New interest in fish breeding in B.C.

Odd Grydeland Every time the salmon farmers in B.C. get together to identify their priority areas of research, selective breeding ends up on or near the top of the list. But so far, no agreement has been possible to achieve with respect to an industry-wide salmon breeding program. As reported earlier in Fishfarmingxpert, there are currently 3 salmon breeding programs on-going in B.C.- with 3 different species of salmon. One of them- using Coho is still active, although with a limited scope. The currently active Chinook salmon breeding program was started in 1998, and today it is mainly Creative Salmon on the West Coast of Vancouver Island that is involved. The sophisticated Atlantic salmon breeding program currently owned by Mainstream Canada (Cermaq) and managed - as are the other 2 programs- by TRI-GEN Fish Improvement, may found the basis of a renewed and expanded industry-wide program for Atlantic salmon in B.C.. The Mainstream Selective Breeding Program is based on genetic material from the Norwegian MOWI company- imported to Canada from the Fanad Hatchery in Ireland. There seems to be a renewed interest among the 3 remaining Atlantic salmon producers in B.C. (Marine Harvest, Mainstream and Grieg Seafood) to pursue funding support for an industry-wide breeding program for Atlantic salmon. Genome British Columbia has recently issued a Requst for Applications under its Applied genomics Innovation Program, and this may present a good opportunity for B.C fish farmers to finally get together and collaborate on a much-needed industry-wide genetic improvement program.