British aquaculture fund to address disease prevention and animal welfare

The University of Stirling in Scotland has secured 'The Sustainable Aquaculture Partnerships for Innovation fund' with £4.6 million to address specific challenges facing British aquaculture, including disease prevention and animal welfare.

In more detail, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is funding ten projects that will bring together Aquaculture experts at the University of Stirling and industry partners.

Therefore, the industry partner in each initiative will contribute at least 10% cash or in-kind to the full economic cost of the two-year project.

For example, PatoGen and Bakkafrost will support Professor Simon MacKenzie project that aims to improve gill health in Atlantic salmon. MacKenzie is the Head of the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling.

Additionally, Bakkafrost will work along research Dr Adam Brooker and Garrett Brothers to improve fish welfare in salmon aquaculture using on-demand, electric-powered aeration.

On the other hand, associate Professor Dr Monica Betancort will lead a program to investigate the use of camelina omega-3 oil for optimal heart and gill health with the help of BioMar.

Regarding the 'The Sustainable Aquaculture Partnerships for Innovation fund', 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," she expressed.