Director's Blog
Monday 23rd August 2010
Minister for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham MSP visited the NAFC Marine Centre on the 18th August as part of her fact finding tour of Shetland. Along with myself she met with our Head of Marine Science and Technology, Dr Martin Robinson, and members of the aquaculture development team to find out more about current aquaculture activities.
The Centre’s Aquaculture Development Section works with industry to optimise production through efficiency through projects and training that incorporate product quality, fish welfare and the environment. A broad range of R&D projects are currently being delivered by the Marine Science Department, which receives funding from numerous local, national and EU sources.
The Minister heard about the current KTP applied research project, a partnership with Shetland Aquaculture that is investigating and developing the practical aspects of the use of Ballan wrasse as cleaner fish for the biological control of sea lice on farmed salmon – sea lice being one of the major concerns currently faced by the aquaculture industry. The Centre is monitoring sea lice abundance on actual commercial salmon housed with ‘cleaner fish’ within a sea-based trials site in Shetland. All results will be fed back to industry via training workshops. KTP Associate Noelia Rodriguez, Manager Kenny Gifford and Dr. Clive Talbot, the principle academic for the project, were on hand to update the Minister on progress.
Management and husbandry protocols for the fish, as well as ensuring their welfare, are of utmost importance and the Minister also took a tour around the on-site marine hatchery, where Ballan wrasse broodstock is being housed, to see first hand how the Broodstock team operates.
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: “The work that the NAFC Marine Centre is doing to protect Scotland’s aquaculture is an example of how the understanding of sea-lice and disease control is growing and strengthening.
“Aquaculture counts for almost 40 per cent of Scotland’s total food exports and has aspirations to grow by £150 million and create up to 400 jobs in the next five years.
“As a result, we have an aquaculture sector in Scotland we should be greatly proud of and I am heartened by the action the industry is taking to protect the future of the sector.”
Dr Martin Robinson added: “We seek to design, develop and deliver work programmes that provide answers to the gaps in current knowledge, technology or best practice. Our Aquaculture Development staff work hard to support industry growth and innovation in their field and all projects are geared towards the sustainability of aquaculture in Shetland and wider Scotland.”