May 20, 2004

Major New Grant For UK Aquaculture

The UK aquaculture industry is set to benefit from grants totalling almost £300,000 from the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) Aquaculture Research and Development Fund over the next three years.

The research fund was set up last year by Seafish to encourage the development of competitive and sustainable aquaculture in the UK and to help producers make informed decisions about their businesses.

The call for proposals was approximately five times over-subscribed. Criteria was drawn up to help steer potential bids for funding and the priorities for support were agreed through consultation with The Shellfish Association of Great Britain, the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers and the British Marine Finfish Association.

A total of 32 applications for funding were received. Following assessment by a panel of industry experts, Seafish will provide funding for 6 start up grants for new aquaculture companies and projects; 4 mainstream research projects; 3 bursaries to fund three PhD students in aquaculture research over a three-year period.

The projects cover both finfish and shellfish, and range from the development of new in-tank grading systems for juvenile cod, to impact assessments on removal and relaying of mussel seed resources. The funding awarded will range from £1,500 to £60,000 per project. An additional commitment of £50,000 is still to be allocated through the new Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF).

Seafish Development Director Jon Harman said: "We are delighted with the extremely high standard of applications we received this year for grants from our Aquaculture Development Fund.

"This approach has allowed us to fund 13 research proposals with a total value of £790,000 for a Seafish investment of £280,0000.

"This high standard demonstrates the level of technology, innovation and commitment within the aquaculture sector in the UK and I look forward to working with the individual recipients in the future and helping them see their ideas and projects come to fruition."