University gets more aquaculture research money
While some universities on Canada’s west coast are struggling to find funding for aquaculture research, the same is not necessarily the case in Newfoundland, where the new funding will leverage more than $ 16.9 million (~€13.4 million) for more than 30 researchers, according to the South Carolina Herald;
The funding will focus on solving technical challenges and identifying new opportunities."Today's investment is paving the way for the future success of our researchers and academic institutions and to the collaborative efforts among academia and industry for the future economic growth of Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation. "These projects are essential for enhancing the R&D capacity within Newfoundland and Labrador. Increased activity is leading to further economic growth in this province and strengthening Newfoundland and Labrador's international reputation as a world-class centre for innovation."
Complimentary and leveraged funding comes from institutions like the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Husky Energy and Rolls Royce Marine."RDC is helping facilitate local, national and international R&D collaboration between Memorial, other institutions and industry leaders," said Glenn Janes, Chief Executive Officer, RDC. "This investment builds upon the existing base of research expertise in Newfoundland and Labrador and is another example of how R&D plays a critical role in driving future innovation."
Today's investment is provided through RDC's academic programs which focus on building the R&D capacity required for innovation and commercialization within the province."The funding announced today by RDC, along with investments leveraged from federal and private sector sources, will advance strategic areas of research for which we are already well known, and on which much of our future prosperity depends," said Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
One project aims at examining the technical challenges of operating large ships and offshore structures in ice environments. Dr. Claude Daley, Chair, Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering at Memorial University's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science said that said his research team is tackling issues that will enable the offshore industries to grow and develop in the province in ways that are safe, sustainable and profitable for all."
Another research project will focus on how fish survive conditions of low temperature and low oxygen. The information gained through the project may provide clues to how animals function in changing environments. This has the potential to benefit the aquaculture sector as growers will have a better understanding of why fish grow the way that they do and in which conditions they grow best. A second area of research in this project is related to how some fish function at extremely low blood sugar levels, especially under oxygen levels where sugar is essential for the animals.
And Memorial University Dr. Rise will use functional genomics tools and techniques to study the genes and molecular pathways involved in fish responses when they are exposed to pathogens or other immune stimuli, environmental stressors, or plant-based diets. Due to their importance to fisheries and aquaculture, this research will focus on Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and Atlantic cod. In addition to providing valuable information on the genetic basis of biological processes key to fish health, Dr. Rise's research will likely lead to the development of new strategies for combating fish diseases, new molecular markers for selecting broodstock with superior production traits, and sustainable aquaculture feeds.
