A group of aquaculture researchers in Scotland is aiming to develop a simple mass testing tool that can detect heart conditions in salmon.
It is hoped that the research into changes in biomarkers in the salmon’s blood will lead to a new tool which can be easily used at fish farms to prevent and treat disease.
“A simple, cost-effective, and proactive test that helps screen fish populations for cardiomyopathies would be an excellent addition to aquaculture’s toolbox for enhancing the health and wellbeing of salmon stocks,” said Heather Jones, chief executive at the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre, whose experts are part of the consortium.
“Not only would it provide insight into the development of diseases on farms, but it could inform the wider picture of fish health and, over time, help reduce stock mortalities through enhanced insights,” she added.
Developing a non-lethal mass testing system for heart disease could make a substantial difference in the aquaculture sector. During 2018 in Norway, heart conditions alone were considered one of the biggest issues for fish farmers, with associated costs estimated at €145 million.
The researchers will analyse blood samples from fish at a variety of Cooke Aquaculture Scotland sites and trials of Benchmark Atlantic salmon strains over the next few months. The tests – which should return results in as little as 45 minutes – could help producers to understand how fish are affected and inform stock management choices, as well as identifying fish with greater resilience to disease.
