The Maine Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (MAAHL) recently received a grant of $395,205 from the state’s Marine Research Fund, administered by the Maine Technology Institute. The award will allow the MAAHL to purchase equipment that will greatly increase the lab’s capabilities to serve as a resource to facilitate applied research in marine animal health assessments and investigations in a timely and exemplary manner. Several instruments to be purchased will bring unique capabilities to the MAAHL for serving as a magnet research facility for other marine researchers.
The Marine Research Fund grant will also facilitate the establishment of a state-of-the-art marine samples repository. High capacity -80C freezers and a computerized laboratory information management system will be acquired as the centerpieces for the repository. Currently in Maine (and likely in New England), there is no available repository for long-term storage of marine samples/specimens, with no cryogenic freezer capacity anywhere in the state. Providing long-term storage of, and access to, various marine tissue (and eventually water, sediment, and other environmental) samples and related research data, will allow for comparative studies over time and following the occurrence of environmental impact events, i.e. oil spills, unregulated effluent discharge, contaminant runoff, etc. It will also provide historically supported scientific data, which is critical for informed ecosystem management.
As the laboratory manager, it is Debbie’s responsibility to work with the laboratory director to equip and manage the laboratory, and proactively interact with internal and external collaborators. With a fully equipped lab in place, the MAAHL is well positioned to support marine animal health research, and foster entrepreneurial activity and technology transfer by bringing together top quality investigators from within the University of Maine and externally as well.
The MAAHL is a collaborative service of the University’s Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Cooperative Extension, and the Lobster Institute.
Consulting for the Maine Department of Marine Resources
Debbie is currently serving as a consultant to the Maine Department of Marine Resources as the DMR undertakes the large task of rewriting aquatic animal health regulations to include new and developing cultured marine species, such as cod, haddock, and halibut. Guided by available information concerning disease issues for these species and communicating with all stakeholders, industry, and regulators alike, Debbie will outline and present fish health testing programs with the goal of benefiting aquaculture, as well as natural resources.
Lobster Health Assessment
In fall 2006, Debbie began working with Robert Bayer, director of the Lobster Institute, and students in the Department of Animal & Veterinary Science at the University of Maine in order to perform a lobster fisheries health assessment study. The project entails baseline monitoring for microbial pathogens in ambient and pounded lobster settings. Funding is being sought to increase the project scope to cover microbial and environmental factors. With any study involving health assessment in natural populations, projects need to span years to effectively determine trends in pathogen incidence and prevalence, and in order to monitor the affects of changes in the environment. Debbie is responsible for developing the experimental design, coordinating project activities, and conducting microbial testing. She will also assist in obtaining future funding.
