May 21, 2024

US$5.8 million boost for sustainable aquaculture research and innovation

Researchers and their industrial partners working in sustainable aquaculture are set to benefit from a share of a new GBP 4.6 million (US$5.8 million) investment by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK Research and Innovation reported.

The Sustainable Aquaculture Partnerships for Innovation fund will support 10 projects aimed at tackling specific challenges in British aquaculture, such as disease prevention and animal welfare.

Each funded project includes at least one industry partner contributing at least 10% in cash or in-kind to the project's full economic cost.

One of the funded projects is a 24-month consortium focused on addressing the health and welfare impacts of plankton on aquaculture. The project has broad applicability and international potential, particularly benefiting the shellfish aquaculture industry.

Another initiative will explore how regulating light exposure can mitigate infectious disease challenges in salmon farms. Previous research underpinning this project found that juvenile trout exposed to continuous light were less resistant to skin parasites.

A third project involves a large consortium of seaweed producers from the UK, Sweden, and Norway, aiming to enhance red seaweed cultivation. This project will employ novel culturing strategies, hatchery technology, contamination control, microbiome engineering, and predatory microorganisms for disease control.

Dr Lee Beniston, Associate Director of Industry Partnerships and Collaborative R&D at BBSRC, highlighted the potential of these projects. Beniston 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.

Beniston added they are pleased to be investing, alongside businesses, in these exciting research and innovation projects which will catalyse and drive innovation across the aquaculture industry.

-      UK Research and Innovation