A new spin-off company from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has received a GBP 1.2 million (USD 1.6 million, EUR 1.5 million) investment from the University, Kelvin Capital, and Scottish Enterprise.
From its laboratory at UWS’s Paisley campus, WellFish Diagnostics has developed a non-lethal method for assessing fish health. Its method enables fish-farmers to continually monitor the health of their fish populations via blood sampling. The new approach has been developed in conjunction with Scotland’s salmon-farming sector.
According to WellFish Diagnostics CEO Brian Quinn, who is also a professor of ecotoxicology within the School of Health and Life Sciences at UWS, the breakthrough presents a “huge opportunity” for the aquaculture sector to “completely transform its practices for monitoring, responding to, and predicting health challenges within the fish population.”
Traditionally, fish-farmers would have to undertake a slower sampling and testing process, often requiring fish to be euthanized prior to sampling, to monitor fish health within their farms, he said.
“We are the first-ever laboratory to offer a non-lethal method of examining fish health commercially. When fish farmers take their samples – which they are shown how to do using our kits and specialist training – they are then sent back to us in the laboratory, where the data is interpreted using an algorithm-based AI model and presented back to farmers within 24 hours via our specialist website portal,” Quinn said. “It means farmers can make data-informed husbandry decisions, spot the early onsets of a potential health challenges, and take proactive measures to reduce the impact – such as choosing to change feeding regimes or introducing early treatment to their fish populations.”
In addition to working with the Scottish salmon sector, WellFish is collaborating with a large trout farm and producers in Ireland and Norway to provide fish-farmers with technology and training to take their own samples, which are then sent to WellFish for testing.
UWS Vice-Principal, Research, Innovation, and Engagement Professor Milan Radosavljevic said WellFish Diagnostics is a “fantastic example of the pioneering research and innovation” taking place at the university.
“I am delighted to see the team secure investment to create a spin-out company, which is testament to the team’s hard work and strong links with industry,” Radosavljevic said. “It is inspiring to see the real-world benefits and impact WellFish Diagnostics will have on a truly global scale on health, welfare and sustainability within the aquaculture sector.”
WellFish Diagnostics’ team is made up of six people, including former Marine Harvest Scotland and Skretting U.K. Managing Director Graeme Dear, and John Allan, the former executive vice-president and CTO of healthcare diagnostics company Quotient.
The company is the result of a research and development project supported by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), the U.K. Seafood Innovation Fund, and Scottish Enterprise’s High-Growth Spinout Program.
Photo courtesy of WellFish Diagnostics
