A collaborative approach to setting research priorities Presentation to Aquaculture Management Advisory Committees November 2015
Objectives of today s discussion To provide an update on DFO science activities To review and discuss research priorities and how they link to management priorities To review and discuss potential options for developing a more collaborative process on identifying research priorities in future 2
Context/ Updates In March, we presented an overview of DFO Aquaculture Science: who we are, what we do and how we re funded. We also provided an overview of CSAS process Since then, we have: met with Industry re: BCSFA Marine Environmental Research Program (MERP) Research met with ENGOs re: independent science projects and outstanding concerns CSAS processes completed or underway 3
We heard from you That you want to be more involved in setting the Department s research priorities That non-government science should be incorporated into DFO peer-review processes That we should discuss different process options on how to make this happen: Discuss at existing AMAC meetings Set up a working group to discuss in advance of AMAC meetings Establish a separate process outside of the AMACs 4
Priority setting National Aquaculture Regulatory Research Priorities: Fish Pathogen and Pest Treatment Management Approaches Cumulative Effects and Ecosystem Management Strategies Habitat Impacts Interactions with Wild Populations 5
Ongoing Pacific PARR funded research Evaluation of genetic structuring of California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) across Transfer Zones in BC Susceptibility of Sockeye Salmon to viral hemorrhagic septicemia Laboratory exposure studies to assess impacts of sea lice Caligus clemensi infections on juvenile sockeye salmon The effect of sea lice in modulating salmonid susceptibility to viruses Does infection with Piscine Reovirus (PRV) effect how salmon respond to challenge with and vaccination against IHNV? Establishing zones for managing risks related to pathogens and/or pollutants originating on finfish aquaculture facilities in the Broughton Archipelago and Discovery Islands Developing Hard-Bottom Indicators from BC Archived Benthic Video Surveys Associated with Aquaculture Activities. Juvenile Salmon Migration and Health Status Studies in the Discovery Islands Area (Developing a Carrying Capacity Framework for Baynes Sound, B.C.) 6
Ongoing Pacific ACRDP funded research Migration timing and distribution of juvenile salmon in Discovery Islands and Johnstone Strait. Use of hydro-acoustic methods to assess the migration timing and distribution of juvenile salmon in Discovery Islands and Johnstone Strait. The development of an FVCOM hydrodynamic model to support aquaculture on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Effects of smolt size on the intensity of Kudoa thyrsites infections in Atlantic salmon Reduction in ecological footprint by replacement of fish oil by Camelina oil in salmon diets (Microbial impacts on shellfish aquaculture in relationship to ocean acidification) (Microplastics and shellfish aquaculture: presence, extent, potential impacts and mitigation measures) 7
Existing Requests for Science Advice Opportunities to improve monitoring methodologies for hard seabed substrates Review of currently applied sea lice treatment thresholds Methodologies to determine environmental carrying capacity of shellfish aquaculture activities State of knowledge of the pathways of effects of freshwater aquaculture facilities Risk assessment with respect to the transfer of particles (microbes, pathogens, disease) between cultured and wild fish stocks 8
Discussion What are the outstanding research questions that pertain to this years management priorities that need to be answered? What is the best process for us to work more collaboratively on science and research priority setting? 9