Shellfish Mortality Workshop Sponsored by the Centre for Shellfish Research and the B.C. Shellfish Growers Association October 16, 2003

Shellfish Aquaculture Mortality Workshop Identified an industry need - research Unexplained shellfish mortality events negatively effecting industry R&D workshop held- same objectives as today 1. Bring producers and scientists together 2. Develop key research questions 3. Develop collaborative research partnerships Fish bones as a “frame” work for needs assessment Key questions identified – no priorities attached

Workshop format Industry presentations Industry presentations Scientific presentations Scientific presentations Round-tables – industry and scientist working groups Round-tables – industry and scientist working groups (Oysters, mussels, clams, scallops) Fish-bones “Needs analysis” Fish-bones “Needs analysis”

Fish Bones An informal collaborative process to determine the potential causes of mortality An informal collaborative process to determine the potential causes of mortality Split into “interest-based” working groups Split into “interest-based” working groups Nominate a recorder with good hand- writing to draw the fish Nominate a recorder with good hand- writing to draw the fish Student audio recorder Student audio recorder Everyone must contribute Everyone must contribute Time – 1 hour Time – 1 hour Final session – review of each working group Final session – review of each working group

Fish bones Drilling down through the husbandry process Head – identify mortality issue e.g. tray culture oyster mortality Head – identify mortality issue e.g. tray culture oyster mortality Skeleton – identify elements of culture process (e.g. seed sorting, year 1 on-grow, grading, tumbling, year 2 on- grow) Skeleton – identify elements of culture process (e.g. seed sorting, year 1 on-grow, grading, tumbling, year 2 on- grow) Ribs –identify main factors affecting each stage of culture process (e.g. grading seed) Ribs –identify main factors affecting each stage of culture process (e.g. grading seed) Riblets (level 1) – identify factors affecting each of the main factors (hand grading, machine grading) Riblets (level 1) – identify factors affecting each of the main factors (hand grading, machine grading) Riblets (level 2) - identify factors affecting each of the Level 1Riblets (e.g. duration of air exposure during the grading process) Riblets (level 2) - identify factors affecting each of the Level 1Riblets (e.g. duration of air exposure during the grading process) Discuss potential causes of mortality and Circle those factors of highest priority for research Discuss potential causes of mortality and Circle those factors of highest priority for research Formulate a research question (s) Formulate a research question (s)

Seed delivery on-grow winter grading/ tumbling On-grow summer Seed grading Culture induced mortality Nature induced mortality Tray culture Oyster mortality

Culture induced Nature induced Tray culture oyster mortality Seed grading Grading mechanism hand machine experience Water temp Air temp salinity D.O. HAB’s Duration exposure before grading Duration exposure after grading duration Speed predators Seed delivery Inventory control Inventory validation

Year-1 On-grow Culture induced mortality Nature induced mortalitypredators parasites nutrition HAB’s Bio-fouling Density Ploidy Tray-type De-fouling schedule Genetics

Seed delivery on-grow winter grading/ tumbling On-grow summer Culture induced mortality Nature induced mortality Tray culture Oysters mortality Seed grading Grading mechanism hand machine experience Water temp Air temp salinity D.O. Duration exposure before grading Duration exposure after grading duration Research Question What is the effect of of air temperature and exposure interval on survival?

Shellfish Mortality Workshop Oyster Research Questions Effect of tumbling – duration, frequency timing/seasonality effects on survival, growth, shelf-life Effect of tumbling – duration, frequency timing/seasonality effects on survival, growth, shelf-life Effect of putting damaged/dying oysters back into rearing containers Effect of putting damaged/dying oysters back into rearing containers Background water quality monitoring for correlation/coincidence with survival/growth Background water quality monitoring for correlation/coincidence with survival/growth Fouling – management practices for prevention/reduction Fouling – management practices for prevention/reduction BMP’s for seed production, seed quality assessment standards BMP’s for seed production, seed quality assessment standards Genetics/bloodstock management BMP’s (tracking) Genetics/bloodstock management BMP’s (tracking)

Shellfish Mortality Workshop Clam Research Questions (manilas and geoducks) (manilas and geoducks) Genetics – brood stock Genetics – brood stock Health- product from hatchery and monitoring algae Health- product from hatchery and monitoring algae Growth – increase rate Growth – increase rate Mortality – factors, increase survival, husbandry tools Mortality – factors, increase survival, husbandry tools Regulations – management systems Regulations – management systems Optimum seed size – cost to survival ratio Optimum seed size – cost to survival ratio

Shellfish Mortality Workshop – Scallop Research Questions Identify phytoplankton species Identify phytoplankton species Establish phytoplankton monitoring Establish phytoplankton monitoring Culture species and determine physiological response/toxicity at various life stages Culture species and determine physiological response/toxicity at various life stages Size of phytoplankton ingested by various life stages Size of phytoplankton ingested by various life stages Determine conditions (temperature, food concentration) for holding young spat (over winter) Determine conditions (temperature, food concentration) for holding young spat (over winter) Improved environmental monitoring (temperature, salinity, food, current) Improved environmental monitoring (temperature, salinity, food, current)

Shellfish Mortality Workshop Mussel Research Questions Which is the best species for B.C. (i.e. gallos, edulis) and is it site related? Which is the best species for B.C. (i.e. gallos, edulis) and is it site related? Evaluate genetic composition of seed available Evaluate genetic composition of seed available Develop a site characterization and success evaluation (framework) – consider technology evaluation within this assessment Develop a site characterization and success evaluation (framework) – consider technology evaluation within this assessment What is the spawning trigger and can it be prevented? What is the spawning trigger and can it be prevented? Does winter spawning cause mortality? Does winter spawning cause mortality? When is the best time and what is the best size to put mussels into trays? When is the best time and what is the best size to put mussels into trays? Fouling management practices – avoid fouling especially barnacles. Is sinking an option? When, how deep, site variation (temporal, spatial) Fouling management practices – avoid fouling especially barnacles. Is sinking an option? When, how deep, site variation (temporal, spatial)

Conclusion Process worked Process worked Great lists Great lists No priorities No priorities Need to go further (Phase 2) Need to go further (Phase 2) One over-arching issue – the need to conduct environmental and health monitoring at regular intervals One over-arching issue – the need to conduct environmental and health monitoring at regular intervals

Goal To develop and test a workable, effective and repeatable workshop template for R&D priority setting To develop and test a workable, effective and repeatable workshop template for R&D priority setting Apply “process” knowledge gained in Brainstorming workshop and Mortality workshop to this process Apply “process” knowledge gained in Brainstorming workshop and Mortality workshop to this process