2016 AQ Summit: Research Update by Ian Bricknell

A brief overview of technologies looking to solve the overchill problem that is killing salmon in Maine

Culture of Sargassum in Korea: Techniques and Potential for Culture in the U.S.

In an effort to develop suitable culture techniques for macroalgae in the Northeast, this guide reviews the current knowledge of Sargassum biology and reports on culture techniques learned during a research exchange between the United States (NOAA Sea Grant) and South Korea (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute)

Population Ecology and Epidemiology of Sea Lice in Canadian Waters

Sea lice are found on farmed and wild fish on both the west coast and east coast of Canada. The predominant species on both coasts is referred to as Lepeophtheirus salmonis but indications are that the two groups are genetically different. Caligus species are also found on both coasts, these too are different species: Caligus clemensi and C. elongatus, respectively. There has been extensive work on sea lice on both wild and farmed fish over the last decade. Research indicates that L. salmonis, commonly referred to as the salmon louse; may have a broader host range than commonly thought, infecting species such as the three-spine stickleback. The role of farmed salmon, particularly farmed Atlantic Salmon, as potential reservoirs of L. salmonis is accepted. What is still debated is the effect of sea lice infections on wild salmon populations, and whether the establishment of farm level treatment thresholds is the most appropriate method to manage the situation. There is indication that various Pacific salmon species have different tolerances to both L. salmonis and C. clemensi and the role of other non-salmon species in the ecology and epidemiology of sea lice still needs to be better researched. Published work on sea lice on farmed salmon on the East Coast is more limited; research on wild Atlantic Salmon even more so. This Research Document was presented and reviewed as part of the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) National peer-review meeting, Sea Lice Monitoring and Non-Chemical Measures, held in Ottawa, Ontario, September 25-27, 2012. The objective of this peer-review meeting was to assess the state of knowledge and provide scientific advice on sea lice management measures, monitoring and interactions between cultured and wild fish

Experimental Transmission of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus from the Blue Mussel, Mytilus edulis, to Cohabitating Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Smolts

Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) reduces the environmental impacts of commercial aquaculture systems by combining the cultivation of fed species with extractive species. Shellfish play a critical role in IMTA systems by filter-feeding particulate-bound organic nutrients. As bioaccumulating organisms, shellfish may also increase disease risk on farms by serving as reservoirs for important finfish pathogens such as infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). The ability of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) to bioaccumulate and transmit IPNV to naive Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts was investigated. To determine the ability of mussels to filter and accumulate viable IPNV, mussels were held in water containing log 4.6 50% tissue culture infective dose(s) (TCID(50)) of the West Buxton strain of IPNV ml(−1). Viable IPNV was detected in the digestive glands (DGs) of IPNV-exposed mussels as early as 2 h postexposure. The viral load in mussel DG tissue significantly increased with time and reached log 5.35 ± 0.25 TCID(50) g of DG tissue(−1) after 120 h of exposure. IPNV titers never reached levels that were significantly greater than that in the water. Viable IPNV was detected in mussel feces out to 7 days postdepuration, and the virus persisted in DG tissues for at least 18 days of depuration. To determine whether IPNV can be transmitted from mussels to Atlantic salmon, IPNV-exposed mussels were cohabitated with naive Atlantic salmon smolts. Transmission of IPNV did occur from mussels to smolts at a low frequency. The results demonstrate that a nonenveloped virus, such as IPNV, can accumulate in mussels and be transferred to naive fish