Scientists representing the Chinese Academy of Fishery Scientists (CAFS) visited Scotland’s University of Stirling recently for a knowledge sharing visit to the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH).
A branch of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, CAFS is a leader in China’s thriving aquaculture sector, which represents almost two thirds of the world’s aquaculture production and farms more than 800 species.
“China is a major player in the global aquaculture industry, and its growth trajectory is set to continue,” NATIH Acting head Trevor Telfer said of the motivation for the visit.
He explained that one of the goals of the NATIH, which is supported by a mix of grants and public funds, including a GPS 17 million (USD 22.7 million; EUR 19.6 million) investment by the U.K. government, is to promote global cooperation around best practices in aquaculture.
“The visit from the Chinese Academy of Fishery Scientists was a valuable opportunity to explore shared areas of interest, and to highlight how the Institute of Aquaculture’s new National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub can help to support this thriving global marketplace,” Telfer said.
“By working collaboratively to fully utilise the combined strengths of our knowledge and facilities, we can play a critical role in ensuring that the sector is informed by the latest research and development. This will ensure that growth is sustainable and offers the best outcomes for producers, consumers and the environment.”
CAFS Head of Discipline Inspection Group Professor Yu Shuzhou added that CAFS recognizes the value of knowledge sharing across the global aquaculture sector.
“We firmly believe that this collaboration will enable us to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes in both research and innovation,” he said.
“As China’s national academy dedicated to fishery sciences, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences is pleased to note that both sides share extensive common interests,” he added.
