The University of Aberdeen yesterday announced it launched a study that may help protect farmed fish from viral and bacterial diseases.
The study, called Lifecycle, will center on Atlantic salmon.
"The aquaculture industry is highly competitive and fundamental biological knowledge is required to improve the quality and sustainability of the industry," said Sam Martin, a professor of fish physiology at the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences and one of the study's lead researchers. "We will be looking at the hatching stage when the fish are vulnerable to disease. What we want to work out is exactly when the immune system develops as this is completely unknown."
The university received EUR 344,000 (USD 437,623) to conduct Lifecycle as part of a multi-million European project with 14 collaborating partners from nine countries to boost and ensure improved fish health and production.
Scientists will spend four years examining the key lifecycle stages of Atlantic salmon and other farmed fish.
The Aberdeen work will take place at the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Center within the university's zoology building.
February 18, 2009
