Importance of Aquaculture in Canada
Fisheries Production
Finfish
Shellfish
Effects of HABs on Salmon production
Effects of HABs on Shellfish production
Effects of Salmon production on HABs
Occurrence of HABs
Eutrophication status in Canada
Hydrography (Lakes Vs Open sea)
Identification of the HA sources
Monitoring programs
Summary and Conclusions
2. Contents
Importance of Aquaculture in Canada
Fisheries Production
Finfish
Shellfish
Effects of HABs on Salmon production
Effects of HABs on Shellfish production
Effects of Salmon production on HABs
Occurrence of HABs
Eutrophication status in Canada
Hydrography (Lakes Vs Open sea)
Identification of the HA sources
Monitoring programs
Summary and Conclusions
3. The importance of Canadian
Aquaculture
Finfish Species
Atlantic Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Rainbow Trout
Steelhead Trout
Brook Trout
Speckled Trout
Sturgeon
Sablefish
Arctic Char
Halibut
Tilapia
Cod
Shellfish Species
Pacific Oysters
Eastern Oysters
Blue Mussels
Mediterranean Mussels
Manila Clams
Varnish/Savory Clams
Clams
Japanese Scallops
Sea Scallops
Quahogs
Abalone
Source: Statistics Canada
2011 Production: Finfish: 123,567 tonnes and 763 M $ by value
Shellfish: 38,646 tonnes and 74 M $ by value
4. Production of Finfish
Methods:
Juveniles: land-based hatchery facilities (flow-
through and recirculation);
Grow-out: saltwater net pens, some land-based
systems;
Broodstock: land-based (flow through and
recirculation)
Methods:
- Juveniles: land-based hatchery facilities (flow-
through and recirculation)
- Grow-Out: freshwater net pens, saltwater net
pens (for Steelhead culture), land-based raceways,
and ponds
- Broodstock: land-based (flow-through and
recirculation)
Intensive (dry pellets rich in N & P)
open culture system
Intensive (dry pellets rich in N & P)
open culture system
5. Production of Shellfish
Methods:
Ocean floor beds or off-floor suspension
(holding bags, cages, trays or rope lines)
Methods:
- Seed collection from the wild (method mostly
used on the East Coast) or procured from
hatcheries (method mostly used on the West
Coast),
-followed by grow-out to market size in mussel
socks suspended from long-line systems (ropes)
or rafts.
Extensive (natural feeding) culture
system
Extensive (natural feeding) culture
system
6. Effects of HABs on Salmon
production
Co chlo dinium sp.Co chlo dinium sp.
Vancouver Island, BC
Farmed salmon
Toxic
• Cause of death is unknown
• Oxygen radical production
leading to gill and
• liver damage is suspected.
Chae to ce ro s
co nvo lutus
Chae to ce ro s
co nvo lutus
Nanaimo , BC
• Physically damage the gills
• Small spines cause capillary
damage
• Excessive mucus production
• Suffocation and
• Death
Ling-cod and farmed
salmon
Non-toxic
He te ro sig m a
akashiwo
He te ro sig m a
akashiwo
Farmed salmon
Toxic
• Precise mechanism of death
is uncertain
• Release harmful substances
into the water
• Cause gill or liver damage
• Excessive mucus production
sometimes observed
British Columbia
7. Direct economic losses due to
HABs in British Columbia
PICES SCIENTIFIC REPORT No. 47, 2014
Light grey for low level (up to 100 fish killed), dark
grey for moderate (100–1000 fish killed), and black
for high (more than 1000 fish killed
8. Effects of HABs on Shellfish
production
Shellfish PoisoningShellfish Poisoning
Ale xandrium cate ne lla
&
Ale xandrium
ta m are nse
Ale xandrium cate ne lla
&
Ale xandrium
tam are nse
West & East coast of
Vancouver Island, BC
Cause PSP
Toxin: Saxitoxin
Pse udo -nitzschia
spp.
Nitzschia spp.
Pse udo -nitzschia
spp.
Nitzschia spp.
Cause DAP or ASP
Toxin: Domoic acid
British Columbia
Dino physis
spp.
Dino physis
spp.
Pro ro ce ntrum
lim a
Pro ro ce ntrum
lim a
British Columbia
Common but not abundant
Cause DSP
Toxin: Okadaic acid or
dinophysistoxin
9. Effects of Salmon aquaculture on
HABs?
Finfish farming primarily increase
organic matter sedimentation
Influence nutrient regeneration
Increase dissolved nutrients (N:60%, P:12)
& influence seaweed growth
Create eutrophication which ultimately
influence HABs
There is no evidence for direct links between HABs
and salmon aquaculture found in Canada
10. Occurrence of HABs in Canada
2000
Ale xandrium
tam are nse
Akashiwo
sang uine a
1978
Go nyaulax
spinife ra
1990
He te ro sig m a
akashiwo
1989,91,93,97
Co chlo dinium
po lykriko ide
1999
Nitzschia
pung e ns
1988
11. Eutrophication status in Canada
In Canada total phosphorus
concentrations were found to be high
The majority of phosphorus found in
suspended sediment
TP and TDP have increases between
1990 and 2006, where TDP is the form
that is readily available for take up by
plants.
70% of the study sites with high levels
of TP (eutrophic and hypereutrophic)
were located in the Arctic and Nelson
River basins.
Status of phosphorus in the water bodies
across Canada (2004-06)
12. Hydrography-Aquaculture in lakes
Controlled by:
Agricultural run-off
Runoff from urban
expansion
Sedimentation
Less tidal circulation
Water residence time
> flushing time
13. Hydrography-Aquaculture in open
sea
High tidal exchange
Plankton can not stay
in a certain place for
long time
Residence time of
water is very low
Aquaculture in the bays in Canada
14. Identification of the HA sources
MODIS satellite
sensor for observing
chlorophyll
fluorescence
MODIS images for the Vancouver Island
area (22/09/00)
Bloom of Heterosigma akashiwo in Kyuquot
Sound, British Columbia
15. Monitoring strategies for HABs
Biotoxin tests are carried out for:
Saxitoxins(since the mid 1960's)
Domoic acid by Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Establishment of Harmful Algae Monitoring Program (HAMP) in 1999 to address the
devastating effect of harmful algae on farmed fish.
Phycotoxins Working Group since 1987
The Northcoast Plankton Identification and Monitoring Program
Steps taken afterpositive result:
Closures of the affected area when found 80 μm saxitoxin /100 gm shellfish meat
Systematic microscopic surveillance of water samples for early warning of HABs at
farm sites
Isolate and culture microalgal species that are known to be harmful to cultured fish
and shellfish in BC
Development of species-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
assays, and creation of an image gallery and database of local harmful algae
Carry out genomic analyses on shellfish gill tissues to determine genomic and
biological responses to HABs and to link these responses with particular algal
species.
16. Summary and Conclusions
HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) are responsible for
considerable economic losses due to cultured
finfish/shellfish mortalities in Canada.
Toxic HABs in shellfish are a threat for human health.
Since the mid 1980's the cumulative loss in aquacultured
salmonids of British Columbia is $35 million.
Fish farming change the nutrient ratio which has a great
impact on the occurrence of HABs in that area.
Water body having higher residence time are more prone
to HABs than less residence time area.
Finally, HABs can appear independently of fish farming
activities.
17. References
F.J.R. “Max” Taylor and Paul J. Harmful algal blooms in western Canadian coastal
waters Harrison University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard,
Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z4.
J.F.R. Gower, L. Brown, and G.A. Borstad, 2004. Observation of chlorophyll
fluorescence in west coast waters of Canada using the MODIS satellite sensor. Can.
J. Re m o te Se nsing , Vo l. 30 , No . 1 , pp. 1 7 – 25.
DJ Martell, J Duhaime, and GJ Parsons (eds). Canadian Aquaculture R&D Review
2013. Aquaculture Association of Canada Special, Publication 23 (2013).
2011 Aquaculture production from 8 provinces of Canada.
Right side Species:
Rainbow trout / Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Lake trout / Lake char (Salvelinus namaycush) and Brook Trout / Speckled Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Leftside
Species:
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
A raceway, also known as a flow-through system, is an artificial channel used in aquaculture to cultureaquatic organisms. Raceway systems are among the earliest methods used for inland aquaculture. A raceway usually consists of rectangular basins or canals constructed of concrete and equipped with an inlet and outlet. A continuous water flow-through is maintained to provide the required level of water quality, which allows animals to be cultured at higher densities within the raceway
Species:
American or Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Species:
Eastern Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), Western Blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus), Gallo/Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
Ch. convolutus most abundant in summer.
Total number of fish killing blooms in British Columbia during 2009–2012. Bar color indicates severity level of the fish killing event: light grey for low level (up to 100 fish killed), dark grey for moderate (100–1000 fish killed), and black for high (more than 1000 fish killed).
> To a lesser extent the cumulative $35 million loss in aquacultured salmonids in British Columbia since the
mid 1980's.
Direct losses to the salmon aquaculture industry due to HABs are shown in Figure 3. During the survey period, fish mortalities were the highest in 2012 ($6.445 million CAD losses) and the lowest in 2010 ($1.912 million CAD losses). Total direct losses due to HABs in 2009–2012 comprised $16.135 million CAD.
Ch. convolutus most abundant in summer. Paralytic shellfish poisoning – PSP. This is a life-threatening syndrome with neurological effects. The is no known antidote to PSPDomoic acid poisoning (DAP or Amnesic shellfish poisoning, ASP); Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP)
Waste feed materials from the Pens contain approximately N 15% and 65% P.
Finfish farming primarily increase organic matter sedimentation which affect the benthic community and decrease diversity
2.
3.
4. Make the water more eutrophic which can ultimately influence HABs and finally affect the salmon production through sudden death
Concentration levels of total phosphorus (TP) and ratios of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) to TP in rivers and the Great Lakes, Canada, 2004 to 2006. Based on median values.
Across Canada, up to 102 stations in rivers and 7 Great-Lakes basins were used to measure concentrations of total phosphorus and total dissolved phosphorus between 1990 and 2006 in order to determine the recent status and trends related to nutrients in aquatic ecosystems.
Due to the abundance of food, the lakes have a high potential for fish production. However, some of the lakes develop winter anoxia causing fish mortalities, i.e., winter kill, the gradual depletion of dissolved oxygen in water column under ice and snow cover obstructing penetration of light for photosynthesis and production of oxygen by algae in the absence of aeration through the lake surface. Other lakes undergo collapses of their algal blooms during summer, resulting in oxygen depletion and fish death, i.e., summer kill (see Hypereutrophy above).
The first observations of chlorophyll fluorescence from space for the west coast of Canada, using the U.S.
moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS), show that the signals should provide a useful new tool for studying
chlorophyll biomass and primary productivity.
MODIS, a third generation sensor for oceanic satellite observations
Especially bands 8 to16 in the 405–877 nm spectral region are specifically designed for studying ocean color, phytoplankton concentration as well as biogeochemistry [31]. Compared with SeaWiFS, the primary advantage of MODIS is that the particularly designed fluorescence band (676 nm) can be used to detect HABs based on a fluorescence line height (FLH) calculation for the coastal optically-complex water, the optical spectra of which is dominated by CDOM
Ever since monitoring of shellfish for the presence
of toxins began in 1942, following a severe
outbreak with fatalities in B.C. and adjacent
Washington State, PSP has been recorded
primarily in filter-feeding shellfish on the coast
Harmful algal bloom (HAB) events can be very bad for us. People who eat shellfish from waters experiencing toxic blooms can become very ill and can even die.