Preparations Hotting Up for AquacultureUK 2012

The exhibition features manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world displaying new products and developments in aquaculture technology, fish feed, fish health, quality assurance, passive grading, fish farm equipment, storage solutions, processing and packaging. Environmental protection, distribution, consultancy, insurance, training and funding, are also catered for.

Entries are open until 13 May for aquaculture researchers keen to present at the conference on the first day of the show. The author of the best presentation, as determined by a panel of judges, will be awarded the Novartis Best Student Presentation award. This prestigious prize includes an expenses paid trip in July to Prince Edward Island, Canada, to visit one of Novartis Animal Health's state of the art R & D facilities. The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on the first evening. Full details and conditions of entry are available on www.aquacultureuk.com .

Shyamalie Senadheera from Deakin University in Victoria Australia is one of the lucky researchers already chosen, and he is looking forward to presenting his PHD topic on the nutritional aspects of fat free diets for trout.

Dr Martin Jaffa of Callander McDowell kicks off day two with a keynote presentation entitled Which Way Now? in which he outlines his view that the salmon industry is deluding itself if it thinks that considerable marketing effort is not required to keep the market buoyant. I am delighted to be speaking at AquacultureUK 2012 and look forward to a lively discussion, said Dr Jaffa.

He will be followed by a host of well known names, including Neil Duncan from the Spanish research institute IRTA in Tarragona, who will look at new species for aquaculture and the debate for consolidation or diversification. In particular, Neil will analyse why species diversification has taken place away from Europe and determine whether there is scope for development in the UK.

Marcus Moya of Larvas Genesis in Mexico, will speak about developments in trout farming in the Peruvian Andes, whilst the latest research on Wrasse will be presented by Eric Leclerc from Stirling University. Ian Young of Scottish Sea Farms will co-present with Professor Mike Tipton of Portsmouth University on new research into safety devices for industry.

We have lined up an exciting range of speakers on a wide range of subjects to interest all aquaculture producers, and also have a packed exhibition hall featuring a multitude of equipment and services, confirmed AquacultureUK 2012 organiser David Mack. Registration is free to all on www.aquacultureuk.com and I look forward to welcoming everyone to the event.