Volume 20 Issue 5 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
ANNIVERSARY FEATURE 1999
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
2019
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High hopes for new trout disease vaccine in Scotland BY MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN
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Hatching the future for aquaculture Meaningful progress in operational efficiencies and technologies in the hatchery sector have contributed significantly to the overall growth of the aquaculture industry. Here’s a look at how far it has come. BY MATT JONES, COLIN LEY AND MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN
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s Hatchery International celebrates 20 years of covering the aquaculture industry’s hatchery sector, we look back to the last couple of decades to examine the developments and progress that have transpired in hatchery operations around the world, and the impact they have made in the global aquaculture industry. We speak to industry veterans and
experts for their views on how far this industry has come. No doubt, one of the most transformative developments in hatcheries have to do with advancements in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). This technology is not new to hatchery operators. In fact, the continued on page 14
COLL ABORATION
Bottoms up New project to increase aquaculture of low-trophic species
BY MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN
consortium of fish farmers and aquaculture research organizations in Scotland have teamed up to develop a commercial vaccine for rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS), a pervasive disease among trout. The initiative is spearheaded by UK’s largest rainbow trout producer, Dawnfresh, and the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture. Scottish trout farmer Kames Fish Farming, and aquaculture research firm Tethys Aquaculture are also part of the project, with funding from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC). The group will conduct field trials of the new vaccine in a bid to secure the necessary licence for commercial use. The vaccine was developed by the University of Stirling as part of a five-year European Commission-funded project called ‘Targetfish’. RTFS has been a major problem for the rainbow trout industry, according to Dr. Rowena Hoare of the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture. “We are delighted that this project has been funded by SAIC, enabling our novel RTFS vaccine to be tested on two fish farm sites. We hope in the future to combine this with other vaccines to assist in the sustainability of the trout industry.” RTFS is a common disease in trout and has been responsible for substantial loss of stocks, with some sites reporting high average early-stage mortality rates. Rainbow trout is the second most-produced finfish by volume on UK fish farms, making RTFS a particularly important issue on British shores. continued on page 11
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new international project to increase aquaculture production of low-trophic species has launched in Tromsø, Norway, with more than 70 scientists and industry professionals from 16 countries in attendance during the inaugural event, Nofima has announced. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, the AquaVitae research and innovation project will be conducted over the next four years and will focus on increasing production of low-trophic species in and around the Atlantic Ocean through sustainable means. The project consortium consists of 36 partners, from 16 countries across four continents. In addition to Europe, partners are situated in countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, including Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, as well as in North America. continued on page 10
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