Projects

We channel our resources into the areas that will benefit the Scottish aquaculture sector the most, including reducing its environmental footprint and increasing its economic impact.

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Completed
Hemp by-products as a protein source for Scottish salmon
Hemp by-products as a protein source for Scottish salmon

This first look at sustainably sourced hempseed meal as an alternative protein source...

Completed
Developing a zooplankton challenge model for Atlantic salmon
Developing a zooplankton challenge model for Atlantic salmon

This feasibility study aimed to develop a lab-based challenge model, using lab-reared...

Completed
Assessing the use of cardiac biomarkers as a health management tool for early diagnosis of cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) in Atlantic salmon
Use of cardiac biomarkers for early diagnostic of cardiomyopathy syndrome

This project looked to identify fish cardiac disease biomarkers and develop a serolog...

Completed
Control of sea lice infections of farmed salmonids using hydrogen peroxide (Paramove®) at reduced salinities
Control of sea lice infections using hydrogen peroxide at reduced salinities

The overarching aim of this project was to establish guidelines for the safe and effi...

Completed
Low-frequency deterrent impact on non-target species
Low-frequency deterrent impact on non-target species

This project has provided evidence that there is no negative impact on non-target mar...

Completed
Establishing a sustainable supply and optimal deployment of lumpsuckers
Sustainable supply and optimal deployment of lumpsuckers

The lumpsucker (lumpfish) is one of the cleanerfish species whose natural behaviour i...

Completed
Enhancing mucosal robustness and immunity in salmon
Enhancing mucosal robustness and immunity in salmon

Traditional research has focused on the impacts of single stressors on fish health, p...

Completed
Clinical nutrition and the treatment of Atlantic salmon gill diseases   (NAGD)
Clinical nutrition and the treatment of Atlantic salmon gill diseases (NAGD)

The development of diagnostic tools for the pathophysiological responses to gill dise...

Completed
Improving Disease Resistance in Atlantic salmon and Rainbow trout to Flavobacterium psychrophilum
Improving Disease Resistance to Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Improving disease resistance in Atlantic salmon and Rainbow trout to Flavobacterium p...

Completed
Genomic breeding for gill health and lice resistance in salmon: towards improved accuracy and affordability
Genomic breeding for gill health and lice resistance in salmon: improved accuracy and affordability

Optimising genomic selection in salmon breeding to improve the accuracy and affordabi...

Completed
Enhancing the health and welfare of lumpfish
Enhancing the health and welfare of lumpfish

Increased understanding of the use and performance of cleaner fish in farmed environm...

Completed
Developing mobile biomarker detection for seawater readiness
Developing mobile biomarker detection for seawater readiness

Better decision-making; improved fish health and welfare; reduced mortalities; plus,...

Completed
Exploring the risk factors for Saprolegniosis outbreaks in salmon farms
Exploring the risk factors for Saprolegniosis outbreaks

Increased understanding of Saprolegnia and its causative factors, enabling Scotland’s...

Completed
Exploring ultrasound-based technology for salmon delousing
Exploring ultrasound-based technology for salmon delousing

An effective, non-medicinal approach to controlling the incidence of sea lice on Scot...

Completed
Improving cleaner fish vaccination methodology and technology
Improving cleaner fish vaccination methodology and technology

Improved survivability and efficacy of cleaner fish on Scotland’s salmon farms, with...

Completed
Developing diagnostic techniques for assessing fish health
Developing diagnostic techniques for assessing fish health

A cheaper, faster method of monitoring and informing fish health practitioners on the...

Completed
Development of an orally administered novel sea lice vaccine targeting mucosal immunity
Development of an orally administered novel sea lice vaccine targeting mucosal immunity

Sea lice continue to have a major impact on the salmon farming industry. Many injecti...

Completed
Field trials of a novel vaccine to combat Rainbow Trout Fry Syndrome (RTFS) in Scotland
Field trials of a novel vaccine to combat Rainbow Trout Fry Syndrome (RTFS) in Scotland

The bacterium Flavobacterium psychrophilum has been responsible for substantial econo...

Completed
KelpRing: natural kelp hides for cleanerfish
KelpRing: natural kelp hides for cleanerfish

KelpRing is an innovative new product to support the successful use of cleaner fish (...

Completed
Aquawrasse: cleanerfish personality study
Aquawrasse: cleanerfish personality study

Ballan wrasse is one of the species used as cleanerfish in salmon farming. Their natu...

Project facts
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Investment

Total value of SAIC-funded/co-funded collaborative research to date: £70.9m

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Partnership

SAIC-funded research spans 92 different industry/academic project partners.

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Projects

So far, SAIC has helped fund 100 collaborative research projects

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Leverage Rate

Quadrupling return on investment by generating over £4 in industry and third-party funding for every £1 of public money

Industry-academic collaborations

Some of our projects have a lifetime of less than one year, while others are longer-term, multi-partner collaborations of up to three and a half years. Each project unites industry know-how with specialist academic expertise; something that SAIC works hard to encourage by helping forge the necessary connections.

Priority innovation areas

Our work is focused on catalysing and co-funding innovation in the areas identified by the sector as being top priorities. We call them our priority innovation areas – or PIAs for short.

Over the years, the industry’s priorities for innovation have evolved. Therefore, so too have our PIAs. This helps ensure that we continue to deliver maximum benefit from the combined investment being made. SAIC's three PIAs are 1: Finfish health & welfare, 2: Unlocking sector capacity, and 3: Shellfish and other non-finfish species.