Project targets parasite control in farmed fish
The European Commission has granted funding to a project aiming to improve the understanding of fish-parasite interactions.
The venture, backed by Horizon 2020, also seeks to improve the productivity, economic performance and image of European aquaculture through improved biosecurity, health and welfare of farmed fish.
The ‘Advanced Tools and Research Strategies for Parasite Control in European farmed fish’, or ParaFishControl, project is receiving €7.8m in EU funding and will run for five years until 2020. The research and innovation action is being co-ordinated by the Spanish National Research Council and has a total budget of €8.1m.
Speaking about the venture, project co-ordinator Dr Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla said: “This project is very timely, as parasitic diseases constitute a key constraint for sustainable finfish aquaculture in Europe. Parasites and related infections are increasingly responsible for severe damages in farmed fish, which significantly reduces aquaculture production and economy.”
ParaFishControl will aim to develop innovative solutions and tools to prevent, control and mitigate harmful parasites that affect the main fish species farmed in Europe. Fish set to be targeted are Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, common carp, turbot, European sea bass and gilthead sea bream.
The venture will also seek to increase knowledge of parasite biology, including their lifecycle and interactions with fish hosts of commercial interest. The project intends to develop prophylactic measures, diagnostic tools and methods to detect parasites in fish and the environment as well as aim to improve current treatments in addition to developing new products and advanced strategies for parasite treatments.
An innovative food safety programme is expected to be established to decrease and avoid risks of transfer of parasites from farmed fish to humans, along with strengthening the competitiveness and public image of European aquaculture. The outcomes of the project are expected to benefit the whole aquaculture chain, from fish farmers to the consumer.
