SCOTS researchers are developing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing system that could boost the health of shellfish by helping detect a range of diseases affecting oysters and mussels.
Almost £200,000 in funding has come from the Seafood Innovation Fund and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), to help the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute build a validated system that allows oyster growers to proactively test for Bonamia ostreae – a common, potentially fatal and hard to detect disease.
The 15-month project will also receive support from firms and organisations across the oyster farming and research sectors, as well as from practitioners looking to restore the shellfish to their native habitats.
READ MORE: Glasgow scientists 'find reason many people avoid worst impacts of Covid-19'
This includes the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG), the trade body for commercial shellfish cultivation; the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture; and rewilding organisations such as Blue Marine Foundation.
Once it is present on a site, Bonamia ostreae cannot be eliminated and, historically, it has only been diagnosable after infection has occurred.
Access to such a test will help farmers to make more informed decisions on moving oysters to different locations, helping to prevent its spread.
Dr Tim Bean, from the Roslin Institute, said: “Our project will tip the way we currently diagnose diseases that affect oysters on its head – taking a pre-emptive rather than reactive approach. We are bringing together the right technology with the right people to solve some of the shellfish sector’s biggest health challenges.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here