Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, United Kingdom-based agriculture accreditation program Lantra has launched its first aquaculture e-learning course with a new program focused on treating harmful algae blooms (HABs).
The company’s most recent training program, which began on 2 June, offers aquaculture stakeholders standardized operating procedures for approaching HABs caused by rising water temperatures, which can lead to significant health and welfare issues for farmed fish.
"The adoption of standard operating procedures will mean that the entire aquaculture sector can move towards uniform data collection and reporting regarding HABs," Lantra Head of Aquaculture Jillian Couto-Phoenix said in a statement. “Improved access to information can then inform early warning systems and treatment options, helping farmers to adapt to a changing climate and ultimately improve the outcomes for their fish."
Couto-Phoenix said the program has already seen a great deal of interest from global companies, trout producers, and Scottish salmon farms. In an earlier release, the company said it expected 1,800 professionals and students to take the course.
“Our ambition is to give people the knowledge and confidence in reporting algal blooms, as well as having support with the necessary calculations for identifying outbreaks," she added.
Funded by the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) UK Seafood Fund, the course was developed with input from Salmon Scotland, Mowi, Scottish Sea Farms, Loch Duart, Bakkafrost, SAMS Enterprise, and the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
“Harmful algal blooms pose a significant challenge to fish health and welfare," RSPCA Senior Scientist Sean Black said in a statement. “Proactive monitoring of the environment for harmful algae is crucial in protecting farmed fish, and having a dedicated training course and standard operating procedures will improve monitoring and reporting. The format and content of the course should enable farmers all over the country to benefit, which is a positive for both farmer and fish."
