Developing diagnostic techniques for assessing fish health
Project Summary
Project life: 12 months
Anticipated Benefits
A cheaper, faster method of monitoring and informing fish health practitioners on the health and welfare of their fish.
£349K
Total Value
51%
Industry Contribution
39%
SAIC Contribution
10%
Academia Contribution
Partners
- Kames Fish Farming
- Mowi Scotland
- Randox Food Diagnostics
- Europharma Scotland
- The University of the West of Scotland
This project resulted in the development of a database for the baseline levels of 22 clinical biomarkers over an 11-month period, for both Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. This data will help to establish the normal biomarker range, providing a baseline level that samples from fish suffering a health insult can be compared against to indicate clinical significance. The ultimate aim is for these biomarkers to be used as an early indication of a health issue (e.g. disease) before organ/tissue injury occurs.
The project also highlighted the impact of sea lice treatment on fish health 10 days post-treatment and as a result, aquaculture partners have amended their fish husbandry practices to increase the recovery time between exposures. This will impact on fish welfare as the fish are healthier and less likely to succumb to infection, which also has an economic benefit.
Fish are healthier and less likely to succumb to infection, which also has an economic benefit.