Completed
Enhancing the health and welfare of lumpfish
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
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
An effective, non-medicinal approach to controlling the incidence of sea lice on Scot...
Completed
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
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
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
The bacterium Flavobacterium psychrophilum has been responsible for substantial econo...
Completed
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
Ballan wrasse is one of the species used as cleanerfish in salmon farming. Their natu...
Completed
Simulating in vitro Atlantic salmon intestinal microbiome system
A go-to diagnostic system for testing new feeds prior to in vivo trials, providing de...
Completed
Scaling up the use of cleaner fish
Increased harvest volumes of salmon and reduced reliance on medicinal controls, with...
Completed
Fish oil waste source for the production of bio-based surfactants
This project investigated the use of oils extracted from fish industry waste to produ...
Completed
Investigating sea cucumbers as bioremediators for salmon farms
This project aimed to bridge the gap between fish production and environmental conser...
Completed
AquaLeap: innovation in genetics & breeding to advance UK aquaculture production
AquaLeap aims to improve genetics and breeding for four UK aquaculture sectors includ...
Completed
NAMAqI: a novel approach to monitoring aquaculture impacts
Total free sulphides as an indicator of aquatic health
Completed
ExPAND: Expanding environments, physics, and accuracy in NewDEPOMOD
Accurate and reliable predictive modelling of the benthic impacts of salmon farming.
Completed
Piloting a commercial mussel hatchery
A reliable source of mussel spat; higher yields; increased export opportunities; and...
Completed
EMFF 2: driving sustainability and increasing capacity
Driving sustainability and unlocking additional capacity for Scottish aquaculture
Completed
EMFF 1: non-medicinal interventions and operational innovation
Piloting non-medicinal interventions and innovative operational improvements in Scott...
Completed
Developing genetic tools for mussel hatchery broodstock
Sufficient supply of mussel broodstock to support a commercial hatchery and an insigh...
Project facts
Investment
Total value of SAIC-funded/co-funded collaborative research to date: £70.9m
Partnership
SAIC-funded research spans 92 different industry/academic project partners.
Projects
So far, SAIC has helped fund 100 collaborative research projects
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.
news & events
News
SAIC Introduces: Leyton UK
News
Be part of the Scottish delegation at Aqua Nor 2025
News
Shell-volution: £4.4M Islands Growth Deal to boost Scotland’s mussel farmin...
News
