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
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
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
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
Low-frequency deterrent impact on non-target species
Low-frequency deterrent impact on non-target species

This project has provided evidence that there is no negative impact on non-target mar...

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
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
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
Investigation into the causes of and possible solutions to failed rainbow trout in aquaculture
Investigation into the causes of and possible solutions to failed rainbow trout in aquaculture

A comprehensive assessment of failed fish by the incorporation of information on broo...

Completed
Genomic breeding for gill health and lice resistance in salmon: towards improved accuracy and affordability
Genomic breeding for gill health and lice resistance in salmon: improved accuracy and affordability

Optimising genomic selection in salmon breeding to improve the accuracy and affordabi...

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
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
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
Improving cleaner fish vaccination methodology and technology
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
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
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
KelpRing: natural kelp hides for cleanerfish
KelpRing: natural kelp hides for cleanerfish

KelpRing is an innovative new product to support the successful use of cleaner fish (...

Completed
Serum biomarkers for early diagnostics of cardiomyopathies: field and challenge assessment
Serum biomarkers for early diagnostics of cardiomyopathies: field and challenge assessment

This project aims to develop a simple and cost-effective mass testing tool that could...

Completed
Simulating in vitro Atlantic salmon intestinal microbiome system
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
Scaling up the use of cleaner fish

Increased harvest volumes of salmon and reduced reliance on medicinal controls, with...

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...

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.