DFO Aquaculture Science in Action

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Over the past 20 years, DFO has conducted research on a wide range of aquaculture related areas. This research provides a sound science and technology base for the department’s management of the marine resource and for innovations within the aquaculture industry.

During this time, DFO scientists have pioneered many areas of research, and have been recognized for significant findings in fish health, biotechnology, genetics and marine ecosystems interactions.

A major focus of DFO research has been to determine factors that pose a risk to the health of wild salmon. In order to find answers to the important question of how to protect wild salmon, DFO looks at the ecosystem as a whole: the living resources, the aquatic environment, interaction between species, the impact of human activities and many other factors.

Fascinating Facts

• Some 50 research programs are currently underway in the field and at three DFO facilities:
   

  • Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research, West Vancouver, BC

  • Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, Vancouver Island

  • Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island
     

• More than 55 peer reviewed papers related to aquaculture published between 2003 – 2006
   
• 14 DFO scientists awarded special recognition including:
   

  • an Order of Canada

  • an Order of British Columbia

  • a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
     

• DFO scientists are representatives on major scientific bodies and editorial boards including:
   

  • Dr. Dick Beamish is editor of the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, editor of the journal "Sustainability Science", a member of the Science Panel for the North Pacific Research Board and the Pacific Fisheries Research Advisory Council.

  • Dr. Susan Bower is the designated Reference Expert for the OIE Reference Laboratory for Mikrocytosis by the World Animal Health Organisation and a member of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, National Shellfisheries Association Aquaculture Association of Canada, Asian Fisheries Society, Inc. Fish Health Section and European Association of Fish Pathologists.

  • Dr. Bob Devlin is a member of the Journal of Applied Ichthyology editorial board and a leading researcher in the application of molecular and general genetics on questions of salmonid biology.

  • Dr. Brent Hargreaves received a PhD in biological oceanography from Dalhousie University. His DFO research for the past 25 years has focused on field study of all five species of Pacific salmon. During that period he has also served on numerous national and international scientific panels and committees. Since 2001, he has been the Canadian chair of the Selective Fisheries Evaluation Committee of the bi-lateral (Canada-USA) Pacific Salmon Commission.

  • Dr David A. Higgs is one of 32 internationally renowned scientists selected for the Blackwell Publishing editorial board whose fields of research include improvement of fish meal quality, and alternate protein sources to expensive premium quality fish meal and oil.

  • Dr. Simon Jones is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria (Department of Biology) and at the University of Prince Edward Island (Atlantic Veterinary College, Department of Pathology and Microbiology). In addition, Dr. Jones has served on the Grant Selection Committee of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

  • Dorothee Kieser heads the Fish Pathology Program and is a member of the Technical Standards Committee of the Fish Health Section/American Fisheries Society which sets internationally recognized standards for fish health testing methods.

  • Dr. Kristi Miller-Saunders holds a Ph.D from Stanford University. Her main focus of research is the development and application of molecular genetic tools including genetic markers for the delineation of population structure and the identification of important units for conservation within species.

  • Ted Perry is Director of Marine Ecosystems and Aquaculture Division at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In this role he oversees research activities in the areas of biotechnology and genetics, fish health and fish culture.

  • Dr. Brian Riddell is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Pacific Salmon Forum. For 10 years, Dr. Riddell was also a member of the Independent Scientific Advisory Board of the US National Research Council, responsible for scientific review of all federally sponsored research programs related to salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest. He is a contributing author to two books on pacific salmon.

  • Ruth Withler has conducted research on the genetic structure of Pacific salmon and marine fish species since 1981 using the techniques of protein electrophoresis, analysis of mitochondrial DNA, and analysis of nuclear DNA markers.