Cultivated oysters as sentinels of water quality: an autonomous alert system

21-G-02

Description

Tracadie Bay is a lagoon-type estuarine system in eastern New Brunswick (NB). In August 2016, a large number of farmed oysters (Crassostrea virginica) died in this area. During this time, provincial biologists also noticed low oxygen levels, and others reported discolored water and the smell of rotten eggs. These observations are signs of anoxia (when an aquatic environment lacks oxygen). A previous project revealed that:

• low water circulation in the bay likely caused the anoxia
• anaerobic bacteria speed up C. virginica mortality under anoxia

This project will look at using oysters as an early warning system for anoxia in the bay. These oysters will be equipped with special sensors. The sensors will send information on the oysters' behaviours to an internet server. The server can then send out alerts when there is high stress in the oysters. This would allow growers to transfer stocks to another environment if needed. This project will also explore whether less oysters will die if they are moved to better conditions during a stress event.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2021 to 2024

Principal Investigator(s)

Luc Comeau, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Gulf Region

Email: luc.comeau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Team Member(s)

• Rémy Haché, Field Biologist, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAAF)
• José Babarro, Research Scientist, Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
• Miguel Gilcoto, Research Scientist, Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
• Ramón Filgueira, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University
• Laura Steeves, PhD Candidate, Dalhousie University
• André Nadeau, Field technician, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Gulf Region
• Michael Coffin, Research Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Gulf Region
• Jeff C. Clements, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Gulf Region
• Luke Poirier, Research Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Gulf Region

Collaborator(s)

• Léon Lanteigne, Owner, L2 - Recherche et Production Aquacole Incorporated (L2-RPA Inc.)