Collaborators in the AQUAeD project met for a workshop at the lab at NMBU in Ås. Photo: Akvaplan-Niva

New tool for environmental monitoring of salmon farming

In the AQUAeD project, a new tool for environmental monitoring will be developed that can contribute to a more sustainable aquaculture industry. The project is a collaboration between NMBU, the Institute of Marine Research, Akvaplan-niva, STIM and Aqua-Kompetanse AS.

"The aim of the workshop was to extract and analyze the genetic material of bacteria that live in the sediment on the seabed. In the analyses, we take a closer look at a specific gene that is found in the genetic material of all bacteria, and which can tell us which bacteria we have in the sediment samples", says Inga Leena Angell in a press release. 

She is senior engineer in the microbiology group at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science.

Analyzed samples from the Oslofjord

The researchers examined sediment samples from a depth of 30 meters near Håøya in the Oslo Fjord.

"The analyzes showed a high proportion of the bacterial genus Sulfurovum, a genus which we have previously shown to be associated with poor environmental conditions", says project leader and NMBU professor Knut Rudi.

The genetic material was extracted using a technique developed at NMBU. Because heavy and advanced laboratory equipment is not required, this technique can be used e.g. on board a boat. The remaining steps, which include copying and reading the specific gene, are done on small, mobile instruments that can be used anywhere as long as there is access to electricity.

"A big advantage of this technique is that we get the knowledge straight away, and that it can be carried out out in the field", says Rudi.

Need for new tools

"There is a strong need for environmental monitoring that also includes bacteria", says Rudi.

Today, the environmental impact of the aquaculture industry is monitored by manually counting and identifying benthic animals. However, this work requires special expertise and takes a long time to complete. Bacteria, which are found everywhere, have also been shown to be good indicators of environmental impact. By including these in environmental surveys, in addition to benthic analyses, it will be possible to get an even bigger picture of the environmental status. In addition, the use of analyzes of genetic material will contribute to faster answers.

Nanopore sequencing requires little space and equipment (Photo: Akvaplan-niva). 

Joint effort

"It is very positive to gather the collaboration partners in the project in the laboratory here at NMBU. It is our combined knowledge and expertise that will ensure good innovation and development of the new tools for environmental monitoring", says Rudi.

In the project, results from traditional analyzes will first be compared with new, DNA-based methods. A database of DNA data will then be established that can be used to describe the state of the environment directly. In this way, new DNA knowledge can complement knowledge that has been built up over several decades using traditional analyses.

A Substrate-independent benthic sampler (SIBS). (Photo: Akvaplan-niva)

In order to ensure that the technology and knowledge will benefit the entire industry, Akvaplan-Niva wants to present their data to Standard Norway with the aim of getting the DNA-based method in as a supplement to the current method for environmental monitoring at the end of the project.

"Our goal is not to replace the traditional analyses, but to ensure a transition to also using more modern analysis tools, which DNA analysis represents", says Rudi.

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