Integration of genomic resources into an Arctic charr broodstock program

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Canada, with its abundance of pristine freshwater and marine resources, has the capacity to become a major international producer of aquaculture species. Social and environmental concerns with traditional marine, open net pen aquaculture, make the production of freshwater fish species that can be cultured at inland facilities more desirable. Arctic charr, a cold water salmonid, is an especially attractive aquaculture species as it can be bred and grown at resource friendly, inland freshwater tank farms throughout its lifecycle. Arctic charr has recently been added to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Best Choice list for sustainable seafood. Icy Waters Ltd., an inland freshwater aquaculture facility based in the Yukon, specializes in the production of Arctic charr eggs for sale to grow-out operations around the world. Arctic charr thrive at temperatures between -1°C and 15°C, and many freshwater tank farms that are interested in Arctic charr production are set up in locations that experience temperatures above this range in summer months. This is a concern for Icy Waters and their customers in the face of climate change. Indeed, record water temperatures in the Yukon over the past decade have resulted in significant losses of fish at the Icy Waters facility. The primary goal of this project is to produce a higher temperature tolerant Arctic charr broodstock. Molecular genetic markers associated with increased thermal tolerance will be identified, and will be integrated into the existing traditional breeding program. This will enable the production of a line of Arctic charr which is more thermo-tolerant and thus able to survive spikes in temperature beyond the normal range for Arctic charr. Thermo-tolerant Arctic charr will also experience overall better health and will undergo less stress in increasingly unpredictable summer climates, both in the Yukon and at freshwater tank farms throughout the world. This will expand Arctic charr culture and enable the growth of Icy Waters, an environmentally sustainable, Yukon-based Canadian company, thereby increasing training and employment opportunities in Canada's north and promoting the development of a "Green" Canadian company.