The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has strengthened its Independent Scientific Panel (SISP) with five industry experts recruited to the board, including doctors Lydia Brown MBE, Hans Bjelland, Heather Moore, Clive Talbot and Hamish Rodger.
SISP is comprised of nine members and is tasked with guiding SAIC’s work by reviewing project proposals and reports, supporting research partnerships and providing scientific support and guidance to the innovation center.
“We’re proud to build a network that has the potential to boost growth and development, helping the Scottish aquaculture industry to thrive," SISP Chair Professor Julie Fitzpatrick said if the new appointments. "SAIC plays an important role in supporting innovation across the sector and our talented panel is well placed to support the collaborative projects aimed at tackling some of the industry’s main challenges.”
Brown, a pharmacology specialist, is heavily involved with drug development for aquatic species and developed the E.U.’s first licensed viral vaccine for salmon.
Since 2008, Bjelland has worked at Trondheim, Norway-headquartered SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations. He currently specializes in innovation within aquaculture operations.
Moore is a senior scientific officer for the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), an organization that carries out high technology R&D, statutory, analytical and diagnostic testing and consultancy work for government and commercial companies globally. She also provides scientific advice to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). In her role with the European Commission’s Expert Group for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, she is responsible for shellfish aquaculture management.
Talbot is an experienced industry consultant who has previously worked with multinational seafood producers, including Mowi.
A founding member of the Fish Vet Group, Rodger is an aquatic animal veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience researching industry challenges such as gill disease, sea lice control and the effects of climate change. He also launched the European College of Aquatic Animal Health in 2016.
“We are working hard to ensure the sustainable growth across the aquaculture sector – including one of Scotland’s most important food exports,” SAIC Chairman David Gregory said. “With industry-renowned experts from a wide range of backgrounds strengthening our scientific panel, SAIC has access to the skills and knowledge to support growth in the sector. We’re continuing to harness the benefits of collaboration, encouraging producers and academia to work together on projects which have the potential to influence big changes in the sector – with valuable input from our scientific panel.”
Photo courtesy of SAIC
