Ellsworth American reports Bricknell spoke at Whole Oceans meeting

The Ellsworth American covered a Feb. 5 meeting of Portland-based aquaculture company Whole Oceans at the Bucksport Performing Arts Center. The meeting focused on explaining the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) the company plans to use to farm Atlantic salmon. Ian Bricknell, a professor in the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine, attended the meeting and spoke to the audience, The Ellsworth American reported. Biosecurity is critical for any aquaculture operation, especially an RAS facility, Bricknell said. Atlantic salmon can be exposed to naturally occurring pathogens and sea lice in ocean fish pens, an issue that can be avoided in an RAS where water is filtered and monitored, the article states. And the system also will prevent pathogens from escaping into the natural environment. “The ocean is full of disease” affecting fish, said Bricknell. “On land, there is much more control and much less disease.”