New study to protect farmed fish against deadly diseases

A major new study has just been launched which could help protect salmon and other farmed fish against a range of potentially deadly viral and bacterial diseases.

The work is part of a multi million euro European project with 14 collaborating partners from nine different countries, to boost and ensure improved health and production of fish in aquaculture.

The study is called LIFECYCLE and the University of Aberdeen, in UK, has received GBP344,000 (US$489,681) for their research which will centre on farmed Atlantic salmon.

Fish Physiology within the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences lecturer, Sam Martin said the aquaculture industry is highly competitive and fundamental biological knowledge is required to improve the quality and sustainability of the industry.

Martin said they will be looking at the hatching stage when the fish are vulnerable to disease and want to work out when the immune system develops exactly as this is completely unknown.

Head of the School of Biological Sciences professor Chris Secombes added that understanding the key stages of fish and their immune systems is absolutely essential for the aquaculture industry which is a global and highly competitive sector.

Secombes said this may lead to improved vaccine development and performance, with major benefits for the industry.

Scientists in the different countries will spend four years examining the key life cycle stages of Atlantic salmon and European farmed fish.