New case study: unlocking gill health in farmed salmon

A new SAIC-supported project has advanced the sector’s understanding of complex gill disease (CGD) in Atlantic salmon

A project partnership between Scottish Sea Farms, the University of Aberdeen, and BioMar has made important progress in understanding and managing gill disease in farmed Atlantic salmon. The total value of this significant project was close to £860K.

Gill health is vital for fish welfare and can be threatened by changing ocean conditions and disease. This project studied salmon in Scotland and Tasmania, using advanced methods to identify genetic and microbial markers that signal early signs of gill disease.

Researchers found that as gill disease worsens, the diversity of helpful microbes in the gills drops. They developed a set of over 90 genetic markers that might help farmers detect disease earlier and respond more effectively. While special diets alone did not significantly improve gill health, the research showed that a combination of monitoring, targeted interventions, and adapting to environmental changes is key.

The project’s findings have been shared to support better disease surveillance and more sustainable salmon farming. By providing new tools for early detection and management, this research helps the aquaculture sector protect fish health and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.

Read the full case study: Unlocking gill health: biomarkers and management of disease in farmed Atlantic salmon