SLICEnce

Canadian salmon production is the fourth largest farmed salmon industry in the world. Farmed salmon is British Columbia’s (BC) largest agri-food export with a total economic output of $1.6 billion annually, which represents 60% of total production in Canada. Approximately, 90,000 tonnes of farmed salmon are produced in BC every year which in turn supports approximately 6,500 jobs. This project represents a collaboration between partners that have been heavily committed to the Canadian aquaculture industry for decades, including an academic institution (UPEI/AVC), a non-for-profit organization (BC CAHS), a pharmaceutical company (MERCK), and salmon producers (Grieg, Cermaq and Mowi). The partners will combine their respective expertise in sea lice genomics (UPEI/AVC), sea lice collection (aquaculture companies’ staff), parasiticide product knowledge (MERCK) and performance of sea lice bioassays, diagnostic testing and assay development (BC CAHS; ISO/IEC 17025 accredited). Sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, is an ectoparasite that commonly infects wild and farmed salmonids. Atlantic salmon are particularly susceptible to infestations and these infestations can lead to osmotic imbalance, skin ulceration and multiple welfare issues. The parasite impacts salmon production by limiting their growth, increasing their susceptibility to secondary infections and continued costs of treatment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Fast

Student:

Partner:

Merck Animal Health Canada;BC Salmon Farmers Association

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Prince Edward Island

Program: