Grant: Canada Excellence Research Chairs

The CERC research program in aquatic epidemiology at the University of Prince Edward Island will apply population-based, epidemiological research methods to the sustainable production of food animals in aquatic ecosystems. With a global value of $70B in 2004 and an annual growth rate of 10%, aquaculture is the world?s most rapidly expanding food-production sector; in Canada, finfish aquaculture and lobster sales total approximately $2B per year. The management of cultured fish stocks and aquatic ecosystem health around the world faces serious and often unpredictable challenges, ranging from disease problems to climate change. The two overarching objectives of the CERC research program, which will augment the internationally recognized programs in epidemiology and aquatic health at UPEI?s Atlantic Veterinary College, are (1) to generate sophisticated, cutting-edge epidemiology capabilities to assist both regulators of aquatic ecosystems and aquatic food animal producers in Canada in making science-based decisions, and (2) to apply these new capabilities, along with basic epidemiology skills, to the management of disease in aquatic food animals worldwide. Applying a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, the CERC team will investigate disease dynamics and health interactions between cultured and wild fish populations, as well as develop cost-effective testing strategies and surveillance programs for disease control and prevention in aquatic ecosystems. Directed by our CERC nominee ?Dr. Ian Gardner, one of the world's leading veterinary epidemiologists?this program will cement Canada's global leadership in epidemiological research and training related to aquatic food animal species. The CERC research team will engage with the global challenge of supplying high quality protein to a hungry world; collaborate with an international network of experts, including our proposed OIE Collaborating Centre in Aquatic Epidemiology; and contribute to public confidence in the health of aquaculture products and the safety of aquatic ecosystems at home and abroad.