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UHI Aquaculture Hub - Services and Consultancy

The university is dedicated to supporting the aquaculture industry with a comprehensive programme that focuses on the science, technology, and training required for the sustainable production of seafood products. Our partnerships with businesses across the entire aquaculture supply chain allow us to offer practical solutions and collaborate on long-term projects with producers, processors, and retailers of all sizes.

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Aquaculture Services

We provide a wide range of services tailored to the needs of the aquaculture sector, including:

Bioassays and Analytical Testing: Our laboratories are equipped to conduct various bioassays and analytical tests to ensure the safety and quality of seafood products.
Genetic Trait Selection: We specialize in genetic trait selection for fish species, aiding in the development of breeds that are more robust, productive, and suited to sustainable practices.
Environmental Modelling: Our expertise in environmental modelling helps assess the impact of aquaculture operations on surrounding ecosystems and supports sustainable development.

Aquaculture Consultancy

Additionally, we offer specialized consultancy services to support aquaculture projects, such as:

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Our team conducts thorough EIAs to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and to support the approval process for new projects.
Consent Support for Marine Projects: We provide expert guidance on obtaining consent for various marine projects, including renewable energy installations.
Fish and Marine Mammal Surveys: Our experts carry out detailed surveys to monitor the health and population dynamics of aquatic species.
Underwater Noise Surveys: We help measure and analyze underwater noise to mitigate its impact on marine life.
Seabed Mapping and Water Quality Analysis: Our comprehensive mapping and analysis services contribute to sustainable aquaculture practices.
Vessel and Equipment Hire: We offer a fleet of vessels and a wide range of equipment to support your aquaculture operations.

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Examples of Services and Consultancies relevant to the Aquaculture Sector

Aquaculture Producers

Genetics

Fish Stocks
Trait Selection for Strains
Stock Improvement
Strain Identification
Pedigree Analysis
eDNA

Modelling and Monitoring

Sea lice production and transport
Detecting and forecasting algal blooms
Jellyfish monitoring
Invasive Species monitoring and impact assessment

Analytical and Chemistry - Health and Welfare

Infections - Protein and peptide biomarker identification and quantification
Veterinary Medicine – residue testing in environmental matrices
Microscopy
Sea lice bioassays

Analytical and Chemistry - Environment-Aquaculture Interactions

Veterinary Medicines - residue testing in fish and fish products
Water quality
Discharge Consents – chemical analyses
Discharge Consents – physical analyses
Organic analyses
Analyses of metals
Ground resources mapping

Analytical and Chemistry - Nutrition

Protein Profiling
Lipid Profiling

Aquaculture Science and Innovation

Analytical Testing

Protein and lipid profiling of feed sources
Identification and quantification of proteins and peptide biomarkers of infection
Pigment analysis (astaxanthin)
Residue testing of veterinary medicines in environmental matrices and in fish/fish products
Chemical and physical analyses required to meet discharge consents
Water quality analysis
Organic analysis, metals analysis, ground resources mapping, microscopy