Funding for PEI invasive species research projects
Canada: The Prince Edward Island aquaculture community is planning to engage in research projects dealing with invasive species through the PEI Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Initiative.
Three projects, submitted by the PEI Aquaculture Alliance, the PEI Seafood Processors Association and the PEI Shellfish Association, were submitted for funding.
The PEI Aquaculture Alliance project will examine low-pressure washing of mussel socks in tunicate infested areas. In addition, the project will look at the impact of having longlines sunk to various depths below the water surface and the impact of having socks touching the bottom of the estuary for extended periods of time to enhance predation of tunicates by crabs and starfish.
The proposed projects by the PEI Seafood Processors Association will work conduct a series of pre-discovery studies to look at the potential health-promoting activities of the bio-active compounds in the clubbed tunicate and the vase tunicate. This will be a project in cooperation with NRC Institute for Nutri-sciences and Health (NRC-INH). Researchers will conduct cell-based and enzymatic screening tests of tunicate extracts and subfractions to search for anti-inflammation, anti-diabetes, neuro-protective, wound healing and weight loss capabilities.
The PEI Shellfish Association has partnered with the Atlantic Veterinary College to investigate the size and structure of green crab populations in Bedeque Bay and North River and will determine the size ranges of oysters that are at risk from predation by green crabs. They hope the outcome of this project will enable them propose various strategies to deal with green crab predation on oysters and, most importantly, determine what portion of the oyster population requires protection from the green crab.
