Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

With the collapse of the cod fisheries off the east coast of Canada in the late 1990's, there has been interest recently in intensive culturing of Atlantic Cod in Canada. Farming of cod is of particular significance because of consumer interest and the potential market profit. However, as with any new ""farming"" endeavour, parasites pose serious risks to successful fish cultivation. The current application deals with a parasite that is limiting the production potential of Atlantic cod, a new species to aquaculture. The parasite occurs naturally in wild cod off of the coast of Atlantic Canada. However, the relatively high stocking densities in confined aquaculture sites lead to heavy parasite infections that cause impaired growth and high mortality in farmed cod. We recently developed a test to diagnose this parasite in cod. This test will be modified in order to identify specific genetic lines (""families"") of cod that show natural resistance to this parasite. We have adopted a multifaceted approach towards the goals of limiting parasite transmission to cod at aquaculture sites, identifying genetically resistant families for selection and use in breeding programs, identifying drugs that can block or eliminate parasite infections, and testing methods to vaccinate cod and prevent parasite infections. This project involves translational research to enable technology transfer to an important Canadian Industry. Success with our objectives will undoubtedly enhance productivity of cod aquaculture operations for additional economic diversity and economic gain in Canada. Improvements to production capacity in this industry will result in expansion of operations and additional employment in this sector of the economy. Our project will train researchers in an area of priority towards establishing a significant aquaculture industry in Canada. Aquaculture specialists and infectious disease specialists are integral to Canada's future successes in this target area for benefit to Canada's economy, preservation of native species in the ocean environment (wild cod), and contributions to food demands in global society.