"Transgenic salmon from bench to market: what does it take for success?"

Dr.Garth Fletcher

Professor Emeritus,Ocean Sciences Center
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

Building 003 Auditorium
January 25, 2006
10:30 AM

Dr Garth Fletcher was born in Glasgow Scotland and immigrated to Prince Rupert, northern British Columbia, in the 1950s where he developed his appreciation for nature and an abiding interest in fish and the fishing industry.

He obtained a BSc degree in Zoology from the University of British Columbia, and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara where his primary focus was on physiology. His first professional position was in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the with the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, and started his lifelong career studying many aspects of fish biology.

He later took up a position with Memorial University of Newfoundland where he has conducted basic and applied research on fish antifreeze proteins and transgenic fish for over 25 years. During this time he and colleagues have studied all aspects of these unique proteins; structure, function, molecular biology, physiology, fisheries oceanography and transgenic fish with the overall goal of elucidating their mechanisms of action, functional significance and evolution in cold-temperate and polar teleost fish species.

In collaboration with Dr. Choy Hew, Garth pioneered and patented the development of transgenic salmon with improved freeze resistance and accelerated growth rates. These two scientists were also instrumental in getting the transgenic technology licensed from their respective universities to a start-up biotechnology company, A/F Protein Inc., (now Aqua Bounty Technologies) based in Waltham MA. In addition, they became founding members in the company (~ 1992) and actively participated in company operations to ensure successful transfer of the technology.

Garth helped found and build the Canadian subsidiary A/F Protein Canada Inc (now Aqua Bounty Canada) in 1994, where he served as CEO, President and Chief Scientist until 2005. Garth's primary scientific task within the company was to shepherd the development of transgenic salmon and trout broodstock with superior growth characteristics and assist in providing the information and documentation required by FDA for regulatory review and approval

Garth has now returned to his position as Professor Emeritus at the Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland where he continues to supervise students studying antifreeze proteins and transgenic salmon.