Research summary
By 2030, more fish, shellfish and aquatic plants will be produced through aquaculture (on "farms") than in the wild. Sustainable aquaculture depends on operators’ abilities to provide minimal essential nutrients and produce high-quality, nutritious seafood. But nutritious feed is one of the greatest costs involved in aquaculture.
As Canada Research Chair in Aquaculture Nutrition, Dr. Stefanie Colombo is discovering innovative ways to improve nutrition in aquaculture and support the production of healthier, sustainably farmed seafood. She and her research team are exploring new nutrient sources and functional feeds, trying to understand fatty acid biosynthesis in fish, and determining the impact of climate change on feeds and fish metabolism. Their work will lead to innovations in nutrition that can improve the resiliency of aquaculture in the face of a changing and challenging aquatic environment.