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Ocean temperatures are increasing and fish are especially susceptible to this warming as they are cold-blooded, and their body temperature conforms to the temperature of their environment. So warmer waters increase a fish’s internal temperature, causing stress to their biological systems and weakening their immune system. Conversely, natural bacteria in the marine environment can grow faster at warmer temperatures and can become more abundant and sometimes more virulent. This combination of stressed fish and more dangerous bacteria is expected to cause more frequent disease outbreaks in both wild and farmed fish.

To investigate this problem, a team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Genome Sciences Centre will expose sablefish, a highly prized food fish to Aeromonas salmonicida, a disease inducing bacteria. By comparing gene and protein profiles of bacteria grown at average versus extreme ocean temperatures, the team will study whether the bacteria benefits from the warmer temperature, how the sablefish immune response to the bacteria changes dependent upon the water temperature and if the bacterial changes in warmer water causes it to become more dangerous to fish.

This project will shine a light on the factors responsible for causing A. salmonicida induced disease in sablefish. Obtaining this information is a critical first step towards developing effective disease prevention strategies in this important fishery. Given the consumer demand and high market value, both First Nations and private companies are looking to expand the sablefish aquaculture industry in British Columbia. This research will be instrumental to the sustainability and economic security of this industry and will provide valuable insights into the consequences of bacterial diseases from rising ocean temperatures.