The Scottish Government

CODE

PROGRAMME

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

FC09

Finfish and Shellfish Cultivation

· Investigate the cultivation potential for new (native and non-native) fish and molluscan species, with particular emphasis on understanding bivalve recruitment processes.

· Investigate cultivation techniques which show potential for development by the industry, including growth rates, eggs and larval production and rearing techniques.

· Assess the potential impact of aquaculture on the marine environment.

· Jointly with industry encourage the development of a viable aquaculture industry.

· Alert policy to the possible environmental impact of aquaculture.

FC11

Fish and Shellfish Health

· Improve understanding of the nature of the major fin and shellfish diseases, develop more efficient diagnostic procedure, and identify new control measures.

· Enable the Scottish Government to more effectively respond to outbreaks of fish and shellfish diseases, through rapid testing and adoption of appropriate control measures in the light of research funding.

CODE

FC1198

The distribution of viable sea lice in Scottish lochs

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-05

Mar-09

(i) Establish the key spatial and seasonal features determining levels of sea lice infection in sea lochs;

(ii) Deliver a model of sea lice settlement in the loch system(s) and a mathematical model on settlement risks for other Scottish lochs.

The development of a successful and sustainable farmed Atlantic salmon sector in Scotland requires that it co-exists with the wild salmonid fishery. This project will improve scientific understanding of the interactions and dynamics of sea lice infection of salmonids.

CODE

FC1199

Differentiating between pancreas disease and related pathologies

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-06

Mar-09

(i) Determine if cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) is transmissible; investigate causes, examine histology and identify associated pathology;

(ii) Determine prevalence & risk factors, and develop methods diagnosis for pancreas disease (PD);

(iii) Improve understanding of heart and muscle pathologies including their aetiology, diagnosis, epidemiology and control.

Effective operation of fish disease legislation is reliant upon a sound scientific understanding of disease risks and the availability of diagnostic techniques to distinguish between individual diseases. A better understanding will enable advice to be given on appropriate controls, disease avoidance, contingency planning and regulation to protect and promote the aquaculture industry in Scotland.

CODE

FC11101

Determining the prevalence and significance of Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus (ISAV) in Scottish waters

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-06

Mar-09

(i) Develop and validate method capable of specific identification of the HPRO subtype of ISAV;

(ii) Determine distribution of HPRO in gill and kidney tissues;

(iii) Perform pathogenicity experiments and study host response to ISAV in salmon smolts.

Effective management of disease needs to be underpinned by sound science and legislation. Discriminating between pathogenic and non-pathogenic ISAV will help to evaluate the appropriateness of current legislation and associated management strategies for this important disease.

CODE

FC11102

Dispersion of sea lice on local and regional scales

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-07

Mar-11

(i) Develop models of sea lice infection and investigate potential for lice larvae to travel between lochs;

(ii) Investigate environmental influences on egg production, egg viability and the time to infectivity;

(iii) Investigate dispersal between wild and farmed salmon populations and observe louse larvae numbers in the wild;

(iv) Establish how lice are transferred between fish species and the risk of lice being transferred to salmonid populations.

The establishment of a bio-physical model of sea lice dispersion and infectivity will directly inform management initiatives to minimise the potentially harmful impacts of sea lice. The model will also have more general applicability for disease and related studies.

CODE

FC11103

A modelling study on the effect of farm size on risk from water born epidemics

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-07

Mar-11

(i) Develop a model for pathogen accumulation near farms of different sizes and in different environments and analyse dispersal to neighbouring farms;

(ii) Develop model of local production, long-distance transmission and bio-security economics to assess the effect of changes in farm size on vulnerabilities to disease spread.

The consolidation of production into fewer larger sites means that managers require new information on the likely consequences for development of disease infection and the spread of disease within and between farms.

CODE

FC11104

Effective monitoring, detection and identification of Gyrodactylus salaris in the Scottish freshwater environment

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr-07

Mar-10

(i) Improve detection methods for the parasite Gyrodactylus salaries, and freedom from infection in areas where the parasite has been eradicated;

(ii) Search for markers to determine origin, and follow spread of the parasite; and to determine pathogenicity of the different parasite types within the G.salaris/G.thymalli complex.

Protection of wild freshwater fisheries in Scotland from Gyrodactylus salaris requires improved and more selective techniques to identify and trace the possible introductions of the pathogen.

CODE

FC11105

Risk of introduction and spread of exotic pathogens

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr- 08

Apr- 11

(i) Investigate risk of introduction through fish carcass trade, live fish/egg trade and wild fish;

(ii) Assess spread of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) between farms;

(iii) Develop a model to inform risks of introduction of significant aquatic pathogens.

The current trends in diversification of aquaculture species and vertical integration of the industry across national borders increases risks of introducing pathogens. Their identification will inform policy input to negotiations on trade controls, contingency planning and risk-based surveillance programmes.

CODE

FC11106

Validation of Diagnostic methods

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Apr- 08

Mar- 11

(i) Estimate sensitivity and specificity of tests for specific pathogens.

(ii) Conduct field trials of sampling methods for a range of pathogens,

(iii) Assess different sampling strategies in terms of detection power and false positive rates with respect to optimised risk-based surveillance

Currently few fish disease tests have been formally validated. Legal restrictions may be placed on the use of unvalidated tests to confirm disease free-status and action based on the results of unvalidated tests could attract judicial review.

CODE

FC11108

Complex population structure and epidemiology in the Scottish aquaculture sector

START

END

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES

KEY CUSTOMER PURPOSE

Oct- 07

Sep- 11

(i) simulate the spread of disease (led by the University of Stirling).

(ii) analyse fish movement in the aquaculture industry, and examine the links between them, e.g. routes of disease transmission between salmon and trout;

(iii) develop methods for collecting data to assess fish health status, and methods to assess the validity of farm health data;

(iv) identify risk factors for pancreas disease, and understand the dynamics within- and between-farms.

One problem with increased aquaculture production is the development of emerging diseases and the intensification of existing infections that may be associated with poorly organised aquaculture.

Developing network structures allows the aquaculture industry to be analysed and thus the spread of key existing and exotic diseases, and the effectiveness of control policies in interrupting spread, can be assessed.