Global salmon farming company Cermaq and Benchmark Animal Health, a leading aquaculture biotechnology company, have received NOK 4.2 million (US$ 647,854) to develop new vaccines against salmon diseases caused by the Tenacibaculum bacteria. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway, a Norwegian government agency.
The new project will be headed by Cermaq scientists Sverre Småge, Cecilie Isachsen Lie, and Helene Velle Mayer. Their work will focus on testing the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, isolating the bacterium for sequence analysis, evaluating welfare, and observing side effects. Cermaq’s researchers have previously made extensive headway in studying the Tenacibaculum, having previously isolated the bacterium from various fish populations.
Tenacibaculum results in severe economic losses to the salmon industry worldwide through stock mortality, lower harvest quality, and antibiotic costs. In 2020, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute reported that Tenacibaculosis was considered the fifth most important cause of mortality in salmon and third for reducing salmon welfare.
The Tenacibaculum bacterium causes salmon skin infections mouthrot and Tenacibaculosis. Currently, these are treated using antibiotics with variable results. Among the problems with antibiotic use is that bacteria inevitably develop resistance to the drugs. A preventative vaccine would be a welcome boost for salmon producers by reducing antibiotic use and mortality.
Sarah Barker, Senior Research Scientist at Benchmark Animal Health, said: “The research team at Benchmark Animal Health are delighted to receive this recognition from the Research Council of Norway. We are looking forward to working on this important project in collaboration with our partner Cermaq Group AS, supporting our mission to achieve the highest standards of fish welfare and support the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry.”
Benchmark Animal Health, founded in 2000, has a revenue of US$146 million. It operates in Norway, UK, Chile, and the USA to develop health, nutrition, and genetic technologies for the aquaculture industry. Cermaq is a global salmon producer that made US$104 million in revenue in 2020.
