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
AquaLeap: innovation in genetics & breeding to advance UK aquaculture production
AquaLeap: innovation in genetics & breeding to advance UK aquaculture production

AquaLeap aims to improve genetics and breeding for four UK aquaculture sectors includ...

Completed
Aquawrasse: cleanerfish personality study
Aquawrasse: cleanerfish personality study

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

Completed
Artificial Intelligence approaches to improve diagnosis of gill disease in Atlantic salmon (AIGD)
Artificial Intelligence approaches to improve diagnosis of gill disease

Successful proof-of-concept application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies...

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
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
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
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
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
Developing genetic tools for mussel hatchery broodstock
Developing genetic tools for mussel hatchery broodstock

Sufficient supply of mussel broodstock to support a commercial hatchery and an insigh...

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
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
EMFF 1: non-medicinal interventions and operational innovation
EMFF 1: non-medicinal interventions and operational innovation

Piloting non-medicinal interventions and innovative operational improvements in Scott...

Completed
EMFF 2: driving sustainability and increasing capacity
EMFF 2: driving sustainability and increasing capacity

Driving sustainability and unlocking additional capacity for Scottish aquaculture

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
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
ExPAND: Expanding Environments, Physics and Accuracy in NewDEPOMOD
ExPAND: Expanding Environments, Physics and Accuracy in NewDEPOMOD

Accurate and reliable predictive modelling of benthic impacts of salmon farming.

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 the use of avian proteins in salmon feeds
Exploring the use of avian proteins in salmon feeds

Greater adoption of avian proteins; less reliance on imported feed products; sustaina...

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
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...

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.