Marine Fish Aquaculture

The Marine Fish Aquaculture Program is directed at developing methods for rearing marine fish and shellfish species for aquaculture and enhancement. In contrast to the well-developed technology for salmonid cultivation, there is little knowledge of the rearing requirements for important marine teleosts and invertebrate species. To date, work has concentrated on rearing and spawning captive broodstock and hatchery rearing from the egg to juvenile stage. Understanding the physiology of the animal, nutritional requirements at each life stage, and limits to production (such as problems caused by various diseases and pathogens) are critical components of our research.

In recent years, the marine fish portion of our program has directed effort to species such as lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). Upwelling conical incubators have been developed for incubating pelagic marine eggs produced by sablefish and halibut. In addition to our development of hatchery technology for scallop culture, our research in the area of shellfish has primarily been focused on resolving disease issues related to the culture of abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), geoduck (Panope abrupta), Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), Manila clams (Tapes philippinarum), mussels (Mytilus edulis), and prawns (Pandalus platyceros). Preliminary work has also been conducted on other species such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers.

The Pacific Biological Station offers excellent facilities for marine fish and shellfish culture research including high quality (filtered to 2 microns) heated and chilled salt water (up to 2000 US gal/min) and an on-site experimental fish farm. In addition to highly trained professional staff, a wide variety of laboratory facilities are available at both the Pacific Biological Station and the Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research to support crucial work in the areas of nutrition, physiology and analytical chemistry.

Contact:
Dr. Craig Clarke
Tel: (250) 756-7009
FAX: (250) 756-7053
E-mail: craig.clarke@dfo-mpo.gc.ca