Developing bio-tracer tools for the aquaculture industry to monitor environmental effects**********

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Currently, one of the most pressing issues facing humankind is where we will obtain high quality, environmentally sustainable sources of protein for a burgeoning population that is predicted to reach 9 billion people within the next 50 years. While cage aquaculture holds great promise in helping to meet these needs, one impediment to the growth of the industry is the uncertainty surrounding potential detrimental effects of the practice on local ecosystem biodiversity, structure and function. Currently, regulatory frameworks address the effects of aquaculture on nutrient levels and invertebrate diversity and abundance. However, research has shown that the greatest public concern surrounding aquaculture operations is the potential effects on local wild fish communities. Interestingly, recent research has shown that while there are localized detrimental effects of cage aquacultural practices on nutrient and invertebrate populations, there also exist potentially beneficial effects on local fish populations. The goal of this NSERC CRD research program is to use recent advances in biotracer technology to develop tools to quantify effects of cage aquaculture on local fish populations in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. By deploying these tools to a number of sites that vary in local environmental conditions and management practices, the results of this program will help to both inform fish farmers as to best practices in cage placement and feeding, as well as to provide a basis for a regulatory framework that incorporates the effects of aquaculture on local fish communities. In pursuing this avenue of research, the Ontario aquaculture industry will position itself to sustainably grow to meet the ever growing needs of a growing and protein demanding population in Ontario, Canada and abroad. ********