New report concludes
Research on early life stages must be strengthened
Now available in print is the report from the working group appointed in 2008 to give an account of the state-of-the-art of research on early life stages in fish: "The fish larva: a transitional life form, the foundation for aquaculture and fisheries."
Larval-stage effects are at the core of many of the challenges facing producers of farmed fish – challenges such as achieving high survival rates and producing high-quality fry that grow into large, hardy production fish.
The report describes the status of and challenges relating to crucial factors such as knowledge about fry production, the natural ecosystem, biological processes, nutrition and environmental conditions. The research system, methodologies, and available resources are also reviewed. The report concludes with recommendations and strategies for acquiring critical knowledge.
The working group finds there is a general lack of knowledge about vital biological processes of the early life stages in fish. Research is fragmented, and allocations have been reduced in recent years. The group therefore stresses the importance of intensifying research activities and recommends establishing a separate programme for research on early life stages in fish.
Broad field of research
The report was prepared in cooperation with the HAVBRUK programme, the FUGE programme, Independent Projects in Biology and Biomedicine (FRIBIO), and the HAVKYST programme. The working group comprised representatives from key Norwegian research groups and the aquaculture industry, as well as distinguished international experts. In addition the group consulted with leading experts in Norway and conducted a thorough analysis of the state-of-the-art of research regarding the development of marine larvae.
The working group’s final report has been reviewed by the relevant programme boards and will be incorporated into the knowledge base for the Research Council’s further efforts in pertinent scientific areas, either under research programmes or through other activities.
A cod larva at two months. (Photo: Akvaplan-niva)
Vital for further development
The HAVBRUK programme board agrees that knowledge about early life stages in fish is essential to the knowledge base for the further development of aquaculture in Norway and worldwide. The report identifies important needs and offers useful scientific discussion and conclusions.
The programme board also agrees it could be productive to coordinate research activities on early life stages in fish in various areas, such as aquaculture, environmental conditions (e.g. oil contamination, temperatures, seismic disturbances), resource management of wild fish stocks, and knowledge for tackling climate-related challenges. The relevant programmes and activities are encouraged to cooperate in assessing how to coordinate the research.
An initial step in this process would be to give priority to a knowledge platform on early life stages in fish, with an emphasis on cod, in the HAVBRUK programme’s call for proposals for 2010.
The working group
- Jon Vidar Helvik, Professor, University of Bergen (Chair)
- Kristin Hamre, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research - Ivar Hordvik, Professor, University of Bergen
- Terje van der Meeren, Senior Scientist, Institute of Marine Research
- Helge Ressem, Manager of Profunda AS, Norwegian Seafood Federation
- Manfred Schartl, Professor, University of Würzburg
- Harald Sveier, Senior Adviser, Research Council of Norway (Secretary)
- Helge Tveiten, Senior Scientist, Nofima Marin, Tromsø
- Gunvor Øie, Senior Scientist, SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, Trondheim
- Published:
- 06.10.2009
- Last updated:
- 06.10.2009
