The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have sponsored the first aquaculture session to ever appear on the programme of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) conference in its 67-year history. The 4-day conference took place in Belfast at the end of August and had over 1500 delegates and brought nearly £3M to the local economy.
![Dr Matt Service (AFBI) during the Aquaculture Session at EAAP16 Dr Matt Service (AFBI) during the Aquaculture Session at EAAP16](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline/public/images/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/news/106%201200.jpg?itok=NxqLCdyj×tamp=1473157105)
Dr Matt Service of AFBI chaired the aquaculture session, which included six invited papers from researchers in UK and Portugal who are investigating issues affecting the aquaculture industry.
The session opened with a presentation on agricultural and urban nutrient loads to coastal systems. Further papers followed on sustainable cultivation of blue mussels and native oyster stocks and ecosystem management of shellfish aquaculture. Dr Dennis Ensing of AFBI also gave an entertaining paper on the interbreeding between escaped farmed and wild salmon.
The session included a visit to the AFBI Research Vessel, “Corystes” with around 20 delegates visiting the ship, at a berth outside the SSE Arena in the Lagan basin. AFBI researchers demonstrated research techniques employed by the Institute in support of government and the wider fishing industry.
Dr Service said “It’s a good thing to see aquaculture taking its rightful place at a conference like this for the first, but hopefully not last time, the important interaction between land use in coastal catchments and coastal processes is being increasingly recognised as key to providing the water quality required for sustainable aquaculture. Farmed production now dominates aquatic sources of protein, a large part of the human diet in many countries. We can hopefully build on this successful session to bigger things in the following years to meet the challenges to European Aquaculture.”
Notes to editors:
AFBI carries out high-quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DAERA and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.
AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland … serving the world”.
All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office
Latest news
- AFBI warns about the risk of Haemonchus worm infection in sheep 10 July 2024
- Honorary Professorship acknowledges AFBI expert’s contribution to advancing sustainable agriculture 28 June 2024
- Zone 3 of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme opens for registration 24 June 2024
- Important information on temporary changes in the provision of Postmortem facilities at OMAGH Laboratory 12 June 2024