
Prof. Ross Houston
Dr Houston’s research is primarily aimed at producing salmon offspring which will be less likely to catch diseases or infection. This is done by looking at the genes of salmon which have contracted these deficiencies and identifying the difference between them and the genes of those which did not. From this genetic data, you can now see which salmon will be resistant, and which will not.
Fish with resistant genes can be chosen and bred with one another, hopefully removing the likelihood of their offspring contracting diseases. These fish are then hatched into a fresh water hatchery, and moved to a salt water farming location after one year. These fish should be less likely to contract diseases, infections or sea lice, a trait they should pass on to their offspring.
There is no genetic manipulation in this process; it is a selective breeding process which uses genetic research to produce salmon which are more likely to survive in fish farms, and can result in higher quality fillets for consumers.
Dr Houston’s research has had a positive impact in many areas.

Geir Bjarne Myre

Heather Roxborough
