The report – ‘Scottish aquaculture: a view towards 2030’ – follows a six-month scoping study into the innovation needs of the sector, commissioned by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).
The study used a combination of desk research, data from two key industry events, and targeted interviews with industry leaders and regulators to inform an innovation roadmap that sets out the needs of the sector according to urgency and impact, and recommends a pathway of actions through to 2030.
Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC added: “Several of the issues highlighted by the report as being urgent and high-impact, such as disease, feed, licencing and regulation, and spat availability closely mirror SAIC’s own priority innovation areas which were identified by the industry during our initial engagement with the sector. We look forward to collaborating with existing and new partners alike on additional innovative R&D in these areas, and playing a core role in helping the industry achieve its growth ambitions.”
In other news, a new bycatch device has delivered impressive results that will improve the sustainability of fishing operations of wild catch prawns in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF).
Trial results showed a significant reduction in bycatch of approximately 35 per cent, according to Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Anne Ruston.
“The NPF has been a leader in addressing bycatch issues over many years. Their current bycatch strategy commits to an additional 30 per cent bycatch reduction over three years, and the positive results from the industry trial of this new device, called Kons Covered Fisheye, is a demonstration of industry leading by example," Ms Ruston said.
The new device, developed by Mr Kon Triantopoulos, is a modification of a bycatch reduction device already approved by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), called a ‘fish-eye’.
And finally, this will be my last editorial on TheFishSite as I'm moving on to pastures new. I want to wish you all the best for the future and thank you for reading.
