The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has granted almost £950,000 to two research projects aiming to boost the numbers and quality of farmed cleaner fish used to control sea lice in commercial salmon farms.
Direct economic impacts are expected to include increase productivity at salmon production sites and reduce reliance on medicines to control lice. Other benefits could include the creation of new rural jobs and address concerns about potential environmental impacts of salmon production.
Jack Perry, chair of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, said: “The SAIC funding for these projects has galvanised other investment worth well over £3.4m. They are outstanding examples of how the industry-researcher collaboration promoted by SAIC can bring benefits not just for the commercial sector, but also for rural communities, the environment and the Scottish economy.”
The first project, submitted by a consortium of Marine Harvest Scotland, Scottish Sea Farms and Biomar, will focus on boosting the numbers and quality of farmed wrasse, used as cleaner fish to control sea lice. The academic partner is the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling.
The second project will assess an innovative method of cleaner fish vaccination to improve efficacy and fish welfare. Submitted by Aqualife, a Scottish-owned leader in fish health and vaccination, with Scottish Sea Farms as the other commercial partner, the academic partner is once again the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling.
Both projects will be formally launched later this year.
