RESEARCH - Research Summary

Environmental Integrity Theme

Research Summary

To address public perception issues regarding the safety and wholesomeness of farmed salmon, AquaNet initiated an expedited research project involving a multidisciplinary team of experts from universities and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to compare the flesh quality attributes (i.e. types and levels of contaminants, nutrient content with emphasis on fatty acid composition, sensory parameters such as colour, flavour and texture) of farmed and wild British Columbia salmon using an unbiased and objective study design of a double blind approach. Conclusions from previous studies have been controversial and may have led to misinformation regarding the safety and nutritive value of farmed salmon for human consumption.

This study is designed to determine, in a fair manner, whether there are any concerns about flesh quality of farmed salmon in relation to their wild counterparts for the selected attributes and in comparison to other sources of animal protein and federal and international food safety standards.

The research project involved taking a total sample of 150 (Chinook and Coho) wild and 400 (Atlantic, Chinook and Coho) farmed salmon from different locations A total of 96 diet samples was also taken. Out of the 523 salmon samples collected so far, a total of 138 samples have been designated for analysis. Samples of fillets have been re-coded by a Notary Public so that the origin of the samples is unknown to the investigators performing the analyses. A representative group of samples (12 left fillets from each source of farmed and wild salmon) was then designated for analysis. Each of these samples was then individually prepared under strict QA/QC conditions and are neing analysed. Collation and statistical analysis of all project data is expected to be completed in the fall of 2004. ,

Analyses of the samples will provide a thorough examination of the flesh quality of farmed and wild BC salmon considering the different species, dietary inputs and marine origins (geographical locations of farm sites or routes of migration and sampling location in the case of wild species). In addition, other analyses underway in this study include assessment of: flesh Kudoa prevalence, genetic origins of the wild salmon, plasma hematology and immunological parameters (farmed salmon only), and plasma stress and reproductive hormone profiles (farmed salmon only; pending).

The project will provide conclusive information on the quality of BC wild and farmed salmon.

Network Investigators

Dr. Micheal Ikonomou, Simon Frasier University and Institute of Ocean Sciences - Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, BC
Dr. David Higgs, West Vancouver Laboratory, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver, BC
Dr. Scott McKinley, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Dr. Brent Skura, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Dr. Robert Devlin, West Vancouver Laboratory, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver, BC