A research team made up of Spanish and Canadian academic and government experts is studying invasive tunicate interaction in mussel aquaculture. The study, which is an initiative between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its Spanish counterpart, is working to determine the difference between successful recruitment and proliferation of tunicates between mussel culture in PEI and Galicia, Spain.

“A series of meetings have been held, the latest at the Atlantic Veterinary College in late September,” says Dr. Jeff Davidson. “These meetings focused on identifying key areas of research that are needed to address this discrepancy in tunicate behavior and formulate relevant research projects.”

The research projects are classified under the issue of invasive tunicate interaction with mussel aquaculture focusing on farm management interactions, environmental interactions and biotic interaction factors. Researchers participating on behalf of the Atlantic Veterinary College include Dr. Jeff Davidson, Sarah Clark (PhD candidate), Aaron Ramsay (Research Associate) and adjunct faculty Professor Thomas Landry and Dr. Luc Comeau (DFO Science). The Spanish research team is led by Dr. Angel Guerra and Dr. Angel Gonzalez.