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By Jeff Green

Research co-led by the Faculty of Science could lead to healthier fish and significant savings for the Canadian aquaculture industry.

Dr. Matt Rise, professor, Department of Ocean Sciences, and a team of collaborators from  (UPEI) and industry partner , have received $4.5 million in funding to develop new therapeutic diets for farmed Atlantic salmon.

Improved treatments

The project is one of six national research collaborations awarded through. Dr. Rise is co-lead of the scientific team along with Dr. Richard Taylor, senior research scientist at Cargill Innovation Center, a major international supplier of animal and fish feed; and Dr. Mark Fast, Elanco Research Chair in Fish Health, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI.

“Our functional genomics research will identify molecular mechanisms involved in salmon responses to co-infections,” noted Dr. Rise. “This will lead to the development of better feeds for improved treatments to combat co-infections.”

Big-impact research

When an outbreak occurs, farmed fish can become infected with pathogens ranging from sea lice to bacteria and viruses which can, in turn, have a devastating impact for aquaculture farmers.

Relatively little research has been conducted on co-infections in salmon because it requires specialized know-how and a complex infrastructure of test facilities. The research team will be using genomics tools to identify biomarker genes specific to co-infections. The team will be able to tell the probable effect that different feed-based treatments will have on fish that are co-infected with pathogens. They’ll then be able to use that information to develop therapeutic diets that minimize or prevent these co-infections, or even treat the fish.

The project builds on the team’s earlier research focusing on individual pathogens in farmed Atlantic salmon.

If proven successful, Dr. Rise says the research could have a big impact on the aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

“This project utilizes our collective infrastructure and expertise in aquaculture genomics, nutrition and immunology to address a key problem faced by the industry,” he said.

“It will also provide state-of-the-art training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows and give them the opportunity to collaborate closely with our industry partner.”

Project funding for Integrated Pathogen Management of Co-Infection in Atlantic Salmon is provided by the Government of Canada via Genome Canada at $1.5 million; EWOS/Cargill at $2.2 million; Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland & Labrador at $500,000; Mitacs at $90,000; UPEI at $101,000; and ������Ƶ University at $51,000.

The project is managed by .