Study on Pancreas Disease in Irish farmed salmon published

“Pancreas disease has been a serious issue for the salmon farming industry in Ireland and internationally for a long time” says Neil Ruane of the Marine Institute’s Marine Environment and Food Safety Service group, one of the scientists involved in the research. “This report puts forward a number of management strategies based on our studies that will help fish farmers avoid and reduce the incidence of the disease on their farms in the future”.   The Pancreas Disease Research Group was set up by the Marine Institute, in partnership with Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and Vet-Aqua International, in early 2004, to advise on research initiatives in response to serious losses in the salmon farming industry due to the disease since 2002.  The project carried out studies at farms in the west of Ireland in close cooperation with farm managers. The aim was to develop understanding of pancreas disease, as well as to help build national capacity in the area of screening and establishing early warning systems.   ‘Pancreas Disease in Farmed Salmon – Health Management and Investigations at Irish Farm Sites, 2005 – 2008’ is available to download from the Marine Institute website www.marine.ie.