The effect of ultrasonic antifouling control on the growth and microbiota of farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Stephen Knobloch (1) , Joris Philip (2) , Sébastien Ferrari (3, 4) , David Benhaïm (5, 3) , Martine Bertrand (3, 4) , Isabelle Poirier (3, 4)

1 Matis ohf [Reykjavík]
2 Hólar University College
3 INTECHMER - Institut national des sciences et techniques de la mer
4 LUSAC - Laboratoire Universitaire des Sciences Appliquées de Cherbourg
5 Hólar University College

Biofouling is a serious threat to marine renewable energy structures and marine aquaculture operations alike. As an alternative to toxic surface coatings, ultrasonic antifouling control has been proposed as an environmentally friendly means to reduce biofouling. However, the impact of ultrasound on fish farmed in offshore structures or in marine multi-purpose platforms, combining renewable energy production and aquaculture, has not yet been assessed. Here we study the impact of ultrasound on the growth and microbiota of farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) under laboratory conditions. Whereas growth and survival were not reduced by ultrasound exposure, microbiological analysis using plate counts and 16S rRNA gene based metataxonomics showed a perturbation of the gill and skin microbiota, including an increase in putative pathogenic bacteria. This warrants further research into the long-term effects of ultrasonic antifouling control on the health and wellbeing of farmed fish.

Keywords: Antifouling; Ultrasound; Aquaculture; Microbiome; Sea bass; Vibrio

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]

Stephen Knobloch, Joris Philip, Sébastien Ferrari, David Benhaïm, Martine Bertrand, et al.. The effect of ultrasonic antifouling control on the growth and microbiota of farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021, 164, pp.112072. ⟨10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112072⟩. ⟨hal-03677553⟩