Funding totaling GBP 5.1 million (USD 6.5 million, EUR 5.7 million) has been granted by the government-funded U.K. Research and Innovation (UKRI) public body to 12 research projects aimed at addressing key challenges facing U.K. aquaculture.
Among the recipients are a project that uses algae to create vaccines designed to keep fish free from disease.
Other projects include studying genetics and breeding patterns, looking at how shellfish can be more sustainable, immunizing trout against kidney disease and examining how robust salmon are and how susceptible to disease they are at sea.
The U.K. Aquaculture Initiative is a joint Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and NERC project to support high-quality, innovative research and address strategic challenges facing U.K. aquaculture. BBSRC is part of UKRI.
This investment includes contributions from co-funders Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and a range of industry partners who will collaborate with academic researchers on the projects.
“Aquaculture is a key food production sector for the [United Kingdom]. These projects will improve our understanding of the challenges facing aquaculture production. Working together with industry partners, U.K. researchers will help to address these challenges and contribute to developing a healthy, safe and sustainable aquaculture system which will deliver societal and economic benefit for the [country],” said Karen Lewis, executive director of innovation and skills at BBSRC.
