Progress 10/23/18 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall goal of this project was to increase knowledge of sea lice infestation at the steelhead trout farm, and determine how lumpfish can be used successfully as a biological control of the sea lice outbreaks. Our target audiences included: undergraduate and graduate students who assisted in experimental design, collection and analysis of data; fellow scientists and commercial fishermen-farmers who were involved in all aspects of managing and running the steelhead trout farm; fellow aquaculture researchers who also were improving the knowledge base of lumpfish culture techniques; the US salmonid (trout, salmon) industry which is interested in utilizing cleaner fish as a biological control of sea lice; and the general public. During the final year, we delivered science-based knowledge to the target audiences through: hands-on education and mentoring of undergraduate students in the field collecting and analyzing sea lice at the steelhead trout farm, in the marine lab rearing lumpfish, conducting caging studies evaluating the effects of using lumpfish in steelhead trout cages, guest lecture to undergraduate class Professional Perspectives in Zoology, ZOOL 400, approx. 30 students guest lecture to undergraduate class Marine Estuarine and Freshwater Biology Freshman Seminar, MEFB 401, approx. 45 students hands-on education and mentoring of two Master's graduate students in the marine lab rearing lumpfish K-12 educational outreach Doherty, M. 2021. UNH Grad School: lumpfish research, aquaculture, and a career in marine science. Troy Howard Middle School career day talk, March 26, 2021; live Zoom presentation and Q&A. Doherty, M. 2021. Marine Bio Spotlight: Lumpfish research and my path as a marine biologist. Gulf of Maine Research Institute Scientist to go program, April 8, 2021; live Zoom presentation and Q&A. professional presentations at scientific meetings Fairchild, E. A. 2020. US Lumpfish Consortium: promoting cleanerfish in salmonid farming. AFS Atlantic International Chapter October meeting, October, 24, 2020; live Zoom presentation. Doherty, M. 2021. Aquaculture of the lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, and implementation as a cleanerfish. University of New Hampshire Marine Docents Seminar Series, March 2, 2021; live Zoom presentation. Doherty. M. 2021. An analysis of sea lice in an experimental NH aquaculture station, and the use of lumpfish as a lice mitigation strategy. UNH Graduate Research Conference, April 19, 2021. https://media-gallery.unh.edu/media_submission/500/ Doherty, M. 2021. Parasitic sea lice populations in an experimental salmonid aquaculture system in NH waters and using lumpfish as a possible solution. UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, May 5, 2021; live Zoom presentation. Fairchild, E. A. 2021. Increasing domestic aquaculture production with environmentally friendly technology: promoting cleanerfish in salmonid farming. Biology Department Spring Seminar Series, College of Charleston, March 8, 2021; live Zoom presentation. (invited speaker) knowledge exchange and connectivity of aquaculture research community and US salmonid aquaculture industry through the US Lumpfish Consortium Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this project, 9 students (7 undergraduate students, 2 Master's students) were involved with this research; all received one-on-one mentoring. Students received field training on sea lice collecting techniques and laboratory training on lice identification and analysis, as well as gained marine finfish aquaculture training in egg incubation, fish larviculture, live feeds, and general husbandry skills. Further, all were involved in steelhead trout-lumpfish-sea lice interaction studies in small experimental cages. In addition to student development, NH Sea Grant staff (2 farm managers) were trained on cleanerfish philosophy and learned sea lice collecting techniques. In conjunction with a complimentary project, a 12-person workshop was held at the UNH Judd Gregg Marine Complex, New Castle, NH; January 22, 2020. Participants included personnel from UNH, the University of Maine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, USDA National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, Cooke Aquaculture USA, and Cooke Aquaculture LLC (Canada) to discuss lumpfish aquaculture research activities and strategize for future funding initiatives that would assist in the expansion of using cleanerfish in the US. Tours were provided of the lumpfish production at the UNH Coastal Marine Laboratory. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have shared the goals of our project and the data collected with our scientific peers and industry stakeholders at conferences and through the US Lumpfish Consortium.We also have enhanced public understanding and increased awareness of the impact sea lice has on salmonid farms and that using lumpfish as "biological delousers" is a sustainable way to help control sea lice. This has been done through guest lectures in undergraduate students courses; presentations, videos, and displays at a non-profit, public, marine science education center; connecting with the public at UNH open houses, both to recruit students and to inform the general public; Zooming with girl scouts from across the country who want to know what it's like to be a marine biologist; and working closely with media outlets (local and state newspapers, state agricultural radio shows, online seafood newsletters, and international aquaculture trade publications) to reach broader audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Sea lice, an external parasite, is the mostly costly issue salmonid farmers face when growing salmonids in ocean cages; the lice limit the expansion of domestic Atlantic salmon farms in Maine and impact steelhead trout production in New Hampshire. Sea lice infestations can be controlled with knowledge about the seasonal occurrence of the parasites on a farm and by using lumpfish, which have cleanerfish behavior, as 'salmonid delousers.' Because using cleanerfish in salmonid farms is a relatively new method to control sea lice and not used in the US yet, information on lumpfish aquaculture production protocols and demonstration of how lumpfish are used in salmonid farms can help to increase domestic salmonid production by showcasing this novel parasite control strategy. Through funding by NH AES, we now know that sea lice affect steelhead trout reared in net pens in NH waters year-round, however the most damaging lice species is not present. Depending on the circumstances (water temperature, steelhead strain, lumpfish size), lumpfish can reduce sea lice loads on steelhead trout by as much as 37%. The type of hide (lumpfish habitat) added to a steelhead cage makes a difference too with kelp hides recommended. Objective 1. DOCUMENT AND CHARACTERIZE SEA LICE INFESTATION ON NH GROWN STEELHEAD TROUT: To understand seasonal occurrence of sea lice populations at the NH steelhead trout farm, AquaFort, protocols to sample sea lice were developed in Year 1 and used to sample fish weekly during the steelhead production cycles in Years 2-3. Sampling entailed the following: 15 fish were randomly caught and removed from the sea cage. Individual fish were placed for 2 min in a freshwater bath causing all sea lice to detach from the trout. After each fish was treated, the freshwater was poured through a 25mm sieve to collect all lice detached during treatment, and the lice were collected. All sea lice collected were identified to species, counted, sexed, and staged (gravid females, mobile and sessile stages) using a dissecting scope. Weekly sea lice sampling occurred over the 6-week trout production cycle May-July 2019 and 30-week production cycle Nov. 2020-June 2021. Lice loads (mean lice per fish) ranged from 0.13 to 3.60 lice per fish, peaking in Jan 2020. The dominant species observed was Caligus elongatus (99%) although C. curtus also were observed (1%). Lice collected from steelhead trout were dominated by female lice (74%) and adult lice (87%) throughout the assessment. These findings are surprising since another sea lice species, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, tends to be more prevalent on salmonid farms and more damaging to fish but did not occur in our samples. C. elongatus can be difficult to sample because they are sporadic on salmonid farms and do not rely exclusively on salmonids as a host. Their consistent presence in the samples showed that the lice collection methods we developed are effective. Contrary to what we expected, sea lice loads did not decrease with cooling waters in winter indicating that steelhead trout farmers in NH waters will need to monitor and treat fish year-round for sea lice. Objective 2. EFFECTS OF USING LUMPFISH IN STEELHEAD TROUT OCEAN FARMS TO REDUCE SEA LICE INFESTATION: Three strains of steelhead trout from Sumner Brook Fish Hatchery (Ossipee, NH) were evaluated in situ with lumpfish in cages in 2020: Camloop (July), Trout Lodge (Oct-Nov), and Riverence (Nov-Dec). For each trout strain, 90 fish were stocked into a total of six, 1m3 sea cages at a density of 4-5 g/L, and both the presence of lumpfish and two types of hides (lumpfish habitat suspended in the cages: fake kelp, pvc panels) were evaluated to determine the most effective strategy to minimize sea lice. All fish were assessed weekly for sea lice using the methods established in Obj 1. After the final sampling period, trout were batch-weighed, and then all fish euthanized with an overdose of tricaine methanesulfonate. All lumpfish and a subsample of trout were dissected to analyze gut contents. Fish mortality and specific growth rates were analyzed using one way analysis of variance while a generalized linear model was used to analyze lice loads. CamLoop fish mortality was high throughout the entire period and attributed to the frail trout strain and high summer water temperatures. By day 20, only 21% of the trout had survived so the trial was terminated prematurely. Sea lice were present on both CamLoop fish and lumpfish, and lice concentrations did not significantly differ between treatments (control-no lumpfish vs. cleanerfish-with lumpfish, p=0.326; hide type, p=0.526). Further, there was no evidence that lumpfish had recently consumed any sea lice when stomach contents were examined. Contrary to CamLoop results, both Trout Lodge and Riverence fish survival was high (94-99%). Lumpfish survival was 64% with Trout Lodge and 100% with Riverence trout. Neither lumpfish survival (one-way ANOVA, p > 0.30) nor Trout Lodge survival (one-way ANOVA, p = 0.54) was significantly affected by hide design. Hide design did not affect trout (one-way ANOVA, p=0.89) or lumpfish growth (one-way ANOVA, p=1.00) but did affect mean lice loads on trout (p=0.01). Lice loads were 40% lower in kelp hide cages than in PVC hide cages, and 46% lower than control (no lumpfish, no hide) cages (GLM, AICc= -1.85) on Trout Lodge fish. For Riverence fish, the lice loads were 85% lower than those in control cages, while the lice loads in cages with PVC hide designs were 61% lower than those in control cages. Most importantly, lice loads on trout were 37% lower in cages containing lumpfish versus no cleanerfish in the Trout Lodge caging trials (p=0.04) but not in the Riverence caging trials (p=0.25). Lumpfish were actively feeding in both trials, however, there was no evidence of sea lice within lumpfish stomachs at the end of each trial. From these studies, we have validated that lumpfish can suppress sea lice in steelhead trout net pens but under specific circumstances in which water temperature, cleanerfish size, and hide design are considered. Water temperature affects both trout and lumpfish survival with summer water temperatures lethal to CamLoops fish. Lumpfish size affects their cleaning efficacy as seen by the effects of using smaller (155g) lumpfish with Trout Lodge fish versus larger (300g) lumpfish with Riverence fish. Hide design can impact lice loads with kelp hides proving beneficial over pvc or no hides. Overall, this study highlights that there is a set of best practices when utilizing lumpfish as a cleanerfish for steelhead trout in NH waters. Objective 3. DISSEMINATE FINDINGS TO STAKEHOLDERS: We have shared the findings of our project and our recommendations on stocking, growing, and harvesting of NH cage-cultured steelhead trout to minimize adverse impacts from sea lice with stakeholders through a variety of outlets including local and state newspapers (Seacoast Online, Concord Monitor), a state agricultural radio show (live interview on WTPL), online seafood newsletters (Seafood Source), and international aquaculture trade publications (Aquaculture North America). Further it's been publicized widely within the UNH community (college quarterly magazine, Research Office, NH AES press release). We have reached the scientific community via presentations, the salmonid industry via direct communications of our findings, and exchanges with the US Lumpfish Consortium and International Cleanerfish Group. We have reached broader audiences through through guest lectures in undergraduate courses; presentations, videos, and displays at a non-profit, public, marine science education center; and virtual talks with K-12 groups. Overall,we have enhanced public understanding and increased awareness of the impact sea lice has on salmonid farms and that using lumpfish as "biological delousers" is a sustainable way to help control sea lice.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
US Lumpfish Consortium: promoting cleanerfish in salmonid farming. AFS Atlantic International Chapter October meeting, October, 24, 2020; live Zoom presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Increasing domestic aquaculture production with environmentally friendly technology: promoting cleanerfish in salmonid farming. Biology Department Spring Seminar Series, College of Charleston, March 8, 2021; live Zoom presentation. (invited speaker)
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty, M. B. 2021. The presence of sea lice on steelhead trout at a marine farm in NH waters and the utilization of lumpfish as a biological delouser. Masters Thesis, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 111 p.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty, M. 2021. UNH Grad School: lumpfish research, aquaculture, and a career in marine science. Troy Howard Middle School career day talk, March 26, 2021; live Zoom presentation and Q&A.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty, M. 2021. Marine Bio Spotlight: Lumpfish research and my path as a marine biologist. Gulf of Maine Research Institute Scientist to go program, April 8, 2021; live Zoom presentation and Q&A.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty. M. 2021. An analysis of sea lice in an experimental NH aquaculture station, and the use of lumpfish as a lice mitigation strategy. UNH Graduate Research Conference, April 19, 2021. https://media-gallery.unh.edu/media_submission/500/
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty, M. 2021. Parasitic sea lice populations in an experimental salmonid aquaculture system in NH waters and using lumpfish as a possible solution. UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, May 5, 2021; live Zoom presentation.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Doherty, M. 2021. Aquaculture of the lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, and implementation as a cleanerfish. University of New Hampshire Marine Docents Seminar Series, March 2, 2021; live Zoom presentation.
|
Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall goal of this project is to increase knowledge of sea lice infestation at the steelhead trout farm, and determine how lumpfish can be used successfully as a biological control of the sea lice outbreaks. Our target audiences include: undergraduate and graduate students who will assist in experimental design, collection and analysis of data; fellow scientists and commercial fishermen-farmers who are involved in all aspects of managing and running the steelhead trout farm; fellow aquaculture researchers who also are improving the knowledge base of lumpfish culture techniques; the US salmonid (trout, salmon) industry which is interested in utilizing cleaner fish as a biological control of sea lice; and the general public. During this reporting period, we delivered science-based knowledge to the target audiences through: hands-on education and mentoring of undergraduate students in the field collecting and analyzing sea lice at the steelhead trout farm, in the marine lab rearing lumpfish, guest lecture to undergraduate class Professional Perspectives in Zoology, ZOOL 400, approx. 30 students guest lecture to undergraduate class Marine Estuarine and Freshwater Biology Freshman Seminar, MEFB 401, 42 students hands-on education and mentoring of two Master's graduate student in the marine lab rearing lumpfish open houses and educational exhibits at: UNH Judd Gregg Marine Complex Open House where lumpfish rearing systems were on display - 65 attendees Ocean Discovery Day at UNH - 2,400 people attending (mostly K-12) UNH Grad School recruiting fair - cleanerfish in salmonid farm model used and story told Night at the Museum, Seacoast Science Center, Rye, NH - 60 attendees Pre-recorded video (2 mins) for Seacoast Science Center on general lumpfish knowledge for general audiences Live Zoom meeting with Seacoast Science Center High School Fellows in which career paths, future education, research at UNH, and the lumpfish projects were discussed Pre-recorded video for Seacoast Science Center with a greater focus on lumpfish aquaculture for World Ocean Day virtual event geared towards general audiences Live Zoom meeting with girl scouts from across the US about being a female marine biologist and featuring the lumpfish research; 8/ Hosted by the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains; 85 girl scouts from grades 6-12 attended professional presentations at scientific meetings Fairchild, E. A. 2020. The status of lumpfish production in the US. "Cleanerfish" session, Aquaculture America 2020, February 9-12, 2020, Honolulu, HI. (invited speaker) Chambers, M. and E. A. Fairchild. 2020. Advancing US marine aquaculture at the University of New Hampshire. Aquaculture America 2020, February 9-12, 2020, Honolulu, HI. (invited speakers) knowledge exchange and connectivity of aquaculture research community and US salmonid aquaculture industry through the US Lumpfish Consortium Led a 12-person workshop which included personnel from UNH, UME CCAR, USDA NCWMAC, Cooke Aquaculture USA, and Cooke Aquaculture LLC (Canada) to discuss progress to date on existing lumpfish aquaculture research activities and strategize for future funding initiatives that would assist in the expansion of using cleanerfish in the US. Tours were provided of the lumpfish production at the UNH Coastal Marine Lab. Workshop held at the UNH Judd Gregg Marine Complex, New Castle, NH; January 22, 2020. Changes/Problems:The biggest problems we encountered during this reporting period were due to the permitting issues NH Sea Grant's steelhead trout farm continues to face and scheduling disruptions caused by COVID-19. As described in the prior annual report, this project piggybacks off of the UNH steelhead trout farm operated by NH Sea Grant, though we work together as best we can to accomplish our collective goals. However, like in Year 1 of this project, the steelhead trout again were not available for the intended time period in Year 2. Normally, the trout are farmed in cages from spring through early winter (Nov/Dec) and this is the duration of sea lice sampling we expected to undertake in both Years 1 and 2. During Year 1, the fish were supposed to be moved from the existing, inshore farm in early summer to an offshore farm (AquaFort) for the remainder of the growing season but this did not happen due to unforeseen state and federal permitting problems with AquaFort. As a result, the fish were harvested mid-summer, resulting in limited sea lice data for 2019. This permitting bottleneck continued into Year 2 and delayed trout stocking in early spring. Then in March 2020, UNH ramped down research due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stocking fish into farms was not possible. For two months, only essential research activities, such as keeping existing fish stocks alive, were permitted. We were able to continue on-growing our 2019 cohort of cultured lumpfish but were not able to conduct any caging studies with them until July when seasonal research activities were permitted by UNH. By then water temperatures were very warm and NH Sea Grant decided to delay stocking trout into their farm until fall and cooler water. This resulted in no sea lice data from the trout farm for Year 2. In the last annual report, we wrote that we were considering in Year 2 scaling up our summer steelhead trout - lumpfish cage studies by using the inshore trout cages and through the use of acoustic transmitters to study the behavior and effects of stocking lumpfish with steelhead trout. In this scenario, we would have continued to monitor sea lice but also have information on how the fishes interact in relation to each other, photoperiod, currents, temperature, lumpfish hides (habitat in the trout cage specifically for lumpfish), and other variables. Due to both the farm permitting issues and then disruption from COVID-19, we abandoned this idea. We hope to seek funding from NH Sea Grant to pursue this project at another time. When we finally were allowed to conduct our small caging studies testing cleanerfish abilities of lumpfish with steelhead trout, the trout hatchery only had one strain of fish that was at the appropriate size (>200g) to undergo the transition from fresh- to saltwater. This strain, Camloops, is the least robust of the three trout strains Sumner Brook Fish Hatchery produces. Due to lost time from COVID-19, we went ahead and tested it anyway, knowing that the fish might fare poorly, which they did. While we had hoped for a better outcome, testing this inferior trout strain allowed us to fine-tune our experimental design and sampling strategy. We intend to test the two other, more robust trout strains (Trout Lodge, Riverence) in Year 3 so we can not only evaluate the effectiveness of lumpfish to minimize sea lice in steelhead trout cages, but we can assess how nuances between the three trout strains in terms of survival, growth, and sea lice loads. This information has been deemed very important by both the freshwater hatchery and NH Sea Grant for steelhead trout farmers. COVID-19 also affected many of our planned outreach activities. Conferences were postponed and stakeholder meetings cancelled. In particular, the pandemic has postponed an industry workshop initially planned for Spring 2020; we hope to be able to have it in Spring 2021. Additionally, Aquaculture Canada and WAS North America conference, originally scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2020 in St. John's, Newfoundland in which 3 presentations were to be given (2 by graduate students) in the Cleanerfish Session, was postponed until Sept. 2021. Further, farm tours at the UNH steelhead trout farm have not been permitted due to restricted access during Covid-19. When they do resume, a lumpfish/cleanerfish module will be used for outreach leaders and visitors alike. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this reporting period, 7 students (5 undergraduate students, 2 Master's students) were involved with this research; all received one-on-one mentoring. Students received field training on sea lice collecting techniques and laboratory training on lice identification and analysis, as well as gained marine finfish aquaculture training in egg incubation, fish larviculture, live feeds, and general husbandry skills. Further, all were involved in steelhead trout-lumpfish-sea lice interaction studies in small experimental cages. In addition to student development, NH Sea Grant staff (2 farm managers) were trained on cleanerfish philosophy and learned sea lice collecting techniques. In conjunction with a complimentary project, a 12-person workshop was held at the UNH Judd Gregg Marine Complex, New Castle, NH; January 22, 2020. Participants included personnel from UNH, the University of Maine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, USDA National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, Cooke Aquaculture USA, and Cooke Aquaculture LLC (Canada) to discuss lumpfish aquaculture research activities and strategize for future funding initiatives that would assist in the expansion of using cleanerfish in the US. Tours were provided of the lumpfish production at the UNH Coastal Marine Laboratory. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have shared the goals of our project and the data collected thus far with our scientific peers and industry stakeholders at conferences, as reported already, and through the US Lumpfish Consortium.We also have enhanced public understanding and increased awareness of the impact sea lice has on salmonid farms and that using lumpfish as "biological delousers" is a sustainable way to help control sea lice. This has been done through guest lectures in undergraduate students courses; presentations, videos, and displays at a non-profit, public, marine science education center; connecting with the public at UNH open houses, both to recruit students and to inform the general public; Zooming with girl scouts from across the country who want to know what it's like to be a marine biologist; and working closely with media outlets (local and state newspapers, state agricultural radio shows, online seafood newsletters, and international aquaculture trade publications) to reach broader audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will continue monitoring sea lice infestation when steelhead trout are being farmed (estimated season Oct. 2020-Jan. 2021). Sea lice infestation will be calculated as the mean number of sea lice of each species per fish (among infested fish only). The prevalence of sea lice infestation will be determined by comparing the frequency of occurrence of life history stages of each species at each sampling interval, month, and seasonally (3-month period) and by year, if sufficient data exist. The degree of sea lice infestation will be calculated by analyzing the changes in the mean quantity of each species attached to the trout over time. From these results, we will be able to test our hypothesis that infestation remains constant throughout the trout growing season by documenting which species of sea lice are more prevalent on the trout and when, and when different lice stages occur. This information will guide us, not only in evaluating trout stocking schedules, but also for determining when lumpfish theoretically will be most effective at controlling the sea lice populations. We will continue testing the effectiveness of lumpfish as cleaners of different steelhead trout strains during four-week periods in fall 2020 with the lumpfish we culture through complimentary UNH and USDA-NIFA-NRAC-funded aquaculture research. Final reports and a Master's thesis will be written. We will continue our outreach objectives by sharing knowledge gained at professional meetings (Aquaculture America 2021) and educating university students through mentoring and guest lectures in undergraduate classes. We will reach K-12 students through tours of the Coastal Marine Lab and with displays at UNH Ocean Discovery Day, and the general public through tours of the UNH steelhead trout farm when we are allowed to resume these kind of face-to-face activities. This project also will be included in outreach activities (workshops engaging the salmonid aquaculture industry and lumpfish research community) funded by complimentary lumpfish grants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Sea lice, an external parasite, is the mostly costly issue salmonid farmers face when growing salmonids in ocean cages; the lice limit the expansion of domestic Atlantic salmon farms in Maine and impact steelhead trout production in New Hampshire. Sea lice infestations can be controlled with knowledge about the seasonal occurrence of the parasites on a farm and by using lumpfish, which have cleanerfish behavior, as 'salmonid delousers.' Because the use of cleanerfish in salmonid farms is a new method to control sea lice (started in Norway in 2013 and recently adapted by all salmonid-growing countries in the northern Atlantic EXCEPT the US), information on lumpfish aquaculture production protocols and demonstration of how lumpfish are used in salmonid farms will help to increase domestic salmonid production by showcasing this novel parasite control strategy. Objective 1. DOCUMENT AND CHARACTERIZE SEA LICE INFESTATION ON NH GROWN STEELHEAD TROUT: No further work on this objective has occurred. Please see Changes/Problems section for explanation. Objective 2. EFFECTS OF USING LUMPFISH IN STEELHEAD TROUT OCEAN FARMS TO REDUCE SEA LICE INFESTATION: Camloop, a strain of steelhead trout from CT produced by Sumner Brook Fish Hatchery (Ossipee, NH) was available for testing during summer 2020 (fish need to be approx. 200g to physiologically adapt from freshwater to saltwater) once research was allowed again at UNH. Though the least robust of the trout strains produced by the hatchery, we chose to monitor 90 Camloop fish in a total of six, small, 1m3 sea cages during July 2020 and both the presence of lumpfish and two types of hides (lumpfish habitat suspended in the cages: fake kelp, pvc panels) were evaluated to determine the most effective strategy to minimize sea lice. All fish were assessed weekly for sea lice by 2-min freshwater immersion baths, using the methods established in Objective 1. Trout mortality was high throughout the entire period and attributed to the frail trout strain and high water temperatures. By the end of the 20 day trial, only 21% of the trout had survived. Sea lice were present on both trout and lumpfish, and lice concentrations did not significantly differ between treatments (control-no lumpfish vs. cleanerfish-with lumpfish, p=0.326; hide type, p=0.526). Further, upon termination of the trial due to few surviving fish, there was no evidence that lumpfish had recently consumed any sea lice when stomach contents were examined. While these results contradict the usefulness of lumpfish as a means to control sea lice infestation, care should be taken in interpreting these results due to the poor trout survival. This study does highlight, however, that there is a set of best practices when utilizing lumpfish as a cleanerfish. This will be addressed as soon as more robust steelhead trout strains are available for testing (Oct. 2020). Objective 3. DISSEMINATE FINDINGS TO STAKEHOLDERS: The major tasks associated with this objective (publishing information and making recommendations on stocking, growing, and harvesting of NH cage-cultured steelhead trout to minimize adverse impacts from sea lice) will be undertaken in Year 3 once Objectives 1 and 2 are completed. However, as we are rearing lumpfish for other grant-funded projects, we have already begun writing drafts of standard operating procedures for culturing lumpfish for use as cleanerfish in salmonid farming. In addition, we have worked closely with the NH AES communications manager and engaged directly with many media outlets to disseminate findings and educate the public. This research has been featured this year in NH media (Seacoast Online, Concord Monitor, radio interview on WTPL) and internationally in industry publications (Aquaculture North America, Seafood Source).
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Fairchild, E. A. 2020. The status of lumpfish production in the US. Cleanerfish session, Aquaculture America 2020, February 9-12, 2020, Honolulu, HI. (invited speaker)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Chambers, M. and E. A. Fairchild. 2020. Advancing US marine aquaculture at the University of New Hampshire. Aquaculture America 2020, February 9-12, 2020, Honolulu, HI. (invited speakers)
|
Progress 10/23/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall goal of this project is to increase knowledge of sea lice infestation at the steelhead trout farm, and determine how lumpfish can be used successfully as a biological control of the sea lice outbreaks. Our target audiences include: undergraduate and graduate students who will assist in experimental design, collection and analysis of data; fellow scientists and commercial fishermen-farmers who are involved in all aspects of managing and running the steelhead trout farm; fellow aquaculture researchers who also are improving the knowledge base of lumpfish culture techniques; and the US salmonid (trout, salmon) industry which is interested in utilizing cleaner fish as a biological control of sea lice. During this reporting period, we delivered science-based knowledge to the target audiences through: hands-on education and mentoring of undergraduate students in the field collecting and analyzing sea lice at the steelhead trout farm, in the marine lab rearing lumpfish, guest lecture to undergraduate class Professional Perspectives in Zoology, ZOOL 401, approx. 20 students seminar speaker to UNH Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture Club, approx. 20 students hands-on education and mentoring of a Master's graduate student in the marine lab rearing lumpfish professional presentations at scientific meetings Panel: Experimental and Technologically Feasible Species - Lumpfish. "Status of Marine Fish Species for US Aquaculture" Session, Aquaculture America 2019. The annual meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, March 8-11, 2019, New Orleans, LA. (invited panelist); approx. 200 attendees knowledge exchange and connectivity of aquaculture research community and US salmonid aquaculture industry through the formation of a US Lumpfish Consortium and attending the Global Cleanerfish Workshop (Sept. 24, 2019, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada) public engagement through tours of the UNH IMTA steelhead trout farm including fishermen and restaurateurs; approx. 100 people outreach to K-12 students through tours of the UNH Coastal Marine Laboratory where lumpfish are reared; approx 1700 people Changes/Problems:This project piggybacks off of the UNH steelhead trout farm operated by NH Sea Grant, though we work together as best we can to accomplish our collective goals. However, during this reporting period, the steelhead trout were not available for the intended time period. Normally, the trout are farmed in cages from spring through early winter (Nov/Dec) and this is the duration of sea lice sampling we expected to undertake. During the 2019 trout season, the fish were supposed to be moved from the existing, inshore farm in early summer to the new offshore farm (AquaFort) for the remainder of the growing season, but NH Sea Grant was prevented from using AquaFort due to a lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought forth by Friends of the Earth against NOAA Sea Grant for allegedly violating the Endangered Species Act, accused NOAA of using federal funds for a "fish factory farm" (aka the UNH research steelhead trout farm AquaFort) without undergoing proper environmental review. Without the bigger AquaFort to use, the fish had to be harvested mid-summer, resulting in limited sea lice data for 2019. Looking ahead, AquaFort is cleared for use for 2020-2021. Another potential change is that, instead of the steelhead trout being stocked for part of the summer in the inshore farm, they may be stocked for the entire season in the offshore AquaFort. This may affect sea lice prevalence and occurrence on steelhead trout, but it will simulate more of a commercial, NH-based, steelhead trout farm which will be of extreme value to Blue Water Fisheries LLC, a new steelhead trout farm sited for NH state waters. Either way, we will continue weekly sea lice sampling of the trout, regardless of which farm is in use. Another potential change is that in addition to the trout-lumpfish caging study proposed, we intend to scale up these cage studies by using the inshore trout cages and through the use of acoustic transmitters to study, in three-dimensions, the behavior and effects of stocking lumpfish with steelhead trout. In this scenario, we would continue to monitor sea lice but also have information on how the fishes interact in relation to each other, photoperiod, currents, temperature, lumpfish hides (habitat in the trout cage specifically for lumpfish), and other variables. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this reporting period, 4 students (2 undergraduate students, 1 recently graduated student, and 1 Master's student) were directly involved with this research; all received one-on-one mentoring. Two of these students received field training on sea lice collecting techniques and laboratory training on lice identification and analysis. Three students gained marine finfish aquaculture training in egg incubation, fish larviculture, live feeds, and general husbandry skills. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have shared the goals of our project and the preliminary data with our scientific peers at conferences, as reported already. We also have enhanced public understanding and increased awareness of the impact sea lice has on salmonid farms and that a sustainable way to help prevent sea lice is to use lumpfish as biocontrols. This has been done by giving presentations at the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference, including a learning module in the UNH steelhead trout farm tours given to the public and in the UNH Coastal Marine Lab tours given to school groups (mostly high school), through networking at the Global Cleanerfish Workshop, and with demonstrations at the UNH Marine Complex Open House (Sept. 2019). Through the open house, we met with the CEO of Blue Water Fisheries, LLC, a new commercial steelhead trout farm currently going through permitting to operate in NH state waters. After learning about how lumpfish are being used in other countries to reduce sea lice in salmonid farms, Blue Water Fisheries, LLC is interested in working with UNH researchers and using lumpfish as biological delousers in their steelhead trout farm. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: During the next reporting period, we will monitor sea lice infestation again throughout the entire steelhead trout growing season. Sea lice infestation will be calculated as the mean number of sea lice of each species per fish (among infested fish only). The prevalence of sea lice infestation will be determined by comparing the frequency of occurrence of life-history stages of each species at each sampling interval, month, season (3-month period), and year. The degree of sea lice infestation will be calculated by analyzing the changes in the mean quantity of each species attached to the trout over time. From these results, we will be able to test our hypothesis that infestation remains constant throughout the trout growing season by documenting which species of sea lice are more prevalent on the trout and when, and when different lice stages occur. This information will guide us, not only in evaluating trout stocking schedules but also for determining when lumpfish theoretically will be most effective at controlling the sea lice populations. Objective 2: We will test the effectiveness of lumpfish as cleaners of steelhead trout during a five-week period of expected maximum lice infestation in 2020 (likely late-summer/early-fall). Cultured lumpfish from a complimentary lumpfish research project will be used. Six 1-m3 experimental cages will be deployed near the UNH pier in Newcastle, NH. Three of these will be stocked with 10 steelhead trout, simulating IMTA densities, and 3 lumpfish (experimental replicates). The other three cages will be stocked with steelhead alone (control). All fish will be tagged with t-bar tags so we are able to identify individuals. Mean initial weight of the steelhead and lumpfish will be ~300g and 100g, respectively, with exact initial and final weights taken of all fish. Each cage will be fed ad libitum, once daily, using 3 mm BioOregon™ trout pellets. Each week beginning with week 0, all trout will be evaluated for sea lice infestation. Weekly sea lice counts will be compared between treatments. If significantly fewer sea lice occur on trout in experimental cages and if the growth rate of trout in experimental cages is the same (or better) than that of the control fish, we will deem lumpfish as effective cleaners. In addition, because all fish will be tagged, we will be able to assess if some fish are more susceptible to sea lice infestation than others. Objective 3: We will continue our outreach objectives by sharing knowledge gained at professional meetings (Aquaculture America 2020, Global Cleanerfish Workshop); educating undergraduate and graduate students through mentoring and giving guest lectures in undergraduate classes; reaching K-12 students through tours of the Coastal Marine Laboratory and with displays at UNH Ocean Discovery Day; informing the general pubic through tours of the UNH steelhead trout farm; and working with the aquaculture industry by including this project in outreach activities (workshops engaging the salmonid aquaculture industry and lumpfish research community) funded by complimentary lumpfish grants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Sea lice, an external parasite, is the mostly costly issue salmonid farmers face when growing salmonids in ocean cages; the lice limit the expansion of domestic Atlantic salmon farms in Maine and impact steelhead trout production in New Hampshire. Sea lice infestations can be controlled with knowledge about the seasonal occurrence of the parasites on a farm and by using lumpfish, which have cleanerfish behavior, as 'salmonid delousers.' Because the use of cleanerfish in salmonid farms is a new method to control sea lice (started in Norway in 2013 and recently adapted by all salmonid-growing countries in the northern Atlantic EXCEPT the US), information on lumpfish aquaculture production protocols and demonstration of how lumpfish are used in salmonid farms will help to increase domestic salmonid production by showcasing this novel parasite control strategy. Objective 1. DOCUMENT AND CHARACTERIZE SEA LICE INFESTATION ON NH GROWN STEELHEAD TROUT: Sea lice sampling protocols were developed during the end of the 2018 steelhead trout farming season from late-October to mid-December. On each sampling date, 10 fish were randomly caught using a long-handled dip net and removed from the sea cage. Individual fish were placed for 2 min in a 5-gallon bucket of freshwater causing all sea lice to detach from the trout. Treated trout were held in a saltwater-filled live well until all fish were treated, then returned to the cage. After each fish was treated, the freshwater in the treatment bucket was poured through a 25 mm sieve to collect all lice detached during treatment, and the lice were preserved in 70% ethanol. At the Coastal Marine Laboratory, all sea lice collected were identified to species, counted, sexed, and staged (gravid females, mobile and sessile stages) using a dissecting scope. In 2019, the same sampling methods were used except fish sample size increased from 10 to 15 trout and two dataloggers that recorded water temperature hourly were attached to the trout cage (one shallow, one deep) to determine if any correlations exist between sea lice metrics and water temperature. In 2019, sampling started May 24 when trout were transferred from freshwater into the land-based, seawater acclimation system and then occurred weekly for a total of 6 weeks once the fish were transferred into the ocean cages. The 2019 steelhead trout season ended prematurely with fish harvested on July 17. In both 2018 and 2019, only one species of sea lice, Caligus elongatus, was present on the steelhead trout. This was surprising since another sea lice species, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, tends to be more prevalent on salmonid farms and was expected in our samples. Because C. elongatus are typically sporadic on salmonid farms because they do not rely exclusively on salmonids as a host, they can be difficult to sample. Their consistent presence in the samples showed that the lice collection methods we developed are effective. When L. salmonis are present, our sampling protocol will capture them. In 2018, sea lice infestation ranged from 1.7 to 3.0 lice/fish, increasing over time from Oct. to Dec. with 70-90% of the trout infected. Female lice were slightly more prevalent (53-67%) than male lice. In 2019, sea lice infestation was lower than in 2018 but sampling occurred earlier during May through July. Generally, the mean number of sea lice attached to trout and the number of trout infected with sea lice increased over time. Mean number of sea lice/fish increased from 0 to 0.7 lice/fish in 2019. Trout infected with sea lice increased from 0 to 40%. In addition, the majority of lice (60-100%) attached to the trout were females, and many lice, especially in July, were gravid indicating that infestation would have increased in August. Analysis of sea lice metrics in relation to temperature are on-going. Due to the premature 2019 trout harvest, not enough data were collected to examine seasonal sea lice effects over an entire, normal trout growing season but with another year of sampling, we will be able to predict for trout farmers in NH waters, the duration and peak of sea lice infestation. This is important because if cleanerfish are used in salmonid farming, to be most effective, the cleanerfish should be stocked prior to sea lice infestations. Objective 2. EFFECTS OF USING LUMPFISH IN STEELHEAD TROUT OCEAN FARMS TO REDUCE SEA LICE INFESTATION: The fieldwork of this objective (studying the effects of lumpfish in steelhead trout cages) has not been started yet. It is scheduled to begin summer 2020. However, since summer 2019, we have been rearing the lumpfish which will be used in the cages. Currently, we have about 12,000, 2.5-month-old, 0.3 g larval lumpfish. Objective 3. DISSEMINATE FINDINGS TO STAKEHOLDERS: The major tasks associated with this objective (publishing information and making recommendations on stocking, growing, and harvesting of NH cage-cultured steelhead trout to minimize adverse impacts from sea lice) will be undertaken in Year 3 once Objectives 1 and 2 are completed. However, as we are rearing lumpfish for this and other grant-funded projects, we have already started writing drafts of standard operating procedures for culturing lumpfish for use as cleanerfish in salmonid farming which will be shared with other aquaculture researchers and made available to emergent lumpfish hatcheries.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Kinsman, N. and E. Fairchild. ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Not so lice:ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Developmental sampling methods of sea lice on UNH caged steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). https://www.unh.edu/sites/default/files/departments/undergraduate_research_conference/urc_abstracts_2019.pdf pg. 11
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Fairchild, E. A. 2019. Morning Panel: Experimental and Technologically Feasible Species - Lumpfish. ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Status of Marine Fish Species for US Aquacultureÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Session, Aquaculture America 2019. The annual meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, March 8-11, 2019, New Orleans, LA. (invited panelist)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Kinsman, N. and E. Fairchild. ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ¿Not so lice:ÿ¢ÿ¿ÿ Developmental sampling methods of sea lice on UNH caged steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). UNH Undergraduate Research Conference, April 26-27, 2019. (poster) https://www.unh.edu/sites/default/files/departments/undergraduate_research_conference/urc_abstracts_2019.pdf pg. 67
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