New case study: MeioMetBar – developing DNA-based methodologies for seabed monitoring
Using metabarcoding for species identification in seabed monitoring
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is introducing stricter regulations requiring salmon farms to demonstrate compliance with environmental standards beneath and around net-pens. Traditional monitoring relies on macrobenthic analysis – manual ‘grab samples’ of seabed sediment – which are costly and time-consuming. To meet new requirements efficiently, the sector needs a faster, cost-effective solution.
MeioMetBar proposed a new approach using DNA metabarcoding. This technique extracts DNA from sediment and applies next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify species by comparing marker regions to reference databases. Metabarcoding enables simultaneous identification of thousands of taxa across hundreds of samples, offering a rapid, objective alternative to traditional methods.
Valued at £289k, the project partners were Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Rivers and Lochs Institute - UHI Inverness College, Mowi Scotland, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), University of Kaiserslautern, Scottish Sea Farms, and Salmon Scotland. The project was supported by SAIC.
The six-year project comprised two phases: MeioMetBar (MMB) and MeioMetBar 1.5 (MMB1.5). MMB focused on optimising sampling protocols, generating consistent molecular indices, and linking these to traditional benthic indices. MMB1.5 integrated complementary datasets to train a machine learning algorithm capable of predicting the Infaunal Quality Index (IQI) from bacterial community profiles. Independent validation confirmed the algorithm’s accuracy.
The project delivered open-source tools, standard operating procedures, and a framework for applying NGS in compliance monitoring. Independent review by Biostatistics Scotland validated the approach and recommended enhancements, informing a follow-on., SAIC-support project called ‘BactMetBar’.
This collaboration between academia, regulators, and industry addresses a critical sector need, enabling cost-effective, scalable monitoring while supporting sustainable aquaculture growth.
The full title of this project is 'MeioMetBar: Developing DNA-based methodologies for seabed monitoring'
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