Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of the innate immune system in fish, providing rapid protection against microbial pathogens. Among these, the liver‐expressed antimicrobial peptides (LEAPs), comprising LEAP‐1 (hepcidin; HAMP) and LEAP‐2, play central roles in host defence and iron regulation. In this study, we present an integrated characterisation of the genomic organisation, tissue expression and dietary resp...

In many aquaculture farms, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are being deployed to perform dangerous and time-consuming repetitive tasks (e.g., fish net-pen visual inspection) on behalf of or in collaboration with farm operators. Mostly, they are remotely operated, and one of the main barriers to deploying them autonomously is the UUV localisation. Specifically, the cost of the localisation sensor suite, sensor reliability i...

Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) farmed in New Zealand are known to develop abnormal spinal curvature late in seawater production. Its cause is presently unknown, but there is evidence to suggest a neuromuscular pathology. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we evaluated the relationship between soft tissue pathology and spinal curvature in farmed Chinook salmon. Regions of interest (ROIs) presenting as patholog...

The significance of the southern Caucasus in understanding Pleistocene hominin expansions is well established. However, the palaeoenvironments in which Palaeolithic occupation of the region took place are presently poorly defined. The Hrazdan river valley, Armenian Highlands, contains a rich Palaeolithic record alongside Middle Pleistocene volcanic, fluvial and lacustrine strata, and thus offer exciting potential for palaeoenv...

Skin lesions are commonly reported in farmed salmonids. Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), introduced from California USA, is the only salmonid species commercially farmed in New Zealand, although trout are cultured for release by Fish and Game New Zealand. There are several farming areas in New Zealand, including Marlborough Sounds, Canterbury and Stewart Island. While the industry has not been affected by any of th...

Vertebral fusions are an established economic concern in farmed Atlantic salmon, but have not been studied in detail in farmed Chinook salmon. Two radiographic studies of vertebral fusions were performed in farmed Chinook salmon. Sixteen of 1,301 (1.2%) smolt and 201 of 2,636 (7.6%) harvest fish had fusions. There were no significant differences in the number of fused vertebrae/fusion in smolt compared with harvest fish. Secon...

A total of 777 fish from three growing regions of New Zealand Chinook salmon farms comprising of five sites were tested. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the distribution of New Zealand rickettsia‐like organism and Tenacibaculum maritimum . Genetic information from these bacteria were then compared with strains reported worldwide. Using this information, suggested associations of pathogens with clinically affected fish w...

Spinal abnormalities are common in farmed Chinook Salmon in New Zealand. We report spinal abnormalities in adult Chinook salmon which were predominantly hatchery reared and released as smolts and which we term free‐living. We compare these to rates seen in farmed New Zealand salmon. 101 free‐living adult salmon were radiographically assessed for spinal curvatures (lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis; LKS) and other vertebral abnorma...

The late Middle Pleistocene sites in the Ebbsfleet Valley, Kent, UK, have yielded archaeological assemblages critical to understanding the early Middle Palaeolithic of northwestern Europe. Despite a long history of research, the nature and context of these assemblages are still poorly understood. This paper clarifies the stratigraphic, environmental and archaeological records at Ebbsfleet. These reflect a cold–warm–cold sequen...

A trained taste‐testing panel was used to assess taste differences in cultured New Zealand abalone ( Haliotis iris Martyn 1784) fed two different artificial diets (Coast Biologicals and Makara™). The trained taste‐testing panel could not detect any difference in taste between abalone grown on the two artificial diets. Any difference that might have been produced by the artificial diets could have been masked by abalone consumi...