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| Image credit: Tristan Schmurr on Flickr (CC BY 2.0) |
Innovation and sustainability are the key themes of the conference opening session on Tuesday May 3, featuring presentations from the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council), Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture, and SAIC (Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre).
Alastair Dingwall, formerly Sainsbury's head of seafood, will outline changes over the past two years at the ASC, where he is senior director of Technical Operations. Dingwall, who began his career in salmon farming at Marine Harvest (now Mowi), has long been an advocate of sustainable aquaculture and will discuss the ASC's role in ensuring responsible farming.
The Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University has been at the forefront of the development of aquaculture around the world and the institute's new head, Professor Simon MacKenzie, will talk about research supporting the industry's sustainable growth. Prof MacKenzie will also provide an update on the creation of the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub in Stirling.
Spearheading innovation in the aquaculture sector is SAIC (Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre), and the centre's CEO, Heather Jones, and director of Innovation and Engagement, Sarah Riddle, will address the conference on, respectively, the impact of innovation and the funding structure.
SAIC is also hosting a Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) breakfast, with Teresa Garzon - WiSA chair and manager at fish health consultancy PatoGen - leading the networking event to promote diversity in the workplace.
The conference's opening session is sponsored by DSM and alternative feed pioneer Veramaris, the company's Ian Carr, global business development director and Louise Buttle, Director, will introduce a session on how alternative ingredients – such as marine algal oil – can contribute to the sustainable growth of aquaculture.
From Swansea University, Sara Barrento will showcase the practical tools that can be deployed to improve the welfare of lumpfish, one of the cleaner fish species used as biological pest control on farms.
SPAROS will offer further insights into how fish can be fed more sustainably during their session on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the future of gene editing in aquaculture is the subject of a talk by Alan Tinch, vice-president of Genetics at the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT). As well as looking at the advantages of targeted gene editing in emerging farmed aquatic species, Mr Tinch will explain how genetic science can develop improved strains with better disease resistance.
Also from CAT, director of Fish Health Mark Braceland will consider the benefits and limitations of in-tank fish health and nutrition.
The importance of biosecurity measures and how to implement them will be tackled by Asbjørn Husby, senior engineer at water treatment specialist Xylem, with an overview of recent research on the UV sensitivity of salmon pathogens.
And, in a special session, the Chilean Embassy will present contributions from five of the country's top aquaculture innovators, sharing their technological expertise in the sector, their experience working with domestic and international markets, and their view of the Scottish industry.
The Aquaculture UK exhibition and conference, both free to attend, will be held at the Macdonald Resort in Aviemore, Scotland, from 3-5 May 2022. Show opening times are: Tuesday 3 May 12pm - 5pm; Wednesday 4 May 9am – 5pm; Thursday 5 May 9am – 3pm.
To find out more about Aquaculture UK visit the website, HERE.
The Aquaculturists
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