Services

FMSP (Finfish Marine Station of Plouzané) is located on the campus of Plouzané in the Bay of Brest. FMSP is dedicated to multi-stress (temperature, pH, oxygen, contaminants, pathogens) and transgenerational experiments from early stages (gametes, larvae and post-larvae) to adulthood of finfish. Temperature, pH, oxygen and food are controlled under different stress conditions like organic pollutants, plastics or pathogens. FMSP uses sea bass and stickleback as model species, but experiments may also include seabream, sole, turbot or flounder (to be discussed). The experimental area is 800 m2 corresponding to 10 experimental rooms (each housing 40L, 80L, 150L, 500L, 1000L, 3000L tanks) under flow-through or recirculating conditions, 1 live feed production room in small volumes, 4 wet laboratories, 6 dry laboratories, including one dedicated to bacteriological monitoring, feed manufacturing facility, numerous independent replicas, randomization of treatments, high statistical power. FMSP is fully equipped with microscopy and image analysis devices, a recording of larval behaviour (Ethovision), and an ecophysiological measurement system for oxygen consumption rates.

FMSP offers the possibility to conduct short- and long-term multigenerational experiments under multistress and realistic conditions for all life stages.

Bioresources available

The main species on site are stickleback, sea bass, and sea bream from eggs to juveniles and adult fish. Rotifers, phytoplankton and artemias are also reared on site. Food is also formulated locally. FMSP produces pathogen-free oysters using a standardised procedure twice a year. These oysters are distributed for experimental purposes to various research institutions.

Support offered

The TA user will be supported by the local IFREMER staff, and a local research scientist will be appointed as first contact person. The supporting staff will advise the TA users about the IFREMER regulations, the experimental set-up, zootechnical procedures and maintenance in compliance with animal experimentation laws and regulations, device utilisation and sample storage.

In addition, the administrative staff will assist in finding accommodation and transportation. The TA user will get access to a computer with internet access, scientific databases and local laboratories.

Modality of access

Modality of access cost is combined costs. Preference will be given for TA users to be present on site during the experiments.

For longer experiments, the TA users should be present at the beginning and the end of the project for a minimum of 5 consecutive days. The TA user is responsible for the daily running of the experiment, coordination of the sampling and data analyses, in close relationship with local technical staff.

Units of access include technical assistance with tasks that cannot be performed by the TA user. For FMSP, only larvae/juvenile rooms are open to TA.