Fish health company launches continuous barrier monitoring for aquaculture
QuantiDoc is the winner of the 2016 Innovation Award
Norwegian biotechnology pioneer QuantiDoc recently launched Veribarr™ for Continuous Barrier Monitoring of the mucus on the skin, gills and guts of farmed fish, particularly Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
A fish’s mucus barriers are its first line of defense against pathogens. Evolved over 500 million years, these barriers are sensors capable of detecting problems in fish three to four weeks before they are identified by other methods, the company stated in a release. Veribarr now provides an objective, quantitative measure of barrier strength, giving producers access to an early warning system for changes in fish health.
Monitoring barrier health in a fish population allows for the documentation of the condition of the stock and its welfare.
“Documentation and continuous monitoring of health status is the foundation for good, sustainable decisions in both short and long terms,” said Karin Pittman, founder of QuantiDoc, which won the Innovation Award in 2016, then awarded by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (now the Global Seafood Alliance, publisher of the Advocate). “Our main goal is to shift focus from reactive treatment to proactive problem prevention. This is the most critical step we can take for the welfare of farmed fish today.”
“The value of continuous monitoring lies in detecting potential issues long before they develop into something serious,” Pittman added. “Based on 12 years of industrial projects and research, we can now accurately predict what is about to happen in the facility, assess the biological risk and advise on necessary measures. This marks a transition from reactive disease and problem treatment to a proactive approach that prevents and mitigates problems.”
Follow the Advocate on Twitter @GSA_Advocate
Now that you've reached the end of the article ...
… please consider supporting GSA’s mission to advance responsible seafood practices through education, advocacy and third-party assurances. The Advocate aims to document the evolution of responsible seafood practices and share the expansive knowledge of our vast network of contributors.
By becoming a Global Seafood Alliance member, you’re ensuring that all of the pre-competitive work we do through member benefits, resources and events can continue. Individual membership costs just $50 a year.
Not a GSA member? Join us.
Author
Related Posts
Responsibility
Healthy planet: Recap of Day 3 at GOAL
On the third and final day of the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s annual GOAL conference, held in Guangzhou, China, the theme of “healthy planet” permeated every presentation. Innovation, investment, efficiency, transparency and improvement are the clarion calls for aquaculture.
Health & Welfare
In sea lice fight, salmon farmers phasing out hydrogen peroxide
An over-reliance on medical and chemical controls, along with warming waters, led to a surge in sea lice. With such treatments waning in effectiveness, operators turn to other, safer measures.
Health & Welfare
Salmon scientists collaborate on new global health initiative QASH
A cooperative effort between salmon scientists in Norway, Scotland, Chile and Canada aims to develop a globally applicable tool to help management and certification of salmon farms.
Health & Welfare
Biotech-feed giant partnership to explore bacteriophage potential
Fish health and welfare in aquaculture could soon be assisted by the most abundant organism on the planet, if a new partnership nets its intended result.