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
SAVED: Validating models to predict and measure sea lice on salmon
SAVED: Validating models to predict and measure sea lice on salmon

Understanding sea lice behaviour, dispersion and control is vital for promoting susta...

Completed
Investigating influences on shell breakage in Scottish mussels
Investigating influences on shell breakage in Scottish mussels

Shell breakage has posed a persistent commercial challenge to the Scottish mussel ind...

Completed
Optimising vaccination formulations for Ballan wrasse
Optimising vaccination formulations for Ballan wrasse

The 'WraAs OptiVacc' project set out to assess the efficacy of multivalent dip vaccin...

Completed
INCREASE: Enhancing predictive models for organic waste dispersal
INCREASE: Enhancing predictive models for organic waste dispersal

The primary tool used in Scotland to model the dispersal of organic waste is NewDEPOM...

Completed
ExPAND in2 the Future: Realising the full capacity of the Scottish salmon industry
ExPAND in2 the Future: Realising the full capacity of the Scottish salmon industry

The ExPAND2 project brought together developers, researchers, and sector practitioner...

Completed
Connected Seafarm: Unlocking the value of data in aquaculture
Connected Seafarm: Unlocking the value of data in aquaculture

The ‘Connected Seafarm’ project aimed to transform aquaculture by leveraging digital...

Completed
Developing a novel vaccine for prevention of Rainbow trout fry syndrome
Developing a novel vaccine for prevention of Rainbow trout fry syndrome

The project collaborators aimed to produce a novel immersion vaccine against RTFS cau...

Completed
Integrating avian protein products into salmon feed practices
Integrating avian protein products into salmon feed practices

The primary aim of this project was to drive change and address issues within the UK...

Completed
ZOEX: converting waves into energy for fish farming
ZOEX: converting waves into energy for fish farming

This project aimed to confirm whether mounting the ZOEX Wave Energy Converter (WEC) t...

Completed
Exploration of groutless rock anchors to support aquaculture infrastructure
Exploration of groutless rock anchors to support aquaculture infrastructure

Groutless technology has the potential to reduce the costs associated with traditiona...

Completed
Aquaculture Insights: open data platform for salmon aquaculture
Aquaculture Insights: open data platform for salmon aquaculture

Developing an open data platform for fish farmers, to combine multiple data sources a...

Completed
Georeferenced 3D photogrammetry: a tool for monitoring finfish aquaculture impacts on hard seabeds
Georeferenced 3D photogrammetry: a tool for monitoring finfish aquaculture impacts

Hard substrates are often highly complex, making them difficult to sample in, but the...

Completed
Novel farming system to produce sustainable marine zooplankton protein for aquafeed
Producing sustainable marine zooplankton protein for aquafeed

This project explored ways to increase the availability of marine ingredients for the...

Completed
LPAS: Live Plankton Analysis System
LPAS: Live Plankton Analysis System

This project built and tested a Live Plankton Analysis System (LPAS) prototype that c...

Completed
MARLIN AQUA: Sustainable energy access for offshore aquaculture
MARLIN AQUA: Sustainable energy access for offshore aquaculture

Exploring a modular approach to renewable energy generation in conjunction with aquac...

Completed
Novel functional feeds for improved performance in Atlantic salmon based on nettle: with specific emphasis on immune function and resilience
Novel functional feeds for improved performance in Atlantic salmon based on nettle

This project demonstrates that Atlantic salmon be grown on feeds with nettle inclusio...

Completed
The use of a water treatment technology (CleanTreat®) to support Integrated Pest Management in salmon farming
The use of a water treatment technology (CleanTreat®) to support Integrated Pest Management in salmon farming

This project explored the use of a water treatment technology (CleanTreat®) to suppor...

Ongoing
Real-time modelling and prediction of harmful algal blooms
Real-time modelling and prediction of harmful algal blooms

Developing a real-time modelling and prediction tool to minimise the impact of HABs o...

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...

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.