Category: In the Spotlight

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In the MedAID project I am part of the WP3 which is called ‘Genetics and Breeding’. The general objective of WP3 is to develop genomic technologies and techniques to improve selective breeding for improved performance of seabass and seabream fish. I work with Prof Ross Houston at Roslin, and we are collaborating with colleagues at NOFIMA on the creation of a combined-species (seabass-seabream) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. A SNP array is a technology that allows the high-throughput genotyping of tens of thousands of SNPs distributed throughout the genome in an individual of a species. To develop the SNP array, we will sequence the whole genome of several population samples from both seabass and seabream fish species. Molecular probes for these SNPs will then be placed on the array.Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In MedAID we are working in WP1 – Holistic sustainability assessment of Mediterranean aquaculture: zootechnical, environmental, economic, social and governance, participating in the Data Collection Working Group. We have been interviewing collaborative farms in order to gather technical and socioeconomic information that will help to define typologies of Mediterranean aquaculture farming.
We are also working on WP2 – Improving zootechnical performance. This workpackage will address current gaps in fish feeding, management practices and fish behaviour and welfare. Thus, WP2 will focus on the main Key Performance Indicators (KPI) identified by the industry for European seabass and gilthead seabream, like growth rate and feed efficiency.Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
The company is involved in most of the Work packages of the MedAID project. There are Work Packages, like WP1-Holistic sustainability assessment of Mediterranean aquaculture: zootechnical, environmental, economic, social, and governance, and WP5-Product development, market and consumer assessment, where our contribution so far has been to give data and information relevant to the above mentioned issues, by completing questionnaires, surveys etc.Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In MedAID, I am working on Work-package 1 (Holistic sustainability assessment of Mediterranean aquaculture: zootechnical, environmental, economic, social and governance). This Work-package will carry out a thorough holistic assessment of the sustainability of the Mediterranean marine fish farming sector, with a particular focus on the farm’s zootechnical performance, environmental and social sustainability, health, welfare and diseases, economic aspects and governance.Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In MedAID, We are working on Work-package 4 “Health Management and diseases and health”.  This workpakage has the overall objective of improving the health and welfare of fish in the Mediterranean basin.
This objective is addressed in several tasks in the workpackage, where we participate as leader of Task 4.3 which has the objective to develop and test a new innovative vaccine to protect sea bass against infection with betanodavirus. Continue reading

Although not being a partner of the MedAID project, in this occasion we invite Juan Fernández Aldana to participate “In the Spotlight” section. Juan is a PhD in Biology Sciences and MSc in aquaculture, and since 2015 he is the Coordinator of APROMAR-REMA.

i) What is APROMAR-REMA?
REMA (Aquaculture Marine Experimentation Network ) is a network created by APROMAR (Spanish Aquaculture Producers Association). APROMAR represents most aquaculture farmers in Spain. Its members produce finfish, shellfish, crustaceans and algae, as well as goods and services to the industry. It defends their common interests before any instance, advising, managing and reporting.Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
WP4 (Health management, diseases and fish welfare), in which I participate as a partner, aims at strengthening the diagnostic capacity of laboratories by standardizing diagnostic protocols and (Standard Operating Procedures) SOPs and by organizing Proficiency Tests (PTs). Since I am the Responsible of the OIE Reference laboratory for viral encephalopathy and retinopathy disease (VER), which is located in my laboratory at the IZSVE, I have been asked to lead the activities targeting this important marine pathogen. Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In MedAID, I am working on Work-package 4 (Health management and diseases and fish welfare). In this work package we aim at providing tools and common strategies for prevention and diagnosis of major diseases, by creating an operative and collaborative platform. Within this work package, I participate as a partner in Task 1. Improve disease management based on risk assessment tools for new and emerging pathogens.  Besides, I am a leader of the Task 2.  Improve communication and harmonization on diagnostic competences, which has as objective to study the most important diseases of sea bass and sea bream and the most accurate, specific and sensitive procedure of diagnostics. The diagnostic procedures have to be standardized by interlaboratory testing and finally described in Manual of harmonized Continue reading

i) What is your contribution to the MedAID project?
In MedAID, we are working in Workpackage 2 (WP2-Improving Zootechnical Performance).  In this WP we work on the improvement of rearing conditions and feeding strategies that are fundamental to improve the key performance indicators of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).  The research addresses current gaps in fish feeding, management practices and fish behavior, welfare and interlinks with genetics (WP3). Research is carried out not only in experimental laboratory trials and pilot tests, but also at farm level through case studies in Spain and Greece.Continue reading