New Aquaculture Facilities Opened at Sparsholt College

The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) is supporting the development of the aquaculture industry in England by investing in education and training facilities for its future workforce. An EFF grant of over £240,000 was awarded to the college to part fund the project.

Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine and Robert Hughes from aquaculture feeds producer Skretting, who is also an ambassador and campaigner for the UK Trout industry, unveiled the plaque on Thursday 31 January 2013. During the opening the college also hosted the national launch of the Fish Husbandry and Fishery Management Apprenticeship, a brand new qualification.

The new centre will be used primarily as an educational facility but also has significant potential as a research facility as well as supporting some local fisheries’ re-stocking programmes. The new building incorporates a small aquaculture unit to produce table fish which will increase the students’ commercial and entrepreneurial experience and there is the potential to provide training for the aquaculture industry.

Caroline James, Learning Manager for Fishery Studies, said: “We see this facility as an opportunity to educate and provide relevant employability skills as well as developing our research and trials basis. Progression into either employment or continuing in education will be enhanced for our students and we are proud that we provide education and training for all levels.

“The award from EFF towards the cost of the new Salmonid Rearing and Trials Centre has enabled the college to build a state of the art facility which includes a range of teaching and training resources alongside the research unit. Students and our industry partners are already making good use of the centre and without the financial support we received from the EFF the centre is likely to have been much more limited in the opportunities it is able to offer. The application process was quite straightforward and we received plenty of support when we had any queries, other businesses in the aquaculture industry should consider applying for this funding.”

Through the EFF funding may be available towards aquaculture products for human consumption, particularly species which are not widely produced and those for which demand is currently exceeding supply. The grants may also support projects benefitting groups within the industry, such as towards creating producer organisations and improving management of fishing areas.

For more information on applying for EFF grants visit: www.marinemanagement.org.uk/fisheries/funding/eff.htm