New multi-species, marine aquaculture trials facility in Argyll, Scotland

Agri-EPI, in conjunction with Otter Ferry Seafish, is establishing a new industry-led R&D facility in Scotland.

The new facility, co-funded by Innovate UK, provides much-needed capacity for developing innovative production technologies for diverse marine aquaculture species, including salmon to near market size. The facility is configured to undertake a wide range of studies, such as evaluating feeds and pharmaceuticals, instrumentation testing and validation of operational welfare indicators.

Technical set-up

The trials facility comprises six 20m³ and twelve 2m³ aquaculture rearing tanks, equipped with programmable lighting, automatic feeding, and oxygen & pH monitoring systems. All tanks are supplied with filtered, UV-disinfected seawater, with waste feed collectors fitted to the outflows. The facility is suitable for rearing diverse species including fin fish and non-fin fish such as cleaner fish, microalgae, shellfish & seaweed.

Sustainable aquaculture

In this joint venture between Otter Ferry Seafish and Agri-EPI, both partners will drive the business development. As operational lead, Otter Ferry Seafish brings in extensive industry experience and technical knowledge; Agri-EPI will lead on the industry engagement and project management.

Otter Ferry Seafish is one of the longest established aquaculture businesses in the UK. Starting out as a pioneering trout and salmon farm more than five decades ago, the company currently farms, halibut, lumpfish and wrasse commercially, and is actively involved in collaborative aquaculture R&D programmes. The new R&D facility is in a strategically important aquaculture producing region: Loch Fyne in Argyll, Scotland.

Approved at the end of last year, the R&D facility is now being built and will be open for business before the end of this summer.

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Enquiries

If you are interested in a research and development project using this facility, or any aspect of our Agri-EPI collaborations, project results and industry impact, please get in touch with us. We’ll be delighted to talk to you:

• Agri-EPI: Kasi McReddie, Business Development Manager Livestock and Aquaculture – kasi.mcreddie@agri-epicentre.com
• Otter Ferry Seafish: Alastair Barge, Managing Director – a.barge@otterferry.com