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NORWAY - Viral diseases continue to plague Norwegian aquaculture. Current vaccines are either non-existent or mostly ineffective because not enough is known about how salmon react to viral infections. The Research Council of Norway’s Platform for Viral Aquamedicine has filled many of these knowledge gaps and has revived hopes for effective viral vaccines for the fish farming industry.
For the past five years, Siri Mjaaland has been coordinating the basic research activities of four Norwegian specialist environments; together the groups have enhanced the understanding of how viruses – particularly the infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) – bypass the salmon’s innate immune system. The researchers are also studying which immune responses may protect the fish from these viruses.
Secret uncovered
In order to maximise the effectiveness of a future viral vaccine, it is critical to identify how the salmon immune system works.
The innate immune system of salmon also develops immune responses to be deployed later in life. Interferons (host-cell proteins that combat pathogens) play a pivotal part in the salmon’s innate immune system. Børre Robertsen’s research team succeeded in cloning all the interferons found in salmon in order to discover each one’s role in fighting viral infection. Unni Grimholt of the University of Oslo has identified unique aspects of acquired immunity in salmon.
Just as important to this vaccine research has been solving the longstanding mystery of how these viruses manage to avoid interferon attack, the first line of defence in salmon. Jorunn Jørgensen’s research team has focused primarily on the IPNV, while Dr Mjaaland’s team concentrated on the ISAV.
“Using the knowledge we now have about the salmon immune system and ISAV infection strategies,” explains Siri Mjaaland, “we can customise vaccines to produce the most effective immune mechanisms. We know the basics of how to design the ISAV vaccine, but there are still many challenges remaining before an effective vaccine will be commercially available.”
Customisable vaccine
The ISAV vaccine design for salmon is based on dramatic research findings from the University of Oslo and uses the same principles considered promising for future human vaccines.
The principle of vaccibodies makes it possible to customise vaccine molecules depending on the virus to be combatted and the immune response to be triggered. Simply put, a vaccibody is something like a triple CD cover with room for a chain of three types of genes, each of which has an important function in the immune system.
The first unit of a vaccibody is the targeting gene, which determines where in the immune system the vaccine will go. The second unit acts as a hinge that binds with the first unit and with the vaccibody’s third, antigenic unit, which determines which virus the fish is being vaccinated against.
“The antigenic unit makes up only a small portion of a virus – in this case, the ISAV or IPNV,” continues Dr Mjaaland. “The targeting gene has to be identified and cloned from salmon.”
The research group at the University of Oslo is headed by Unni Grimholt and collaborated with Dr Mjaaland’s team on identifying the targeting gene.
“So far the vaccibody has only been tested experimentally on mice,” says Dr Mjaaland, “but we are confident that the principle will work on fish as well.”
Further Reading
Find out more information on ISA and  IPN by clicking here.

VIET NAM - Axcentive® SARL and Zagro Vietnam are excited to announce they will cooperate on the further future sales and market development of Axcentive’s disinfectant product, Halamid®, in Viet Nam.
Zagro is a Singapore mainboard public-listed company experienced in providing agri-solutions to farmers in agriculture and animal husbandry, mainly in Asia. It manufactures and distributes a wide range of nutrition and protection products for livestock, aquatic animals and crops. Zagro Vietnam was incorporated in 2010 as the result of an acquisition.
Zagro has an aggressive growth strategy and was looking for a flagship disinfectant, which Halamid promises to be.
Zagro’s premises are located in Dong Nai province, close to Ho Chi Minh city and the Mekong delta, where much of the aquaculture activity is concentrated. Apart from marketing Halamid in the livestock segment, experts of both companies will start field trials in fish farms in order to fine tune disinfection protocols to local conditions and create local brand awareness in the country where aquaculture plays such a big role.
Companies interested in getting further information should contact a Zagro sales representative or email info@axcentive.com.

UK - Confirmed Designations for the control of KHV disease have been lifted from all of the sites listed in the table below following successful completion of a four year KHV monitoring and retest programme, conducted by the Fish Health Inspectorate at Cefas.
Each of the fisheries were placed under movement controls in the form of a confirmed designation notice for the control of KHV disease following an initial outbreak in 2008. During the subsequent monitoring and retest period, there have been no further occurrences of clinical KHV disease and all samples of fish taken from these sites consistently tested negative for the presence of KHV.
Designated Areas to which Report Relates:

AUSTRALIA - Although this season's trials by Clean Seas Tuna Limited saw early Southern Bluefin Tuna spawnings start in October 2012 as scheduled, the volume and quantity of fertilised eggs produced to date has been disappointing compared to prior seasons according to the company.
Consequently, the company said it does not expect to be able to transfer fingerlings to sea cages for experimental grow out early enough in the season, to achieve the company's second goal of SBT juvenile winter survival.
To this background, and given the company's limited financial resources and need to preserve liquidity, the company anticipates suspending its Tuna Propagation Programme for at least the 2013/14 summer, and to direct its limited financial resources to its Yellowtail Kingfish operations.
Whilst the company continues to believe in the commercialisation potential of the successful closure of the SBT lifecycle, investment beyond the company's current financial resources will be required for this goal to be achieved.
To this background, the directors believe it prudent to write down the significant investment in this project as at 31 December 2012 to an estimated net realisable value, in case the funding is not available in the future to reactivate this programme. The net impact on the first hhalf of 2013 results is likely to be in the order of $30 million, a non-cash outgoing.
Search for International Strategic Partner
The company and its advisors have been unable to secure a strategic partner willing to make a significant investment in Clean Seas given the present investment climate, the previous ongoing funding requirement of the SBT propagation program and the significant prior losses arising from excess mortalities in the Yellowtail Kingfish division.
It is to this background that the board and management are directing their attention to the company's survival, within the constraints of existing cash reserves supplemented with the sale of surplus assets.
Now that the Yellowtail Kingfish health issues have been addressed, the company is planning to either continue with a further scaled down Yellowtail Kingfish division in its own right, or in joint venture with a domestic partner.
The contract with the company's external financial advisors concludes on 31 December 2012 following which the Board and management will then hold discussions with a shortlist of identified potential domestic aquaculture partners.
Yellowtail Kingfish Division
The company is pleased to confirm that since the addition of supplementary Taurine to all Kingfish feed, there has been a dramatic and sustained recovery in fish health evidenced by
: Reduction in mortalities from a high of 1% per day to normal levels
Improvement in growth rates, returning to normal levels for Year Class 2012 and a consequential improvement in FCRs (feed conversion ratios)
Return to robust health and appearance, good fish colouring and premium flesh quality which continues to be reflected in excellent farmgate prices of +$12.50/kg
Encouraging performance of this seasonfs juveniles which were bred from cultured broodstock for the first time in the Companyfs Kingfish programme
All of the above factors have reinforced the company's conclusion that health issues affecting prior yearsf Kingfish operations appear to be predominantly attributable to this dietary deficiency. The company has been forced to secure an alternate source of feed supply, pending intended negotiations with former suppliers in attempting to resolve the company's assertions.
Cash Management
The company's cash position as at 14 December 2012 was some $3.934 million, which compares to the previously announced cash position of $3.639 million as at 30 September 2012. This position has been achieved through tight cash controls, the sell down of Kingfish inventory and the sale of surplus assets.
The company remains largely debt free and all significant assets remain unencumbered. With the Kingfish growth season now commencing in earnest, cash limitations will necessitate either Kingfish volumes being further reduced or the Company will need to be successful in securing a domestic Yellowtail Kingfish joint venture partner.
No rights issue is planned at this time, although the Board is considering all other capital and debt raising options including the possibility of a Share Purchase Plan early in the New Year. If endorsed, the SPP will provide an opportunity for shareholders to assist in stabilising the company through the present challenging conditions.
TheFishSite News Desk
Hatchery Management, Company/Products, Genetics, Sustainability, Tuna

SCOTLAND , UK - The University of St Andrews has and authors of a recently published sealice report have stood by their figures after receiving criticism from the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO).
The announcement comes after the Chairman of SSPO, Professor Phil Thomas, said some of the figures in the media statement published by the University of St Andrews were misleading. In particular, Professor Thomas stated that the report's figure of 39 per cent of ocean mortalities of wild salmon in the Northeast Atlantic being due to sea lice is inaccurate.
Professor Thomas stated that it "erodes the already shaky public confidence in science and scientists, and that is ultimately to the detriment of Scotland.”
Professor Thomas added: “The paper itself contains individual observations that are in fact contrary to that conclusion. More significantly, as Professor Todd (an author of the paper) must be aware from other work he has published, the decline in salmon returns on the North and East coasts of Scotland – where there is no salmon farming – are the same as those found elsewhere in Scotland and beyond. This simply demonstrates that his inferences are not soundly founded.”
In response, a comment from St Andrews University said: "We stand by our part in this research, which was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and we stand by our press release, which was agreed by all three authors."
"The central, unequivocal finding of this research paper, as presented in our press release, is that parasites such as sea lice are responsible for an average of 39 per cent of all salmon deaths at sea. We reject Professor Thomas’ substantial and unwarranted comments on the University of St Andrews."
The representative body for the salmon farming industry is to write to the University of St Andrews demanding an independent inquiry into the conclusion and promotion of the report.

The criteria for the listing of exotic and non-exotic diseases includes that they have the potential for significant economic impact if introduced to the Union. The decision was taken as the impact of the disease was deemed pose no impact to a low impact on aquaculture in the Union.
It was also concluded that the disease was likely to have entered the Union repeatedly via ornamental fish and considering the fact that no outbreaks of EUS have been reported in the Union, there is no evidence to suggest that EUS has the potential for detrimental environmental impact.
Further Reading
- Find out more information on Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (Red Spot Disease) by clicking here.
TheFishSite News Desk
Fish Health, Biosecurity and Hygiene, Government and Regulatory, General, AQUACULTURE, SUSTAINABLE FISHING

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CANADA - It is now apparent to the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) that there has been a major decline in this year’s return of wild Atlantic salmon to Canadian rivers.
"This is especially disappointing after the very good returns of 2010 and 2011,” said Charles Cusson, ASF’s Programme Director for Quebec. He continued “While salmon can wait until the last possible moment before leaving the ocean and ascending their rivers to spawn, it is unlikely, at this late date, that there will be surges up any rivers.”
Overall the larger salmon that return from the Greenland feeding grounds are down, but not extremely so. However, grilse (salmon that spend one winter at sea) have decreased in all regions. There are too many variables for scientists to determine why grilse numbers have declined so precipitously.
Variables could include temperature, poor food supply – or some other set of unknown factors. This summer’s lack of rain and high temperatures exacerbated the situation. The salmon that did return were reluctant to enter the low, warm waters that were depleted of oxygen.
Overall, returns were low this year, but not disastrously so.
While the returns were low compared to last year, many rivers met or were above the 2007 to 2011 five year average.
There are some prospects for an increased fall run in some rivers, and indeed recent reports indicate at least some truth to this.
The low flows and hot temperatures definitely impacted mid-summer runs.

This year’s low returns emphasise the importance of two conservation measures. Since 2002, ASF and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund of Iceland have had an agreement with Greenland’s commercial salmon fishermen to suspend this fishery to allow more North American salmon that migrate to Greenland to feed to return to home rivers to spawn. Anglers who practice live release also play an important role by carefully releasing salmon and grilse to give them the opportunity to continue upstream to spawn.
TheFishSite News Desk

Kudoa Parasites in Fish

15 October 2012

Kudoa is a microscopic parasite found in several marine fish species worldwide. Enzymes produced by these parasites can make fish flesh soft or even gel-like, a condition commonly referred to as ”soft flesh”. The parasite does not infect humans. NIFES has previously detected one Kudoa species, Kudoa thyrsites, in Mackerel from the North Sea. The parasite has not been detected in other species of wild or farmed fish in Norway.

Kudoa does not give any visible symptoms in living fish, but one to two days post mortem, potent enzymes produced by the parasite may degrade the muscle. This results in a soft fillet having a gel-like appearance, thus the name ”soft flesh”. The presence of the parasite is mainly of concern for the quality of the fish, and does not pose a health-risk for consumers.

Kudoa in Norwegian Mackerel

In examinations conducted by NIFES, the proportion of Mackerel that developed ”soft flesh” was low, and Kudoa could only be detected in Mackerel weighing above 400 g. Approximately nine per cent of the Mackerel in the largest weight group (over 600 g) developed ”soft flesh”.

The Kudoa detected in Mackerel in this study were identified as Kudoa thyrsites by a combination of DNA-analysis and also by the size and morphology of the parasite spores. The parasites could be detected in 17.8 per cent of 952 examined Mackerel by applying DNA-based methods.

Only a fraction of the fish that have the parasite will develop symptoms, and in our study 1.3 per cent of 1908 examined fish showed initial signs of muscle degradation after storage for two days.

In the fish the parasite undergoes several developmental stages, and in the initial phase of the infection it is not possible to detect parasites by microscopy. By DNA-based methods, researchers at NIFES are now examining if even smaller Mackerel may harbour the parasite.

Kudoa in other fish species

The parasite has been detected in more than 20 fish species worldwide. This also includes Atlantic Salmon in aquaculture, where the parasite is a known problem for Atlantic Salmon in British Columbia. So far K. thyrsites has not been detected in Norwegian farmed Salmon.

Unknown life cycle

The life cycle of K. thyrsites is still unknown, but it probably involves at least one other host organisms. A hypothesis is that alternative host organisms are not present in the North-Sea or the Norwegian sea, including the coast of Norway, thus Mackerel is probably infected by the parasite in the spawning grounds south of the British Isles. Researchers at NIFES follow the Kudoa-situation in Mackerel. Furthermore, the status in Norwegian farmed fish should be closely monitored also taking into account possible increase in seawater temperature and following migration of possible alternative hosts for the parasite into Norwegian waters.

October 2012