Norwegian technology freezes Canadian fish genes

Odd Grydeland  The two companies involved issued a joint Press Release today; CRYOGENETICS Ltd. based in Norway and TRI-GEN FISH IMPROVEMENT LTD. based in Agassiz, B.C. has during a joint project established an innovative cryo-preservation protocol for milt from Coho salmon. During a two-step trial period in the fall of 2009, milt from 25 males were cryo-preserved comparing existing/public methods to the Cryogenetics method. A total of 20.000 eggs where fertilized and incubated to provide significant numbers to the tests. The Cryogenetics method provided a 94% average. This is by far the best known results obtained by using cryo-preserved coho milt to fertilize eggs. The project will continue in 2010 to verify these results, and to continue the work on establishing similar methods for milt from Chinook and Sockeye Salmon. It is expected that the cryo-prerservation technologies will have a positive impact on how breeding companies and conservation authorities can safely store and later use genes.   Cryogenetics Ltd. specializes in developing cryo-preservation technologies for fish milt and embryos, and provides commercial products on milt from Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Cod. The company issued a press release in January 2010 informing of the breakthrough of cryo-preserving a Cod embryo down to 130°C. TRI-GEN Fish Impovement Ltd. specializes in research, development and management  of Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon  and Rainbow trout broodstock programs  throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada regions.  The project has been financially supported by Innovation Norway.