The inaugural Gill Health Initiative meeting

In response to the current gill challenges facing the salmon aquaculture industry, especially with the appearance of amoebic gill disease (AGD) in Ireland and Scotland last year, and the potential risk of development of AGD in Norway, the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling hosted the inaugural Gill Health Initiative meeting 30th- 31st January 2013. This initiative was modelled on a similar style of platform to that used for the Pancreas Disease Trination meetings, i.e. industry lead and practical solution driven. The steering committee set up to establish this initiative is comprised of Neil Ruane (Marine Institute, Galway) as coordinator; Hamish Rodger (Vet-Aqua International); Gordon Ritchie (Marine Harvest); Randolph Richards (Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling); Duncan Colquhoun (Norwegian Veterinary Institute); John Webster (Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation); Mark Cook (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia); Barbara Nowak, (Australian Maritime College, Tasmania) and Carlos Zarza (Tassal, Tasmania).

A histopathology workshop focusing on gill pathology was held on the first day of the meeting, organised by Hamish Rodger and Randolph Richards, with 30 fish pathologists/diagnosticians attending. The aims of the workshop were to clarify the criteria being used for various gill conditions observed in fish (e.g. proliferative gill inflammation (PGI), proliferative gill diseases (PGD), microsporidean acssociated gill disease) and to establish areas where more work is required on the descriptions of the diagnostic criteria between (and within) countries.

The Gill Health Initiative meeting was held the following day with 200 delegates attending from both academia and industry. The programme consisted of four sessions: Session One, chaired by Neil Ruane, was an introduction to the new gill health initiative with Hamish Rodger providing an overview of gill pathologies affecting marine salmonid aquaculture and Randolph Richards giving a summary of the histopathology workshop; Session Two, chaired by Hamish Rodger, included updates on gill challenges in Norway, Mediterranean region (including problems in flatfish in Spain), Ireland, Scotland and Tasmania; Session Three, chaired by Gordon Richie, covered control and treatments e.g. methods of tracking and treating AGD in marine cages in USA, selective breeding for resistance to gill disease and diagnostic tests for gill pathogens. The final session, chaired by Duncan Colquhoun, focused on current research being carried out on gill disease problems (e.g. AGD in Tasmania and Scotland; Branchiomonas cysticola and epitheliocystis; immunomodulation for AGD; and pathophysiological effects of gill disease). The workshop concluded with an open discussion on topics relating to knowledge gaps; research needs and the role for the new Gill Health Initiative platform. It was suggested that the steering committee, represented by both industry and research, would be a useful sounding board for proposed research ideas. Also a list of short and longer term research priorities is currently being prepared by the industry, which will help to focus future research applications on the needs of the industry.

The meeting was well received by delegates, and it was suggested that a second Gill Health Initiative meeting should be held in Spring 2014, with a date and venue to be announced. The organisers are very grateful to Pharmaq, BioMar and Aqua Pharma Ltd for their financial support.

If you would like further information about the Gill Health Initiative please contact the co-ordinator Neil Ruane for further details neil.ruane@marine.ie