Past Winner
2021 NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships

Dr. Martin Krkosek is an expert in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology who is helping us understand and manage disease dynamics in marine fish, particularly wild and farmed salmon. His research combines population ecology with epidemiology, fisheries and conservation studies to examine how domesticated environments like fish farms can alter disease dynamics and threaten wild and farmed fish, and to examine how to control epidemics. Krkosek’s work demonstrated for the first time that disease outbreaks in fish farms can spread to wild populations and cause losses in fishery yields, but if disease outbreaks are managed, that productive wild and farmed fish can coexist. His research is revealing much about where we should place fish farms, how we should manage them and how we can conserve and protect wild salmon populations from disease outbreaks. Ultimately, Krkosek’s research will help enable Canada to build sustainable fish farm practices and rebuild salmon fisheries that support food supplies for humanity and help protect ocean biodiversity.

In recognition of research contributions in the fields of ecology, epidemiology and evolutionary biology, Dr. Martin Krkosek is awarded a 2021 NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Prize.

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