A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to help detect the presence of diseases and biofouling species affecting oysters and mussels is being developed by aquaculture researchers in Scotland.
Funding amounting to almost GBP 200,000 (USD 271,310, EUR 233,571) has been given to the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) to build a validated testing system that allows oyster growers to proactively test for the common, and potentially fatal, bacteria Bonamia ostreae.
Additional support for the 15-month project will be given by companies and organizations across the oyster farming and research sectors, as well as from practitioners looking to restore the shellfish to their native habitats, including the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG), the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, and the Blue Marine Foundation.
Once present on a site, Bonamia ostreae cannot be eliminated. Historically, it has only been diagnosable after infection has occurred. Access to a rapid, cheap, pre-emptive test will help farmers to make more informed decisions on whether to move oysters to different locations, helping to prevent the spread of the disease.
Designed to be affordable and easy for growers to use, the testing system will also detect the presence of oyster herpes virus and vibrio bacteria, along with biofouling species such as tube worms.
The project builds on a feasibility study conducted earlier this year, which successfully delivered a proof of concept.
“Our project will tip the way we currently diagnose diseases that affect oysters on its head – taking a pre-emptive rather than reactive approach. We are bringing together the right technology with the right people to solve some of the shellfish sector’s biggest health challenges and potentially make significant improvements to oyster health,” Roslin Institute career track fellow Dr. Tim Bean said.
According to ASSG CEO Dr. Nick Lake, the development and use of a proactive testing system will benefit shellfish growers tremendously.
“Tube worm casts, while benign in terms of mussel quality, are difficult to remove and can interfere with packaging and presentation. Equally, Scotland has retained a disease-free status for oyster herpes virus, which causes losses of young shellfish. With improved detection methods, we would continue to seek to sustain this position, giving us advantages over shellfish production in surrounding countries,” Lake said.
The UK Seafood Innovation Fund is a GBP 10 million (USD 13.6 million, EUR 11.7 million) program that supports the delivery of new technology and innovation to the country’s fishing, aquaculture and seafood industries.
Photo courtesy of the European Union Reference Library
