Spot prawn

SLICE and Spot Prawn Project

Research conducted by Ashley Park for her masters thesis topic on the ecotoxicological affects of salmon aquaculture chemical use on non-target crustaceans.  

In British Columbia numerous environmental concerns have been raised regarding the impacts of the salmon aquaculture industry on wild, commercially important species and their habitat.  Recent reports of parasite-mediated impacts on wild species, specifically sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) and wild juvenile Pacific salmon, is driving novel management actions by industry to address parasite transmission issues posed by salmon farming.  B.C. salmon aquaculture operations use the chemotherapeutant emamectin benzoate (EMB, trade name SLICE) delivered through feed in combination with fallowing to decrease sea lice abundance on production fish.  Avermectin compounds, such as EMB, are effective in removing sea lice as they bind to ion channels in arthropods and disrupt nerve impulse transmission.  Detectable amounts of EMB can accumulate in the surrounding benthic environment as a result of uneaten feed and salmon waste during SLICE treatment periods, thus presenting potential for exposure to populations of proximate non-target crustacean species.  Previous studies have documented that high doses of EMB effects survival of the mysid Mysidopsis bahia and the amphipods Corophium volutator (Mayor et al. 2008) and Eohaustorius estuarius (Kuo et al. 2010), in addition to effects on the molting and reproduction of American lobsters, Homarus americanus (Waddy et al. 2007; 2002; 2010).  Concentration of EMB underneath salmon farms are unlikely to reach levels directly fatal to marine macroorganisms, however the research on sub-lethal effects of EMB on organisms is extremely limited, and the impact of multiple farms treating simultaneously year after year has not been quantified.  Spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros), an economically important non-target crustacean, inhabits benthic areas in proximity to salmon farms.  Currently there is no published data on the exposure level of EMB on spot prawns located near salmon farms or what sub-lethal impact this chemical may have on individuals.

This timely policy-relevant research project seeks to address these questions through field surveys, carefully controlled laboratory experiments focusing on spot prawn, and a population wide survey using catch data logs and observations from commercial spot prawn fishermen.

This research is being supported by NSERC, MITACS, Pacific Prawn Fishing Association, T. Buck Suzuki, Watershed Watch and Intervet Schering-Plough.

Field Survey Objectives

  1. Using spatially structured field collections in the Broughton Archipelago, B.C., to test if proximity to a treating salmon farm alters prawn population size structure relative to unexposed reference populations

Laboratory Experiment Objectives

  1. Determine the impact of increasing SLICE dose on spot prawn survival at ten-day sediment exposures and 60-day exposures.

  2. Assess the effect of increasing SLICE dose on the ability of spot prawns to detect and forage in the presence of a food stimulus.

  3. Determine if spot prawns will avoid consuming SLICE pellets, even after periods of starvation.

Commercial Fishermen Questionnaire and Logbook Survey Objectives

  1. Surveying commercial spot prawn fishermen for knowledge and observations from fishing areas will aid in determining if SLICE use on salmon farms has an effect on proximal spot prawn abundance, health and distribution.

Link to questionnaire (must have access code): http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/prawnfishermen/

If you are a commercial spot prawn fishermen and interested in contributing your logbook catch data to this project please contact Ashley Park at apark (at) uvic.ca. Contributing your logbook data will greatly improve the accuracy of this research and help in the conservation of spot prawn populations in British Columbia.

Posters & Published Papers

Detection of emamectin benzoate (SLICE®) in non-target spot prawn
(Pandalus platyceros) and determination of biological effects– Poster (20.5MB | PDF)

Presentations

Conferences

  • Park, A. and Volpe, J. 2010. Detection of emamectin benzoate (SLICE) in non-target spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) and determination of biological effects (Poster). International Sea Lice Conference May 9-12th, Victoria BC (20MB ||PDF)
  • Park, A. and Volpe, J. 2010. Detection of emamectin benzoate (SLICE) in non-target spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) and determination of biological effects (Oral). Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference March 5-7th, Bamfield BC
  • Park, A. 2009. The effect of emamectin benzoate (SLICETM) application by salmon farms on non-target spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) (Oral). Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems Conference April 17-19th, White Rock BC
  • Park, A. 2009. Environmental impacts of salmon aquaculture prophylactic chemical application (Oral). Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference February 20-22, Bamfield BC

Community/University

  • Park, A. 2010. Life history of the Pacific salmon: From egg to adult. UVic Speakers Bureau, Spencer Middle School November 3rd, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2010. Life history of the Pacific salmon: From egg to adult. UVic Speakers Bureau, Douglas House October 21st, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2010. Life of the salmon. Lets Talk Science Volunteer Program. Doncaster Elementary June 8th, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2010. Dynamics between salmon farms, sea lice and juvenile salmon (Oral). UVic Speakers Bureau, Garden City United Church Men’s Group, February 5th, Victoria BC
  • Park A. 2009. Restoration and conservation of salmon populations. UVic course ES 482, November 8th, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2009. Life history of Pacific salmon: From egg to adult (Oral). UVic Speakers Bureau, Berwick House, November 20th, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2009. Life history of Pacific salmon: From egg to adult (Oral). UVic Speakers Bureau, Victoria Golden Rods and Reels, October 27th, Victoria BC
  • Park, A. 2008. The detection of emamectin benzoate in the near shore environment and its effects on wild crustacean populations (Oral). Eric Hobson tour group, Salmon Coast Field Station, May 20th, Echo Bay BC

 

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