Needs for research in reducing malformations

During 2003-2004, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) conducted a series of small workshops to assess the health of Europe's varied fish-farming sectors. During these gatherings, hatchery managers from across Europe reported high levels of skeletal, backbone and gill malformations in fingerlings – juvenile fish about the size of a human finger. Since malformed fish can't be sold to consumers, and thus have to be discarded, they represent a major source of financial losses for SME hatcheries and growers. Another related problem that came up was that food conversion efficiency had decreased, i.e., production efficiency had declined, because stressed, malformed fish consume more food. The chief conclusion of FEAP's workshops was that a major study was needed to assess these problems and find solutions.

Coordinated by FEAP, the FINEFISH (Reduction of malformations in farmed fish species) project aims to accomplish these objectives, joining ten top European fish hatcheries with scientists specialising in fish development, for a long-range study of the health of young fish. Combining scientific know-how with hands-on experience, FINEFISH partners plan to conduct a series of studies covering the major species in European aquaculture production to examine possible causes of malformation.

Forus areas

Available scientific knowledge and practical experience on the causes of malformation problems led to the identification of the following focus areas:

1. rearing temperatures, with emphasis on early life stages,
2. nutrition, with focus on nutritional quality and impact on bone mineralization of both starter and grower diets, and
3. tank environment, including gas supplementation and hydrodynamics.

The species to be investigated by the project are Atlantic salmon, cod, rainbow trout, sea bass and sea bream, thus covering most of the professional sectors within European fish farming that depend on hatcheries for their livestock.

A series of experimental studies will seek to clarify the impact of the experimental factors, aiming to provide practical guidelines on how to avoid malformations. The experimental fish will be subject to thorough examination, using practical diagnostic procedures and supplementary studies on disease mechanisms, using state-of-the-art methods in morphological as well as molecular sciences.

The project will combine hands-on experience and scientific know-how through interaction between SMEs, the IAG and research scientists, in order to ensure that the project addresses the RTD requirements of the industry. Some of the top hatcheries in European fish farming are partners in this project.

The establishment of a unique bench-marking effort within collaborative hatcheries will be implemented throughout Europe. As a function of progress, additional SMEs will be invited to participate in this effort.

Dissemination of results

The results will be subject of wide dissemination and communication efforts to each element of the European fish-farming sector and the scientific community.

1. The network of the FEAP Associations will disseminate results to their member SMEs while the FEAP Secretariat will develop web-based information services;
2. Attendance at International Conferences and Association meetings by Consortium partners will also be used for the communication of results to scientists and SMEs;
3. A programme will be made for the collective training in Best Management practice of the personnel of European SMEs and selected IAGs.
4. Hard-copy materials for Best Management Practice and E-learning facilities will be developed.

Links to othe projects

The project will maintain and establish links with other scientists working on these issues in order to develop the best overview of the problems addressed by this project.