EMCP) up-to-date. The first EMCP was finalized project team: Bill Vandevert, Bill Ferris, John Christie, processing wastes. This project developed Ward Griffioen (West Coast Fish Culture Ltd.); Joan McKay in 2001 and although a good piece a work with those ideas from concept to commercialization. (J. McKay Aquatech) a lot of merit, there have been some major It makes WCF a unique aquaculture operation Contact: [email protected] changes to the industry nationally over the through its efforts to try to productively utilize http://simplyfish.ca/ last decade that now need to be addressed 100% of the fish it produces, head, guts, and all. by an updated EMCP. Working with shellfish This waste utilization system delivers the growers, industry associations, government following benefits: 1) the system consistently regulators, and other stakeholder groups, this processes 100% of all waste streams; 2) the plan will encompass the best practices available system removes high grade fish oil which may and give farmers the tools to compete in a be used as fuel, and soon may be approved for global economy while preserving the values of nutraceutical applications; and 3) the system Canadian sustainability as a responsible user of converts all remaining waste to soil amendment our ocean resources. which has achieved organic certification The final results and template from this project providing increased value in the market place. will be shared Canada-wide. This will enable a The system is an economically-viable alternative standardized environmental code of practice for to current methods for disposal of aquaculture shellfish farming that that has been generated wastes such as composting. The WCF waste at the grass-roots level and will stand up to management system produces value added subsequent scrutiny. products from previous waste streams in an Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 environmentally friendly and economically Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market feasible manner. Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: BCSGA This demonstration project is a showcase for project lead: Matthew Wright (BCSGA) sustainable fish farming with a 100% waste project team: Roberta Stevenson (BCSGA) utilization system and as such is an important collaborators: Fanny Bay Oysters; Pentlatch Seafoods; step forward for aquaculture sustainability. Odyssey Shellfish; Georgia Straight; CAIA; Mac’s Oysters; Lucky 7 Oysters; Island Sea Farms; Little Wing Oysters; Fish waste utilization system. Photo: West Coast Fish Island Scallops Culture Ltd. Contact: [email protected]

Impacts of shellfish aquaculture on marine vegetation Marine vegetation, such as seagrass and on the oceanography, plankton, and benthic seaweeds, form the foundation of many communities in Baynes Sound have been nearshore ecosystems and are considered collected for several years. This project will critical habitat for many ecologically and evaluate changes in marine vegetation and economically important species. Shellfish associated communities by measuring the aquaculture has the potential to impact marine relative biomass of each trophic level (grazing, vegetation in a variety of ways: via waste predatory, invertebrates, and fish) along a particles smothering vegetation, increasing gradient of effects from intensive shellfish water clarity affecting light penetration (thereby aquaculture. This approach will provide a quick enhancing growth of marine vegetation), and assessment of ecosystem-level effects that may eutrophication (fueling growth of epiphytes be induced from shellfish aquaculture activities. that compete with the seagrasses). The range of effects of shellfish culture on marine vegetation Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 can be complex; however, our understanding of Funded by: DFO – Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) the interactions between them is limited. project lead: Hannah Stewart (DFO) Baynes Sound, BC, is an area of intensive project team: Terri Sutherland, Beth Piercey (DFO) shellfish aquaculture and is therefore an ideal collaborators: Steve Katz (NOAA) location for this research. In addition, data Contact: [email protected]

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The historical and social dimensions of salmon Supporting and advancing aquaculture science key Canadian aquaculture standards and certification initiatives The purpose of this Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA)-led project is to test the development of a credible and relevant certification model for application across interested sectors of the Canadian aquaculture industry, assuring buyers and consumers that their farmed seafood has been produced in an environmentally responsible manner, and with best management practices for food safety and quality. The model intends to comprehensively measure industry and farm level performance to allow a certification claim of Responsible Aquaculture Management against established FAO-based criteria. The past CAIA projects funded by the Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) have successfully promoted understanding, dialogue, and capacity building for all participating stakeholders, and, in particular, have greatly accelerated Canadian industry preparedness for the adoption of third- party certification programs. These projects are A salmon farm. Photo: Stephen Bocking, Trent U. directly supportive of CAIA’s continuing efforts to build a record of Canadian excellence in Salmon aquaculture has been a focus of Third, I am investigating the movement of these important market access subjects. With environmental research for over two decades. scientific knowledge of salmon aquaculture support through the AIMAP program, CAIA is In this project I am applying the tools of between research sites in Canada, Norway, pleased to have been able to provide assistance environmental history and science and Ireland, and Scotland. to member companies interested in continuous improvement and third party certification. Past technology studies to understand how this Fourth, I am examining the prospects for benchmarking projects have been directly research has developed, and the roles it has effective science, which is able to contribute relevant to current activities and especially played in public discussions regarding the to resolution of controversies regarding this relevant for supporting CAIA’s initiative to industry. Several more specific objectives are industry. also being pursued. test the FAO-based Responsible Aquaculture While this project is examining the full range Management certification model. First, I am writing an environmental history of of environmental science relating to salmon salmon aquaculture science. This history will aquaculture, a special focus is on research Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 explore the relations between scientific research relating to sea lice. Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market and the evolving environmental, social, and Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA); Northern political dimensions of the industry. June 2007 – July 2014 Ontario Aquaculture Association (NOAA); PEI Aquaculture Second, I am examining how the diverse Funded by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Alliance (PEIAA); BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA); Council of Canada (SSHRC) co-funded by: Genome British Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) institutions engaged in environmental research Columbia project lead: Ruth Salmon (CAIA) — governments, universities, industry, and project lead: Stephen Bocking (Trent U.) public interest organizations — have shaped project team: Dave Garforth, Cormac O’Sullivan, Contact: [email protected] Peter Marshall (Global Trust Certification Ltd.); research priorities, research results, and the people.trentu.ca/sbocking/Bocking-Salmon.html Derek Leebosh,(Environics Research) application of these results. collaborators: Canadian Aquaculture Standards Forum Committee Members (CASF) Contact: [email protected]

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Developing Camelina as the FishProbio: a sustainable and effective alternative next Canadian oilseed strategy for preventing major opportunistic infections in salmonids In Canada, the booming freshwater pathogens (Flavobacterium columnare and F. aquaculture industry is dominated by salmonid psychrophilum), making those very promising production. Mass production favours the onset probiotic candidates. We successfully tested the of disease, which leads to huge economic curative efficacy of the best probiotic candidate losses. However, the use of antibiotics to control in an in vivo experiment. Infected fish were bacterial diseases is raising serious concerns treated by adding the probiotic on a daily basis. because antibiotics persist in organisms and The treatment improved fish survival by 54 to the environment and affect the selection of 86% compared to fish in control ponds (infected Smolt feed that contains Camelina. Photo: Kim Johnstone resistant pathogens. There is an urgent need fish not treated with probiotics). (Genome Atlantic) to develop safe, effective prevention and treatment strategies, while maintaining the Jan. 2008 – Dec. 2012 Camelina sativa is an ancient plant that is being industry’s economic viability. The probiotic Funded by: NSERC – Strategic Subvention; Société explored as a partial replacement of fish meal and de recherche et de développement en aquaculture approach clearly meets these criteria. We continentale (SORDAC); RAQ; Aquaculture Forestville; fish oil in aquaculture feed. The Camelina Project chose the Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) NSERC – Collaborative Research and Training Experience is a cross-Canada project that is looking at many as a model, as it is the most widely harvested Program (CRTEP) aspects and uses of the plant, with the Atlantic species in Quebec. Our experimental strategy project lead: Nicolas Derome (U. Laval) region focusing on the aquaculture applications. is to collect bacteria naturally present in the project team: Sébastien Boutin, Louis Bernatchez (U. Laval); Céline Audet (UQAR) The Project is assessing the effects of Camelina skin mucus of healthy fish. The initial results collaborators: Fran Hansen (PEI Shellfish Association) in the diets of finfish based on fish performance of our approach show that seven bacteria Contact: [email protected] and health. Digestibility trials on diets containing from the fish skin microbiome are strong camelina by-products have been completed competition in vitro against two opportunistic in Atlantic Cod, Rainbow Trout, and Atlantic Salmon. Feeding trials using different inclusion levels of Camelina meal and/or oil have been completed in cod and Rainbow Trout, and a Development of a biodiesel production process from salmon trial started in August 2012. Results from microalgae using cheese whey permeate the feeding trials have demonstrated that trout Reducing the cost of microalgae raw oil could Sept. 2010 – Jan. 2014 and cod can tolerate full or partial substitutions allow the advent of a new fossil fuel competitor of fish oil for Camelina oil, and can tolerate Funded by: Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies on the market and this would help limit the du Québec (FQRNT); RAQ various levels of Camelina meal inclusion. Lipid amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by project lead: Jean-Michel Girard (U. Sherbrooke) biochemistry and genomics analyses of fish mankind into the atmosphere. This must be project team: Nathalie Faucheux, Michèle Heitz tissues from these feeding trials are ongoing. initiated by the elaboration of new industrial (U. Sherbrooke); Réjean Tremblay, Jean-Sébastien The project is progressing well towards processes allowing the mass production Deschênes (UQAR) providing information on the performance of of microalgae oil at lower costs. While the collaborators: Fran Hansen (PEI Shellfish Association) fish that are fed Camelina-containing diets. avenue of microalgae biomass production in Contact: [email protected] This information can be used to inform the combination with wastewater remediation has aquaculture industry of the optimal levels of been identified as a cheap route for producing Camelina inclusion in fish feed. biomass, many factors significantly impair growth and productivity. The aim of the present June 2010 – June 2014 work is to evaluate another avenue, using a Funded by: Atlantic Canada Opportunities major co-product from the cheese industry, Agency – Atlantic Innovation Fund co-funded by: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Agricultural whey, for use in a microalgae-based biodiesel Bioproducts Innovation Program; Atlantic Oilseeds; production process. A quick pre-treatment of Colorado State University; Giessen University; Genome whey can be realized to produce a concentrated Atlantic; Genome Prairie; Memorial University of Newfoundland – Ocean Sciences Centre; Minas Seed; and purified lactose stock, using already Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture; Nova Scotia Agricultural available industrial equipment in this industry. College; Province of Nova Scotia – Department of Agriculture/Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Promising results on the use of a selected Province of New Brunswick – Department of Agriculture microalgal strain to grow on lactose in mixo/ and Aquaculture; Province of Saskatchewan – Ministry heterotrophic conditions are presented, as of Agriculture; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; The Research and Development Corporation part of an eventual industrial process that of Newfoundland and Labrador; Cooke Aquaculture would convert it into microalgal oil. Cellular project lead: Isobel Parkin, Claude Caldwell lipid profiles of the microalgae at different project team: Matt Rise, Chris Parrish (MUN); Derek growth stages are also investigated to ensure Anderson (Dalhousie U.); Dwayne Hegedus (Agriculture the production of a biodiesel with adequate and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Measuring microalgal growth. Photo: Jean-Michel Girard properties. (U. Sherbrooke) Contact: [email protected] www.camelinaproject.ca

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Novel antifouling technologies Anaerobic digestion of fish The Centre for Biofouling Research at St. offal and sawdust Francis Xavier University is a multidisciplinary Anaerobic digestion is an attractive option team researching cost effective and for manure/waste management because of its environmentally friendly solutions to potential to digest agricultural and industrial manage biofouling. Our goal is to design and residues, while reducing greenhouse gas demonstrate the effectiveness of biofouling emissions, mitigating pathogens and odours, resistant surfaces for submerged surfaces in and increasing ionized nutrients in the material the ocean, with a particular focus on reducing being digested. This study will test this option fouling in cold temperate waters. Our team, by investigating the digestion of fish offal and which includes expertise on the molecular sawdust using 20-L digesters (microorganisms dynamics of biofilms, microorganisms, that break down biodegradable material) biomechanics, marine larval biology, and field under two operational strategies. The digester experimentation, is using a range of techniques studies will focus on optimizing biogas/ to explore both chemical and physical means methane production by changing organic to either reduce development or promote loading rates, ratio of fish offal to sawdust, and release of fouling communities. We are currently feeding technique (batch vs semi-continuous). focusing on deterrents for invasive tunicates The biogas/methane yields determined in this (sea squirts). study will be used to assess the economic and performance feasibility of a full scale system. Apr. 2011 – Mar. 2013

Funded by: Encana co-funded by: NSERC Dec. 2011 – Mar. 2013 project lead: Truis Smith-Palmer (StFX) Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Collaborative Research and project team: Cory Biship, Edwin DeMont, Darren Development Program (ACRDP) co-funded by: Meeker’s Derksen, Lori Graham, David Pink, Russell Wyeth (StFX) Aquaculture Invasive tunicates adhering to an experimental Contact: [email protected] project lead: Doug Geiling (DFO) underwater structure. Photo: M. Gerhartz sites.stfx.ca/biofouling/ project team: Richard Moccia, David Bevan, Anna Crolla (U. Guelph) collaborators: Mike Meeker (Meeker’s Aquaculture) Development of Feed for Culturing Lobster Larvae for Contact: [email protected] Seeding in a Natural Environment Assessing the Since 2002, Homarus Inc., a not-for-profit APR. 2010 – MAR. 2012 organization managed by the Maritime bioavailability of Funded by: NSERC-CRD co-funded by: Homarus Inc.; Fishermen’s Union (MFU), has been UMCS; UMCM; CZRI methionine and lysine from collaborating with the Coastal Zones Research project lead: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) different sources Institute Inc. (CZRI) to ensure the production Project team: Marc Surette (UMCM) Supplementing synthetic methionine of post-larval lobster for seeding in a natural collaborators: Martin Mallet (Homarus Inc.); (Met) and/or lysine (Lys) to diets of terrestrial environment. Current aquaculture techniques Maxime Boudreau (UMCM); France Béland (CZRI) farm animals in order to meet the nutritional produce over 100,000 post-larvae per year. Contact: [email protected] requirements for methionine or lysine is However, larvae production costs remain a common practice. Different forms of relatively high. To date, no feed is perfectly supplemental Met and Lys are produced and suited to the culture of American Lobster commercialized by different manufacturers. larvae. As a result, hatchery-produced lobster Limited information exists on the bioavailability of larvae are fed with a tri-mix diet made up of the different forms of Met and Lys to fish species. frozen Brine Shrimp, commercial Brine Shrimp flakes, and ArteMac™. However, these products The project involves two separate dose- are expensive, difficult to obtain (requiring response feeding trials, in which graded levels importation) and must be kept frozen until of test synthetic amino acids, three methionine they are used. There is therefore an imminent sources and two lysine sources, are fed to need to develop a dry, practical diet for lobster juvenile Rainbow Trout for 12 weeks. Relative larvae. The objective of this research is therefore Left: Experimental lobster diet; Bottom left: Early stage of bio-efficacy of test amino acids is to be assessed lobster development; Right: Experimental tanks. to develop a dry feed for lobster larvae that Photo: Sébastien Plante (UMCS) using a slope-ratio assay method. would meet their nutritional needs. Producing such a feed would allow and greatly facilitate May 2012 – ongoing Funded by: Evonik Industries AG, Germany co-funded by: the implementation of lobster larvae-raising OMAFRA techniques within the industry. project lead: Christopher Powell, Dominique P. Bureau (U. Guelph) project team: Kabir Chowdhury (U. Guelph) collaborators: Andreas Lemme (Evonik Industries AG) Contact: [email protected], [email protected]

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Physiology of triploid fish A meta-analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) are 40-50% larger than essential amino acid diploid RBCs. We are investigating whether this requirements in fish change in cell size, and the associated reduction Aquaculture feeds are formulated to promote in cellular surface area per unit volume, affects animal’s growth and health, while minimizing triploid performance. For instance, increased feed costs and environmental impacts. Achieving size may affect RBC passage through narrow maximum efficiency implies a precise knowledge capillaries, and reduced surface area may limit of nutritional requirements, including essential ion transfer or respiratory gas exchange across amino acids (EAA). Several reviews have the cell membrane. We are therefore examining identified great variability in EAA requirement the ability of triploid RBCs to maintain their estimates across and within fish species. basic structure and ion transport capabilities in The construction of a standardized database vitro, and also conducting in vivo experiments using information from published studies on to look at RBC flow under various conditions of EAA requirements of fish and a meta-analysis thermal and hypoxic stress. We have adopted using this database were the focus of this Zebrafish as a model species for some of this study. The primary objectives were to estimate research because of the availability of stocks EAA requirement of different fish species and Confocal micrograph of the mid-section of a live with fluorescent RBCs and endothelial linings Tg(flk1:GFP) Zebrafish embryo highlighting its identify sources of variability in the estimates of their blood vessels. The research will then be vasculature. Photo: Chris Small (UNB) of requirement. Over 250 studies on EAA extended to Atlantic Salmon. requirement of fish were identified. However, Triploidy is the only management tool fewer than 25% met the quality criteria required currently available for ensuring reproductive sept. 2012 – ongoing for the database and meta-analysis. The dataset sterility of farmed fish. Sterile populations can Funded by: NSERC co-funded by: New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) also revealed the high fragmentation of our be of direct benefit to industry, since sexually project lead: Tillmann Benfey (UNB) knowledge in terms of EAA requirement with a mature fish often have reduced flesh quality and Project team: few commercially important species represented poor disease resistance. Sterility also addresses Chris Small, Nicole Nader, Bryan Crawford (UNB) and limited amount of work on many of the the risk of escaped fish breeding in the wild. Contact: [email protected] EAA. The meta-analysis revealed the critical However, triploids are rarely used in aquaculture www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/biology/Faculty/ importance of proper design of experimental because of performance limitations. Triploid Benfey.html design. Numerous trials did not presenting a clear dose-response and did not allow accurate requirement estimation. Finally, this study also indicates that it is paramount to report basic Protective barrier to counter Sea Otter predation information such as live weight, experiment Currently there are very little data on methods growing population is threatening the long term duration, temperature, and composition of the to reduce the impact of Sea Otter predation on success of co-located shellfish farms. To respond diet. Without these parameters, results cannot shellfish farm stocks, as this is a new issue in to this threat, Nootka Sound Shellfish will be be standardized across studies, thus resulting in most aquaculture farm areas on the west coast designing and demonstrating a two net system a loss of knowledge. of Canada. This predation will become more using nylon and polypropylene to protect their problematic as the otters expand their range farm from Sea Otter predation, to achieve clear Aug. 2009 – Dec. 2011 into more populated areas of the coast. As an productivity gains through limiting Sea Otter Funded by: NSERC example, stock losses would likely be 80 to 85 predation and to maintain the safety of the Sea project lead: Guillaume P. Salze, Dominique P Bureau (U. Guelph) percent of standing stock on a Manila Clam farm Otters. collaborators: Margaret Quinton (U. Guelph) without protection. Obviously, this would not be viable on a commercial basis. Apr. 2012 – Mar. 2013 Contact: [email protected] Funded by: DFO – Aquaculture Innovation and Market Nootka Sound Shellfish Ltd. will develop, Access Program (AIMAP) co-funded by: Pacific Net & test and evaluate novel protective barriers to Twine; Summer Breeze Aquaculture Products; Harbour counter Sea Otter predation of Manila Clams Chandler which is a serious threat on the North Coast project lead: Kevin Vautier (Nootka Sound Shellfish Ltd.) and North Island of the Pacific Region. Experts project team: Kevin Vautier (Nootka Sound Shellfish Ltd.) indicate that this is an increasing and significant collaborators: BC Shellfish Growers Association; MV Uchuck III challenge for shellfish farmers. Sea Otters eat up to 40% of their body weight daily so a Contact: [email protected]

Diagramatic representation of relevant diet studies. Photo: Guillaume Salze (U. Guelph)

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ORGANIZATIONS

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

DFO delivers programs and services that support the sustainable use technologies to the aquaculture industry. Research on the environmental and development of Canada’s waterways and aquatic resources. On effects of aquaculture also provides a solid scientific foundation for behalf of the Government of Canada, DFO is responsible for developing the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in marine or and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada’s scientific, freshwater ecosystems. On-going research contributes to scientific ecological, social and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters. It is certainty with respect to aquaculture operations and how they interact DFO’s mission to deliver to Canadians the following outcomes: with the aquatic environment. • Safe and Accessible Waterways; In recent years, DFO’s research effort has been directed at understanding • Healthy and Productive Aquatic Ecosystems; and environmental effects of aquaculture on freshwater and marine habitat and ecosystems. We also invest in aquatic animal health research to • Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. understand how best to prevent, mitigate and treat disease. As species In working toward these outcomes, the Department is guided by the diversification is often seen as a means of increasing Canada’s global principles of sound scientific knowledge and effective management. market share, DFO scientists also play a key role in innovative research. DFO is the lead federal department for the sustainable management of DFO enables research pertaining to aquaculture in Canada through the fisheries and aquaculture. Responsibility for aquaculture management implementation of research funding programs. These programs vary and development (governance) is shared between the federal, provincial in their mandates, resulting in a comprehensive strategy for funding and territorial governments. We work together, with many other partners, scientific research, development or pre-commercialization, whether to ensure that the legislative and regulatory framework for aquaculture is the research team be made up of researchers internal or external to the responsive to the public’s and industry’s needs. department, as well as differences in their funding envelopes and project DFO’s aquaculture research aims to address regulatory knowledge timeframes. gaps, and collaborative research and development with the aquaculture The following four DFO programs are currently funding Canadian industry. Collaborative research facilitates the transfer of the latest aquaculture research and development:

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Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) Genomics Research & The Program for Aquaculture Regulatory impacts from shellfish culture and marine and Development Initiative Research (PARR) is an internal research freshwater finfish aquaculture to support siting (GRDI) program for DFO scientists that has funded decisions; fish health management through Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) uses research projects focused on increasing the increased understanding of the fate and effects genomics for the aquaculture industry and in relevant science knowledge base that supports of sea lice treatments on non-target organisms; the management of the wild fishery. These tools and advises informed DFO ecosystem-based research on sea lice/farmed/wild salmon lead to better disease identification and control, environmental regulation and decision making interactions to improve sea lice management development of techniques to determine for the aquaculture sector. on farms and mitigate potential impacts on wild accurately the population structure of wild salmon populations; shellfish bay-scale carrying Since its inception in 2008 as part of the New marine fish and to identify endangered species capacity; and impacts of shellfish culture on Aquaculture Program initiative (now the and minimize illegal or inadvertent harvesting. marine vegetation. Sustainable Aquaculture Program), PARR As an enabling technology, genomics provides has evolved to target research priorities in Since 2010, PARR has approved and funded powerful tools and precise information to consultation with aquaculture regulators and over 40 targeted projects for a total value over support operational mandates and upon which managers that have specifically addressed $5M. policy and regulatory decisions can be based. their regulatory needs. Since 2010, national For more information, please visit the PARR The GRDI was established for the purpose and regional regulatory priorities have focused website at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/ of building and maintaining capacity inside research in areas such as: benthic habitat enviro/aquaculture/parr-prra/index-eng.asp government departments to do genomics research. Through targeted investments the Initiative has enabled the establishment of Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program critical mass in genomics research that supports (AIMAP) innovation in key Canadian sectors, and ensures that federal departments can mobilize their In 2008 the Department of Fisheries and management techniques to enhance its support for the overall, national genomics effort Oceans announced a new contribution global competitiveness and environmental (e.g., projects funded by Genome Canada, program to bolster the development, early performance; and 2) Position Canadian CIHR). Programs funded under the GRDI are commercialization and/or early adoption aquaculture products as having high value in also used to augment human resources and of innovative techniques for the Canadian the market place based on their environmental help create partnerships with other government aquaculture sector. In the five years of the performance, traceability, and other departments, universities, and industry (where program, $23.5 million was made available for considerations. applicable) through the sharing of technology innovation and market access projects with an Since 2008, 164 projects have been funded platforms and by collaborating in research areas additional $100 million being leveraged from through AIMAP under the following priorities: that cut across traditional departmental sectors. industry and other funding partners. 1) Sustainable production; 2) Green technology; For information, contact: Mark Hovorka The goal of AIMAP is to catalyze aquaculture and 3) Species diversification. ([email protected]), or visit industry investment from the private sector, AIMAP focuses on funding projects at the www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Science/biotech/ as well as other sectors, that will: 1) Improve pre-commercialization stage of the research and abgrds-srdbfa/index-eng.htm the competitiveness of a sustainable Canadian development continuum. aquaculture industry by encouraging an Further information on priorities, plans, aquaculture sector that continuously develops For more information, please visit the AIMAP programs and projects can be found on the DFO and adopts innovative technologies and website at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/ web site: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. sustainable-durable/innovation-eng.htm

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) The Aquaculture Collaborative Research are funded through a nationally competitive • Optimal fish health and Development Program (ACRDP) is a DFO process. • Industry environmental performance initiative to increase the level of collaborative The key goals of the program are to improve research and development activity between Since the program’s inception in 2001, over 330 the competitiveness and sustainability projects have been approved and funded. the aquaculture industry and the department, of the Canadian aquaculture industry; and in some instances with other funding increase collaborative research between Over the last five years, DFO has invested over partners. The ACRDP teams industry with DFO the department and industry; facilitate the $25 M into research collaborations for the researchers to undertake research activities that process of technology transfer and knowledge ACRDP. lie within the mandate of DFO but are based mobilization; and increase scientific capacity of For more information, please visit the ACRDP on the needs and priorities of the aquaculture the Canadian aquaculture industry for essential website at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/ industry. The program allocates ACRDP funds aquaculture research and development. enviro/aquaculture/acrdp-pcrda/index-eng. to collaborative research projects that are htm proposed and jointly funded by aquaculture The broad research and development producer partners. The ACRDP funding is objectives, under which National and Regional approximately $2 million per year and projects priorities are established, are twofold:

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec – MAPAQ) and Merinov The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Salmonid Selection and Transfer • research teams from UQAR (Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de Centre (Centre de transfert et de selection Merinov provides innovation to fishing industry l’Alimentation du Québec – MAPAQ) promotes des salmonides – CTSS), and sits on their and aquaculture throughout the province of sustainable development and competitiveness administration boards. Quebec. The Centre conducts applied research, of fisheries and aquaculture sector in Quebec. Merinov, the Quebec Innovation Centre in experimental development and technology MAPAQ contributes, with its partners, in the Aquaculture and Fisheries, was established in transfer to generate new knowledge and implementation of strategies and programs to June 2010 by MAPAQ, the Cégep de la Gaspésie technologies useful to the fishing, aquaculture promote innovation. et des Îles, and the University of Quebec at and aquatic product processing industries. It Through Innovamer, its financial support Rimouski (UQAR). The center was established provides technical assistance to businesses program, MAPAQ supports research and by regrouping well-recognized entities and throughout Quebec and is involved in the development technology transfer activities, teams: monitoring and dissemination of information. technical assistance services, monitoring • MAPAQ Centre for Mariculture in the Merinov has four centers in the maritime services for aquaculture and environmental data Magdalen Islands (Centre maricole des Îles- region equipped with basin rooms, pilot as well as initiatives to disseminate information. de-la-Madeleine – CeMIM) plants, laboratories and versatile equipment. It encourages collaboration between industry, It has boats and measuring equipment for institutions, and organizations in R&D. • MAPAQ Marine Aquaculture Centre in Grande- Rivière (Centre aquacole marin de Grande- operations at sea and in lagoons. Merinov relies MAPAQ finances the fund dedicated to Rivière – CAMGR) on approximately 90 employees recognized research and transfer in freshwater aquaculture for their multidisciplinary expertise, know-how managed by the inland aquaculture research • MAPAQ Aquatic Products Technology Centre and high quality work in the development of and development corporation (Société de in Gaspé (Centre technologique des produits innovative solutions. They work with several recherche et de developpement en aquaculture aquatiques – CTPA) organizations in the fisheries and aquaculture continentale Inc. – SORDAC). MAPAQ also funds • Halieutec College, a center for technology sector as well as Quebec and foreign organizations active in R&D such as Merinov transfer from Cégep universities.

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NSERC investments in aquaculture Fuelled by the federal government’s Engage Grants are one initiative under NSERC’s experts undertake short-term work to address commitment to address the innovation needs Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation (SPI). company-specific R&D challenges. of fisheries and related industries, investments This industry-driven Strategy seeks to facilitate NSERC’s suite of longer-term granting in aquaculture research by the Natural Sciences collaborative research between academia options remains a powerful tool for projects and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and industry and has resulted in the following with multiple industrial partners and longer and its partners in industry and government are changes at NSERC since 2009: time frames: Collaborative Research and building a strong industry. • Structured business development events Development Grants, Industrial Research Chairs NSERC support to research and innovation in supported at the regional level by NSERC’s five and strategic programs continue to receive aquaculture regional offices (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, strong applications and see positive results. NSERC invested over $4.3 million in 2011-12, Prairies and Pacific), who offer introductions NSERC: Open for Research and Open for towards collaborative aquaculture research and assistance to researchers and companies Business looking to work together successfully. partnerships. Funding for Canadian universities Over the last three years, new flexible options, and colleges to undertake collaborative R&D • Grant support for project management within combined with NSERC’s flagship suite of grants, with the aquaculture industry is available NSERC’s partnership grants; have helped more companies than ever before through a variety of established and new NSERC • Support for market studies to assist in work with researchers to leverage their R&D grants. These were created to help connect commercializing promising inventions and dollar. Today over 2,400 companies are working researchers with industry in order to meet the to inform research directions within targeted through NSERC to establish critical research innovation needs of the aquaculture sector, and NSERC grants; and relationships, develop new and enhanced to train the next generation of researchers, both products and services, and discover new for university and private sector research. • Changes to NSERC’s intellectual property policy to expand arrangement options business opportunities. By connecting researchers to Canadian between industry and post-secondary To learn more about how NSERC can help you, companies, NSERC is helping to spur institutions, including assignment of IP rights visit (www.nsercpartnerships.ca), or contact the innovation. Close to 1700 new partnerships to industry partners. Research Partnerships team at 1-877-454-1767 have been formed 1between university or by email at: [email protected]. researchers and Canadian companies with In addition, NSERC has widened the range of the help of NSERC’s Engage Grant Program funding opportunities for businesses that want (EGP). This program provides grants of up to to tap into expertise in Canada’s community $25,000 to have researchers work for six months colleges and CÉGEPs. New grants are available on solving company-specific technological for colleges to build a technology access centre challenges. This type of arrangement can also to help companies access a college’s expertise help build a foundation for longer-term research and facilities; work with a university partner to relationships. commercialise technologies; or have college NRC IRAP enables small- and medium-sized aquaculture businesses succeed through innovation Delivered by a a significant investment into the Canadian water and energy balance information and network of over 210 economy in an effort to increase the productivity benchmarking parameters will help determine professionals located growth of SMEs in Canada across all sectors the net benefit of combining aquaculture with in more than 100 through the adoption of digital technologies. hydroponics. For more information contact K. B. communities across Since April 1, 2011, NRC IRAP has provided Takeda ([email protected]). Canada, the National approximately $2.5M in financial support to Microthalassia Consulting Inc. received NRC Research Council Canada Industrial Research aquaculture SMEs across Canada to assist them IRAP assistance to develop and enhance a Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) supports the in their new product and process development, harmful algae monitoring program (HAMP) on needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises improvement, and adoption initiatives. Here are the British Columbia Coast. This project allowed (SMEs) engaged in innovative or technology- some examples of program assistance provided their president to hire and train a highly skilled driven activities. to the aquaculture sector during this period: technician in the methodologies for identification The Program provides a suite of advisory NRC IRAP supported Red Hat Co-operative on the of harmful marine microalgae. They also looked services, networking and linkages, and non- development of a framework to quantify growing at new services and products that the firm could repayable financial assistance to SMEs. These and operating conditions and objectively commercialize in the near future to support to services are adapted to the SMEs’ industrial, assess the impact of using the effluents from an BC’s aquaculture industries. The firm has now socio-economic and geographic make-up in aquaculture facility to enable themselves and initiated an ACRDP project with the Department order to provide a customized response to their other aquaponic growers to better analyze their of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to further develop development needs. system efficiencies and economics. Assessment their HAMP. For further information please In 2011, NRC IRAP was selected to run the three- of the aquaponics system must consider the contact Nicky Haigh ([email protected]). year Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program related inputs such as nutrients, water, utility, For more information on the program and (DTAPP) as part of the Government of Canada’s waste-management and labour costs. The to contact your local NRC IRAP Industrial Digital Economy Strategy. DTAPP represents framework will facilitate the development of Technology Advisor, visit: www.nrc.gc.ca/irap

94 CANADIAN A QUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 ORGANIZATIONS

Summary of ACOA’s role and investments in Atlantic Canada’s aquaculture industry Established in 1987, the Atlantic Canada multi-trophic aquaculture research and aquaculture industry Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is the federal development to mitigate the environmental • Aqua Bounty Canada Inc. and Aqua Bounty department responsible for the Government impact of marine cage culture Farms Inc. (PEI): Generate technology to of Canada’s economic development efforts • University of New Brunswick (NB): Effluent produce reproductively sterile Atlantic Salmon in the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince treatment system for land based aquaculture • Atlantech Engineering & Associates Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland to mitigate effluent discharge and Labrador. With offices throughout Incorporated (PEI): Advancing water Atlantic Canada, ACOA works with business • Novartis Animal Health Canada (PEI): Platform recirculation and effluent treatment and communities to make Atlantic Canada’s development and DNA vaccine for koi herpes technology for the land-based aquaculture economy more innovative, productive and virus industry competitive. In addition, ACOA ensures that • Université de Moncton (NB) : Broodstock • Solarvest (PEI) Inc.: Microalgae oils for salmon Atlantic Canada’s interests are reflected in research and development related to feed nutraceutical application both the policies and programs developed by high pedigreed Arctic Charr to enhance • Cooke Aquaculture Inc. (NB): Development other departments and agencies of the federal commercialization opportunities and implementation of aquaculture stock government. • Scotian Halibut Limited (NS): Develop traceability ACOA has a broad mandate to increase certified Halibut broodstock to enhance • Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. (PEI): employment opportunities and earned commercialization opportunities Mitigation of infectious salmon anemia (ISA) income in the Atlantic region. The Agency • Huntsman Marine Science Centre (NB): by vaccination and genetic selection has identified aquaculture as one of several Develop an Atlantic Salmon brood stock strategic sectors for Atlantic Canada. Through Aquaculture R&D Projects related to shellfish facility to enhance commercialization and seaweeds the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) and the opportunities Business Development Program (BDP), ACOA • PEI Aquaculture Alliance (PEI): Management has worked in partnership with industry • Research Productivity Council (NB): Develop of invasive species (e.g., tunicates) fouling stakeholders to make investments in innovation a new fish pathogen diagnostic tool for the aquaculture farms aquaculture industry and infrastructure that build upon the • Université de Moncton (NB): Technology and aquaculture industry’s competitive advantages. • Memorial University (NL): Support for Atlantic services to enhance the commercialization of For instance, over the last 10 years, ACOA has Cod broodstock development and fish the shellfish (e.g., oysters) industry made AIF contributions towards the following health management protocols to enhance R&D aquaculture projects: commercialization opportunities for the • Acadian Seaplants Limited (NS): Cultivate aquaculture industry. seaweed biomass for human food and Aquaculture R&D Projects related to fish biomass for active compounds for use in • Genome Atlantic (Pan Atlantic): Atlantic Cod • Atlantic Veterinary College (PEI): Create a various sectors (e.g., agriculture, nutrition) genomics and broodstock development to Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences to support the regions aquaculture industry For information contact: AIF and BDP, please enhance the commercialization of the cod consult: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca aquaculture industry. • Genome Atlantic (PEI): Development of • University of New Brunswick (NB): Integrated Camelina as a feed supplement for the

Ressources Aquatiques Québec (RAQ) Ressources Aquatiques Québec (RAQ) is a researchers from outside Quebec. Its members de développement en aquaculture continentale strategic cluster supported by the Fonds de carry out aquaculture- and recreational/ (SORDAC), the Centre de transfert et sélection recherche du Québec — Nature et technologies commercial fishery-related research projects. des salmonidés (CTSS) and several private (FRQNT). Its regular members are affiliated with In aquaculture, RAQ researchers focus on sector and government partners. Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université fish, mollusc, crustacean, and microalgae/ Information: Céline Audet, PhD, Scientific Laval, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, macroalgae production and participate in joint Director ([email protected]) Université de Sherbrooke, Université de projects using their expertise in engineering, Web site: http://raq.uqar.ca/ Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal, genomics, quantitative genetics, health, the École Polytechnique de Montréal, INRS- microbiology, physiology, nutrition, behaviour IAF, McGill University and the CÉGEP de la and ecology. Gaspésie et des Îles. Several researchers from various federal and provincial government RAQ has always had very close relations with departments, as well as researchers from other the Quebec aquaculture sector, including Canadian provinces or other countries, are the Société de développement de l’industrie also affiliated as government researchers or maricole (SODIM), the Société de recherche et

CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013 95 GLOSSARY

AAA Aboriginal Aquaculture Association FAO [United Nations] Food and Agriculture NS Nova Scotia AAFC Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Organization NSERC National Science and Engineering AANS Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia FODAR Fonds de développement académique du Research Council réseau des Universités du Québec ACFFA Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association NSERC- NSERC Undergraduate Student Research FONCER NSERC – Programme de formation USRA Awards Program ACOA Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency orientée vers la nouveauté, la OMAFRA Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and ACOA-AIF Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – collaboration et l’expérience en recherche Rural Affairs (now Ontario Ministry of Atlantic Innovation Fund FQGZ Fédération Québécoise des Gestionnaires Agriculture and Food) ACRDP Aquaculture Collaborative Research and de Zecs OMNR Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Development Program FQRNT Fonds de recherche Nature et OMoE Ontario Ministry of the Environment AIMAP Aquaculture Innovation and Market technologies du Québec Access Program OSC Ocean Science Centre (MUN) FVCOM Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model AIS aquatic invasive species PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis GRDI Genomics Research and Development PARR Program for Aquaculture Regulatory APSA Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Initiative Aquaculture Research HAMP Harmful Algae Monitoring Program AVC Atlantic Veterinary College (UPEI) PBS Pacific Biological Station (DFO) HMSC Huntsman Marine Science Centre BAMP Broughton Archipelago Management Plan PCR polymerase chain reaction HSP heat shock protein BC British Columbia PE (PEI) Prince Edward Island IFREMER French Research Institute for Exploration PIDDAED Partenaire interprovincial pour le BCSFA BC Salmon Farmers Association of the Sea (Institut français de recherche développement durable de l’aquaculture BCSGA BC Shellfish Grower’s Association pour l’exploitation de la mer) d’eau douce BCWD bacterial cold water disease IHNV infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus PEIAA Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance BKD bacterial kidney disease IMTA Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture PIT passive inductive transponder BIO Bedford Institute of Oceanography (DFO) INRS-IAF Institut national de la recherche PSIIRI Programme de soutien à des initiatives scientifique – Institut Armand-Frappier C-CORE Centre for Cold Ocean Resources internationales de recherche et Centre Engineering d’innovation IOS Institute of Ocean Sciences (DFO) CAAR Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform PVC polyvinyl chloride IPSFAD Interprovincial Partnership for Sustainable CAHS BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences RAQ Ressources Aquatique Québec Freshwater Aquaculture Development CAIA Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance RAS recirculating aquaculture system IRAP NRC Industrial Research Assistance CASF Canadian Aquaculture Standards Forum Program RDC Research and Development Corporation (NL) CCFRN NSERC Canadian Capture Fisheries ISA(v) infectious salmon anemia (virus) Research Network (NB)RPC (NB) Research and Productivity Council ISMER Institut des sciences de la mer de cDNA complementary DNA (deoxyribonucleic Rimouski RAS recirculation aquaculture system acid) ISO International Organization of Standards rRNA Ribosomal RNA (ribonucleic acid) CÉGEP Collège d’enseignement général et RNAi RNA interference professionnel (English : General and IUEM Institut universitaire européen de la mer Vocational College) LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging SABS St. Andrews Biological Station CeMIM Centre maricole des Iles-de-la-Madeleine MAFRI Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural SÉPAQ Société des établissements de plein air du Québec CERC Canada Excellence Research Chair Initiatives SFU Simon Fraser University CFI Canadian Foundation for Innovation MAPAQ Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec SINTEF Stiftelsen for industriell og teknisk CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency MB–CMAF Manitoba – Canadian Model Aqua-Farm forskning (English: The Foundation CHONe Canadian Healthy Oceans Network for Scientific and Industrial Research) MDEIE Ministère du Développement (Norway) CIHR Canadian Institute of Health Research économique, de l’Innovation et de CIMTAN Canadian Integrated Multitrophic l’Exportation SNP single nucleotide polymorphism Aquaculture Network MFU Maritime Fishermen’s Union SODIM Société de développement de l’industrie maricole inc. CMN Canadian Museum of Nature MRNF Ministère des Ressources naturelles CRI Canadian river institute et de la Faune du Québec SORDAC Société de recherche et de développement en aquaculture CRTEP [NSERC] Collaborative Research and MUN Memorial University of Newfoundland and continentale inc. Training Experience Program Labrador SSHRC Social Sciences and Humanities Research CSR Centre for Shellfish Research (VIU) NAIA Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Council of Canada CTSS Centre de transfert et sélection des Association StFX St. Francis Xavier University salmonidés NB New Brunswick UBC University of British Columbia CZRI Coastal Zones Research Institute Inc. NB DAA New Brunswick Department of Agriculture DFA Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Aquaculture (now New Brunswick UBO Université de Bretagne Occidentale (NL) Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries) UDEM University of Montréal DFA- DFA Fisheries Technology and New NBDAAF New Brunswick Agriculture, Aquaculture UMCM University of Moncton Moncton Campus FTNOP Opportunities Program and Fisheries UMCS University of Moncton Shippagan Campus DFARD Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural NBIF New Brunswick Innovation Foundation UNB University of New Brunswick Development (PEI) NBPSGA New Brunswick Professional Shellfish UNBSJ University of New Brunswick Saint John DFO Fisheries and Oceans Canada Growers Association U of T University of Toronto DFO-EAS (DFO) Economic Analysis and Statistics NL Newfoundland and Labrador UPEI University of Prince Edward Island DHA docosahexaenoic acid NOAA US National Oceanographic and UQAR University of Québec at Rimouski EMCP Environmental Management Code of Atmospheric Administration OR UVic University of Victoria Practice Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association NRC National Research Council VHS viral hemorrhagic septicemia VIU Vancouver Island University

96 CANADIAN AQUACULTURE R&D REVIEW 2013

Canadian Aquaculture R&D Review 2013 Special Publication 23 Aquaculture Association of Canada

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