Salmon farming on Canada’s West Coast sits at a critical crossroads. Polarized debates and rigid timelines risk oversimplifying an issue that touches ecosystems, Indigenous governance, coastal economies, and food security. Grounded in the findings of the Cohen Commission, this article explores why science, collaboration, and evidence-based policy must guide the path forward, not absolutes.

Great research doesn’t just happen in the lab, it lives in the details written down along the way. From reproducibility and transparency to compliance and continuity, documentation is what turns observations into defensible, trustworthy results. Learn why “no doc, didn’t happen” isn’t just a saying, but a foundation for credible research and successful client outcomes.

When fish health declines, speed matters, but so does precision. Acting without evidence can drive unnecessary treatments, added costs, and avoidable stress on stocks. Diagnostics replace assumptions with data, helping farms identify real risks early, intervene more precisely, and avoid doing more than what’s needed. Learn how integrating diagnostics into routine health monitoring supports smarter, more sustainable decision-making on farm.

Sea lice are often discussed as a single global challenge, but biology, environment, and production systems vary widely by region. Differences in species, life cycles, and treatment response mean data generated in one geography doesn’t always translate elsewhere.

We explore why region-specific research is essential for developing reliable, scalable solutions and how local validation builds confidence with producers and regulators alike. We also share how expanding our sea lice capabilities supports a global industry facing local challenges.

Innovation may start on the bench, but commercialization depends on data that regulators can trust. From trial design and statistical validity to data integrity and objective execution, regulatory reviewers expect CRO-generated studies to meet a high and consistent standard.

We outline the key elements regulators look for and share practical insights drawn from supporting submissions across species, systems, and study phases. If you’re planning studies to support regulatory approval or commercial claims, aligning early can help avoid delays and keep your product on track to market.

Common mistakes in aquaculture trials can lead to unusable data and costly delays. Learn how to avoid them with better design, rigor, and planning.

In aquaculture innovation, data quality determines confidence. Onda’s cohabitation models replicate the natural infection process, producing results that reflect how diseases truly behave on the farm, not just in a lab. By studying transmission between Trojans and Cohabitants under realistic conditions, we generate insights that help clients predict field performance, refine dosing, and strengthen regulatory submissions.

Because our studies capture natural variability and environmental influences, they deliver the most meaningful measure of efficacy—how your product performs in the real world.

Innovation in aquatic health is vital, but it’s also risky. Every new vaccine or therapeutic represents years of research and significant financial investment, yet not every product performs as expected once it leaves the lab. That’s where Onda’s preclinical models make the difference.

By replicating real-world production conditions under controlled settings, Onda helps clients identify the most promising candidates before reaching costly regulatory or market stages. Our studies deliver the clarity needed to make confident, data-driven decisions reducing uncertainty, managing risk, and accelerating time to market.

From horror movie to hatchery—there’s a real “Thing” creeping through aquaculture systems, and it’s not fiction. Tenacibaculum, a bacterial menace, spreads silently and strikes hard, causing devastating losses for producers around the world. But this Halloween, there’s good news: science is fighting back.

Onda’s expanded Tenacibaculum platform—now including T. maritimum, T. dicentrarchi, and T. finnmarkense—gives innovators the tools to test vaccines, feeds, and treatments before they hit the water.

Over 25,000 visitors from around the world—and three determined Onda team members—made their way to Trondheim for the world’s largest aquaculture technology exhibition. From a royal opening and groundbreaking innovations to multi-million-dollar project announcements, Aqua Nor 2025 was a milestone event for the industry.

You’ve seen the spores take over the world in The Last of Us—but what if we told you there’s a real-life fungal enemy already wreaking havoc in fish farms? While humans are safe from apocalyptic cordyceps, aquaculture is fighting a losing battle against Saprolegnia, a deadly water mold responsible for massive losses. Forget fiction—this fungal threat is all too real, and the industry needs science-driven solutions now more than ever.

Want to learn how Canada’s original aquaculture stewards are shaping the industry’s future? From ancient clam gardens to boardroom leadership in billion-dollar seafood ventures, Indigenous communities across Canada are leading a powerful resurgence grounded in sustainability, sovereignty, and science. Read the full article to explore how First Nations on both coasts are blending traditional knowledge with cutting-edge innovation—redefining what responsible aquaculture looks like in the 21st century.

In the fast-evolving world of aquaculture, fish health is central to both operational success and long-term sustainability. Diseases, like Cardiomyopathy Syndrome (CMS), that are years away from developing market-ready vaccines, must rely solely on careful biosecurity and surveillance practices to reduce the impact of disease through early detection.

There are funding opportunities available both domestically and internationally, but finding the right one can be a challenge, and the application process for an international fund could require outside help. There are many opportunities to move your research forward with government grants that are available to those working in the industry and Onda is here to assist in any way we can to support your research, including assisting in finding and writing the grants. 

Animal testing is a part of research that has not been outsourced to AI or technology and does not present with an alternative method. Animal testing has contributed significantly to advances in medicine, agriculture & aquaculture, and environmental sciences. At this point in time, animal testing is still a necessary part of research, but strides are being made to move more testing to benchtop and other viable options. However, until new options are developed, it will remain an important part of ensuring safety and efficacy for various treatment options and come with an undeniable ethical obligation: ensuring the welfare of animals involved in research.

Sustainable aquaculture means not just farming fish responsibly but also feeding them responsibly — and reducing fishmeal is a major part of that. Bring on microalgae!

Onda is committed to sustainability in aquaculture—through innovative research, resource-efficient systems, and ethical practices, we’re advancing responsible solutions that protect ocean health and support a resilient industry.

Onda Contract Research and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies now offer full-length 16S sequencing for precise microbiome analysis—unlock deeper insights into aquaculture health, pathogen detection, and biofilter optimization with expert guidance.