Researchers and their industrial partners working in sustainable aquaculture are set to benefit from a share of a new £4.6 million Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) investment.
The Sustainable Aquaculture Partnerships for Innovation fund will support 10 projects designed to address specific challenges facing British aquaculture, including disease prevention and animal welfare.
All funded projects include at least one partner from industry who will contribute at least 10% cash or in-kind to the full economic cost of the project.
Impact of plankton on aquaculture
Among the funded projects is a 24-month consortium, which will help to address the health and welfare impact of plankton on aquaculture by using:
- novel imaging approaches
- artificial intelligence
- mathematical models
- real-time web-based reporting
The project has applicability to a diverse range of areas and international applications and could benefit the shellfish aquaculture industry.
Elsewhere, researchers will explore how regulating exposure to light can help tackle some of the challenges posed by infectious diseases on salmon farms. Previous research underpinning the project has shown that juvenile trout exposed to continuous light were less resistant to skin parasites.
Boosting red seaweed cultivation
Another project will bring together a large consortium of seaweed producers from around the UK, Sweden, and Norway to research ways to boost red seaweed cultivation.
This will include the use of:
- novel culturing strategies
- hatchery technology
- contamination control, microbiome engineering
- predatory microorganisms for disease control
Supporting food security
Dr Lee Beniston, Associate Director of Industry Partnerships and Collaborative R&D at BBSRC, said:
Advances in aquaculture technology and innovative approaches have enormous potential to provide the UK, and the world, with a more sustainable, diverse, and healthy source of nutrition. This will support ambitions in areas such as food security through to the health of the nation.
We are pleased to be investing, alongside businesses, in these exciting research and innovation projects which will catalyse and drive innovation across the aquaculture industry.
Further information
Funded projects
Accelerating genetic improvement of Atlantic salmon using speed breeding and gene editing technologies
Principal investigator: Diego Robledo, University of Edinburgh
Project partner: Benchmark Holdings PLC
Plankton monitoring and risk assessment to safeguard finfish aquaculture (aqua-plankton)
Principal investigator: Keith Davidson, Scottish Association for Marine Science
Project partners:
- Scottish Sea farms
- Bakkafrost
- Mowi
- Salmon Scotland
The role of photoperiod in immune development and health in salmon aquaculture
Principal investigator: Amy Ellison, Bangor University
Project partners: Mowi and Scottish Sea farms
Integrative microbiome surveillance for effective management of gill health in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Principal investigator: Simon Mackenzie, University of Stirling
Project partners: PatoGen and Bakkafrost
Development of accurate diagnostic methods for Saprolegniosis for salmonid aquaculture
Principal investigator: Pieter van West, University of Aberdeen
Project partners:
- Vertebrate Antibodies Ltd
- Scottish Seafarms
- Cooke Aquaculture Scotland
- Mowi
- Hendrix Genetics
- Bakkafrost Scotland
Revolutionizing sea lice detection for sustainable salmon farming and conservation
Principal investigators: Helena Reinardy, Scottish Association for Marine Science
Project partners: Mowi and Argyll Fisheries Trust
On-demand, electric-powered aeration for improved fish welfare in salmon aquaculture
Principal investigator: Adam Brooker, University of Stirling
Project partners: Bakkafrost and Garrett Brothers
Camelina omega-3 oil for optimal heart and gill health
Principal investigator: Monica Betancor, University of Stirling
Project partner: Biomar
Biofouling prediction in seaweed aquaculture
Principal investigator: Sofie Spatharis, University of Glasgow
Project partners:
- Jurassic Sea Farms Ltd
- Algapelago
- Kilchoan Estate
- Atlantic mariculture
- Cornish Seaweed company
- Millport Field Studies Council
- Seaweed Solutions AS
- KOASTAl AB
- SoftSeaweed
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondhjem Biological station
FABRICS: facilitating algal biotechnology with rhodophyta for intensive culture systems
Principal investigator: Puja Kumari, Scottish Association for Marine Science
Project partners: W.L Gore and Associates and SeaDyes
Top image: Credit: MariusLtu, iStock, Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
