Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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Bob Devlin
1. What do you do?
We examine how genetic differences between strains of fish affect their behaviour and physiology, and how these changes may affect traits such as growth, colouration, and reproduction. We use a range of CSI-like genetic methods to study the fish (primarily salmon and trout), and also use large aquarium facilities to grow many fish in culture. This research is allowing the development and analysis of unique strains of salmon (e.g. very fast growing, enhanced flesh colouration, or single sex populations) for aquaculture and for environmental studies.
2. Why does it matter?
Improving production efficiency in aquaculture has importance both to enhance the industry and to reduce environmental effects. Fully sustainable aquaculture is also a key objective of our research for the future, and Canada is making progress towards this end. The research we perform also examines potential effects of aquaculture on wild fish ways as well as ways to prevent interaction.
3. Where do you work?
Our laboratory is at the Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research (CAER) in West Vancouver, BC. This laboratory is superb research facility which houses excellent large aquarium facilities (e.g. more than 200 large tanks, artificial streams, behaviour tanks) supplied with well water, creek water, or sea water. The lab also has excellent chemistry facilities to allow genetic and physiology research to be performed.
4. What gets you charged about your work?
I really enjoy the process of discovering new things about nature that have never been known before. Problems that need to be solved on a daily basis are challenging and overcoming them to achieve an objective is extremely rewarding. Working with excellent researchers at our lab and interacting with scientists from around the world about the latest scientific discoveries in our field provides a very stimulating environment. No two days are ever alike.
5. What is a typical work day like?
Long, but rewarding. Much of my time is spent overseeing scientific research projects to ensure they are being designed and carried out appropriately. Assessing new data to see the latest findings is also part of my job, as is writing scientific papers, reports, and seeking funding.
6. What impact does your work have on aquaculture?
Our work has assisted the industry by providing tools for use in the development of strains to enhance production efficiency (all-female, or monosex, strains). We are also working on genetic studies to better understand how growth is regulated in fish as this is a very important trait for aquaculture production. We also perform research to examine the effects of aquaculture on wild fish and assessing prevention methods, , and by doing so we hope to assist in enhancing the sustainability aquaculture in the future.
7. What’s your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge in our research is to try and accomplish all the many questions that need to be answered, and to do so in a rapid and hopefully cost-effective way. We also always require new facilities or experimental apparatus to undertake our research, and often this is expensive for which funds need to be found. Finding enough time to publish all the information we generate can also be a large challenge at times.
8. What’s one of your biggest successes?
We have analyzed methods for determining the risks of genetically-engineered fish should they enter nature. We have also been successful in analysis of the Y chromosome in salmon and developing molecular tools that can be directly applied to aquaculture.
9. How will your work evolve in future?
I anticipate that our research will involve increasing levels of genomics research. This technology seeks to study genetics at very large scales to understand how traits are controlled. Our research also will be involving studying how genetic differences between strains affects their survival in nature.
Patrick O'Reilly
1. What do you do?
I analyze molecular genetic (DNA) variation in wild and cultured populations of Atlantic salmon, and provide genetic advice to hatchery staff and managers.
2. Why does it matter?
It is hoped that my research findings and the advice provided to managers may minimize negative interactions between aquaculture and wild salmon, and increase the likelihood of persistence of this important aquaculture species in Canada.
3. Where do you work?
I mostly work out of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth Nova Scotia, but intend on spending more time in the field in the near future.
4. What gets you charged about your work?
The opportunity to contribute to the health and conservation of Atlantic salmon in Canada; the potential for Scientific discovery; and, possibly contributing to the development of sustainable aquaculture in Canada.
5. What is a typical work day like?
Most of my day is spent dealing with operational needs associated with multiple research programs currently underway on Atlantic salmon, such as providing information, analyses, and reports.
6. What impact does your work have on aquaculture?
It hopefully contributes to the long-term sustainability of aquaculture in Canada; provides insights into the risks of inbreeding depression on performance of salmon in different environments; and, minimizes interaction between wild and aquaculture salmon.
7. What’s your biggest challenge?
Managing time and coordinating activities amongst multiple collaborators.
Christopher Pearce
1. What do you do?
I conduct scientific research on shellfish aquaculture. In doing so, I examine how various factors (e.g. temperature, salinity, food, stocking density) affect the growth and survival of various aquaculture species (e.g. clams, oysters, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, cockles) on the west coast of Canada. I also examine the potential impacts of shellfish aquaculture and shellfish harvesting on the marine environment.
2. Why does it matter?
My main interest lies in helping the aquaculture industry develop new species and methods in order to optimize commercial production and maximize profitability. Doing this, allows for small Canadian aquaculture companies to become more competitive in the global market. I am also interested in examining the potential environmental impacts of shellfish aquaculture and harvesting to better determine methods for maximizing the social and environmental sustainability of the industry. This is beneficial to the companies as well as our marine ecosystems.
3. Where do you work?
I work at a research station in Nanaimo, British Columbia. My research takes place both in the field and in laboratories at the station.
4. What gets you charged about your work?
The Pacific Biological Station, where I work, is located at the edge of the ocean in Departure Bay; an absolutely glorious location. I have an amazing view from my office window! I work with a number of other people in my laboratory, including various research technicians, graduate students, and post-doctoral candidates. I enjoy interacting with them and working as a team to discover new and exciting things about shellfish and their environment. I like to think that my research makes a difference to both industry and government.
5. What is a typical work day like?
I spend most of my days in my office. I analyse data, write scientific papers, review papers written by students in my laboratory, write proposals for funding in order to conduct research, and do paperwork involved with running my research program. I spend a lot of time interacting with the technicians, students, and post-doctoral candidates in my laboratory, working out the details of various experiments. Occasionally, I get to help out with these experiments, get my hands wet, and actually conduct some real science!
6. What impact does your work have on aquaculture?
My research has an impact on the shellfish aquaculture industry because I am studying potential new species for development and new methods for optimizing growth and survival of existing species. My work also has implications to the development of government policies (i.e. how aquaculture is regulated by the government).
7. What’s your biggest challenge?
Administration – all the paperwork involved with running an active research program.
8. What’s one of your biggest successes?
I think that the ultimate level of success for me with my research is the publication of our experimental results in scientific journals or books.
9. How will your work evolve in future?
I will continue to work on shellfish aquaculture, but I think that I will end up conducting more ecosystem-related research; examining the influence of the environment on shellfish growth as well as survival, and the effects of shellfish aquaculture on the marine habitat.
Shawn Robinson
1. What do you do?
I am a marine ecologist. My work is to create more sustainable systems for food production from the ocean which are more environmentally friendly and benign. The concept I am working on is called Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA). I work with a team of people encompassing DFO, government agencies, universities, industry, graduate students and interns.
2. Why does it matter?
Society is moving away from industries which are strictly extraction-based on the natural environment. This process is happening more slowly in the ocean, but it is coming. Teams such as ours are required in order to better understand how processes work within the marine environment aa well as how humans can do a better job coexisting within these processes. We do not have an infinite amount of time in order to get our practices right, so the sooner we design these systems, the better.
3. Where do you work?
I work at the DFO Biological Station located in St. Andrews, New Brunswick and also indirectly at the University of New Brunswick through an adjunct professor position. I also have research linkages with several other scientists around the world in collaborative projects.
4. What gets you charged about your work?
I like the fact that the work we are doing is appreciated on various levels including natural resource regulators, industry, academics and the general public. We have received very positive responses which are now being reflected in media coverage. Coupled with the fact that we get to work in gorgeous coastal areas, makes it all the more enjoyable.
5. What is a typical work day like?
There are very few typical days in the field of research because the topic is so broad and varied. For example; I attend meetings with industry on the latest research results or designs, I meet with regulators to hear advice on monitoring or development, I sit in on a graduate student committee, I give presentations on IMTA at scientific conferences, or I head out on a boat in order to go scuba diving at one of the study sites in the area.
6. What impact does your work have on aquaculture?
The work our team does is helping the current industry to evolve to the next level of sustainable production. It recognizes aquaculture as an economic activity and it uses ecological and economic principles to achieve management objectives in a win-win situation. This approach is being recognized worldwide and we are part of a national and international team trying to achieve this.
7. What’s your biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenges are associated with issues surrounding the development of new concepts, and are mostly time-related. We are expected to envision an issue, devise a solution, generate the data, publicize the conclusions, educate users and bring the work into the general public consciousness, all in short time scales. Due to the complexity of this concept, I must take directions I never would have considered in the past and to build large teams of people capable of working efficiently together.
I have absolutely no complaints about this. However, I am concerned that I only have 15 years to go until official retirement. That does not seem to be nearly enough time.
8. What’s one of your biggest successes?
One of my biggest successes was being involved with the initiation and development of the IMTA program in Canada. It has grown in relevance and stature and is meeting the needs of almost all the clients involved with the concept. Initial success has bred further successful initiatives, attracting more talented individuals to the ever expanding team. It is very satisfying to see a vision come together.
9. How will your work evolve in future?
We are building new sustainable systems that will continue into the future with the students we are currently training. Some are already graduated and working within the sector. These advanced food production systems will continue to evolve in complexity and efficiency and will likely become the standard for human use of the marine ecosystems.
