Syndel  facilitates a visit by Chilean fish farmers to BC to discuss development of all-female stocks and breeding programs

Syndel International Inc. is committed to the facilitation of technology transfer among its clients, worldwide.  Recently, Syndel hosted two visiting salmon farm production managers from Chile. Dr. Victor Catalan of Prosmolt SA and Mr. Rodger Miranda of Pacific Azul came to BC to lecture on the production of all-female Atlantic salmon and to describe Atlantic salmon breeding programs used in Chile.

The presentations are available on this website.  If you wish to view them, follow the links below.

• Dr Catlan's presentation

• Mr. Miranda's presentation

One area where an economic advantage exists with all-female stocks is in the reduction of mortalities in the general farmed population. In conventional salmon production, male salmon may mature precociously, leading to unrecovered investment as these fish die prematurely. With all-female salmon stocks sexual precocity is eliminated and further reductions in yearling maturation are also realized.

The potential risks associated with escaped fish may be reduced if all the fish are females. This could reduce the possibility of escapees reproducing in the BC environment.

Dr. Catalan and Mr. Miranda detailed the technical difficulties associated with producing the all-female stocks. Their procedures with early life-stage treatments and with handling of the broodstock are proven in commercial settings and were of great interest to the BC industry.

Mr. Miranda has conducted a breeding program involving several strains of Atlantic salmon in Chile. His presentations showed the significant gains achieved using selection of fish based on criteria at multiple stages of production.

The first seminar was given in Campbell River and was co-hosted by the BC Ministry of Fisheries whom sought the technology for use in their own all-female programme. The second seminar was given to the students of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Programme of Malaspina University College Although the primary focus here was to extend recent technological developments to students, this seminar was also attended by scientists and researchers of both the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans and BC Ministry of Fisheries. In summary, the speakers noted that when combined with a focussed family breeding programme, all-female salmon can be a profitable venture.

Dr. Catalan and Mr. Miranda also met privately with producers interested in this technology and were rewarded in kind by exposure to BC salmon farming technology.

Syndel International Inc. distributes aquatic animal health products world-wide. Whenever feasible, Syndel acts as a catalyst to facilitate the transfer of technical information between companies and/or countries for mutual benefit. Syndel works closely with Dr. Catalan and Mr. Miranda in broodstock management in Chile.

In addition to funding provided by Syndel this tour was supported by the Technology Inflow Program of the National Research Council.

For more information please contact Dr. Jim Brackett at Syndel International Inc., 9211 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, BC V6P 6R5 or at brackett@syndel.com or (604) 321-7131.