RESEARCH - Research Summary

Animal Production Theme

Research Summary

Strong global competition in salmon aquaculture and a decline in the wild fisheries have made the development of a diversified aquaculture industry, including the production of non-salmonid marine species an attractive alternative. This project, one of several AquaNet funded projects to promote aquaculture species diversification, is focused on new species from Eastern Canada that have committed industrial backing or have been prioritised by provincial governments for development. These species are in various stages of production ranging from haddock (>300,000 juveniles per year), cod (>50,000 juveniles per year) to winter flounder and wolfish which are in an early stage of development. Though winter flounder culture and wolfish culture are not as advanced as haddock and cod culture, industrial and provincial support is being provided to accelerate the commercialisation of these two species.

There are basic production protocols in place for all these species but problems still exist in achieving consistent high survival of robust juveniles. There are critical survival periods during the egg to juvenile production stage of each species and some of these are species specific. This research project focuses on some high priority areas for each species, using a multi-disciplinary, coordinated team approach and taking advantage of the diverse backgrounds of the research team and the specialised facilities that exist at the participating institutions.

Research to date has identified better feed enrichments by improving lipid to protein and fatty acid ratios that promote best performance in haddock and cod larvae. The suitability of a salmon miniarray that contains a range of lipid metabolism genes is currently being tested for haddock and cod. Work to determine rearing conditions to optimize growth in wolfish juveniles is in progress, analyzing the juvenile responses to low and intermediate salinities and different temperature regimes.

Network Investigators

Joe Brown, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL
Pierre Blier, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC
Susan Douglas, Institute for Marine Biosciences, National Research Council, Halifax, NS
Jean-Denis Dutil, Maurice-Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont-Joli, QC
Stewart Johnson, Institute for Marine Biosciences, National Research Council, Halifax NS
Santosh Lall, Institute for Marine Biosciences, National Research Council, Halifax NS
Yvan Lambert, Maurice-Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont-Joli, QC
Chris Parrish, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL

Publications

H. M. Murray, J.C. Perez-Casanova, J.W. Gallant, S.C. Johnson, and S. E. Douglas. 2004. Trypsinogen expression and biochemical activity during the development of the exocrine pancreas in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. (Accepted)

Perez-Casanova, J.C., Murray, H.M., Gallant, J.W., Ross, N.W., Douglas, S.E. and S.C. Johnson. 2004. Bile salt-activated lipase expression during larval development in the haddock, (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). Aquaculture. (In Press)

Mercier, L., Audet, C., de la Noüe, J., Parent, B., Parrish, C.C., and N.W. Ross. 2004. First feeding of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) larvae: use of Brachionus plicatilis acclimated at low temperature as live prey. Aquaculture. 229: 361-376.

Murray, H. M., Casanova J. C., Gallant, J., Johnson, S. C. and S. E. Douglas. 2003. Ontogeny of lipase expression in winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus. Journal of Fish Biology 62: 816-833.

Juan Carlos Casanova. 2003. Development of the digestive system in haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Dalhousie University, MSc. Thesis.

Alves, Tarcisio T. 2004. The effects of early weaning on the behaviour, growth and survival of Atlantic cod and far snook larvae. Memorial University of Newfoundland. MSc. Thesis.