Physiological impacts of different near climate scenarios on Atlantic salmon
1 Purpose
Climate change threatens global food production, including seafood. Aquaculture producers must be equipped with knowledge on how the farm environment is changing and its effects on fish and production to maintain productivity and sustainability. The trials included in this application will explore the biological consequences of climate change on Atlantic salmon, focusing mainly on health and robustness, trying to close some of the knowledge gaps related to environmental thresholds and combinations of production-related stressors.
2 Distress
Fish will be exposed to different temperature scenarios (i.e. warming condition and fluctuating temperatures) that are expected to cause varying intensities of thermal stress. Sub-sets of these thermally challenged fish will be subjected to several secondary stressors, including additional increasing temperature to understand Critical thermal maximum (CTmax) (sub-trial 1), fasting, crowding stress and treatment (sub-trial 2) and pathogen (sub-trial 3), which are all relevant in salmon production.
3 Expected benefit
The trials described here will shed light on the biological impacts of predicted climate scenarios on salmon health and robustness. This information will be instrumental in fine-tuning current climate prediction models and preparing mitigating measures addressing the threats of climate change in salmon aquaculture.
4 Number of animals, and what kind
One thousand one hundred twenty-five (1125, appr. 70 g) mixed-sex Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts are intended to be used in the trial.
5 How to adhere to 3R
There is no other way to test the hypothesis in the study than performing a trial using live fish. However, the experiment has been designed so that several hypotheses are addressed in one large-scale trial, thereby maximising the output without increasing the number of fish. This is exemplified by having several sub-trials during the conduct of the main trial. A collaboration with another project allowed us to answer the hypotheses of two different projects in one trial, thereby avoiding conducting several fish experiments. In addition, in vitro models are to be employed as an alternative to performing the treatment in whole fish. Humane endpoints are defined and, the experimental systems are designed for optimal rearing conditions for smolts.
Climate change threatens global food production, including seafood. Aquaculture producers must be equipped with knowledge on how the farm environment is changing and its effects on fish and production to maintain productivity and sustainability. The trials included in this application will explore the biological consequences of climate change on Atlantic salmon, focusing mainly on health and robustness, trying to close some of the knowledge gaps related to environmental thresholds and combinations of production-related stressors.
2 Distress
Fish will be exposed to different temperature scenarios (i.e. warming condition and fluctuating temperatures) that are expected to cause varying intensities of thermal stress. Sub-sets of these thermally challenged fish will be subjected to several secondary stressors, including additional increasing temperature to understand Critical thermal maximum (CTmax) (sub-trial 1), fasting, crowding stress and treatment (sub-trial 2) and pathogen (sub-trial 3), which are all relevant in salmon production.
3 Expected benefit
The trials described here will shed light on the biological impacts of predicted climate scenarios on salmon health and robustness. This information will be instrumental in fine-tuning current climate prediction models and preparing mitigating measures addressing the threats of climate change in salmon aquaculture.
4 Number of animals, and what kind
One thousand one hundred twenty-five (1125, appr. 70 g) mixed-sex Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts are intended to be used in the trial.
5 How to adhere to 3R
There is no other way to test the hypothesis in the study than performing a trial using live fish. However, the experiment has been designed so that several hypotheses are addressed in one large-scale trial, thereby maximising the output without increasing the number of fish. This is exemplified by having several sub-trials during the conduct of the main trial. A collaboration with another project allowed us to answer the hypotheses of two different projects in one trial, thereby avoiding conducting several fish experiments. In addition, in vitro models are to be employed as an alternative to performing the treatment in whole fish. Humane endpoints are defined and, the experimental systems are designed for optimal rearing conditions for smolts.