European fish breeders can now integrate tools and technologies developed in FISHBOOST into their breeding programmes.

Just before Christmas, Prof. Emeritus Trygve Gjedrem will celebrate his 88th birthday by closing the office doors for one final time, leaving Nofima in Norway after a long life spent in the service of science. What inspired him to keep going for so long?

Never has the survival of juvenile cod been as high at the food research institute Nofima. Systematic improvements in all aspects of management have made a difference.

In the field of applied breeding programmes we combine traditional breeding techniques with new knowledge about genetics and the genome. We use and develop knowledge and techniques such that fish breeders can improve key properties of species in the aquaculture industry in an efficient manner.

The aquaculture industry is an extensive and diverse industry of great economic value and benefit to society. As in other food industries, biological and technological solutions are often closely coupled with economics, law, ethics and the environment. These are disciplines that we at Nofima often integrate into our projects within breeding.

At this land-based research station at Sunndalsøra with fresh water, seawater and recirculated water, we can carry out biological and technological experiments along the complete aquaculture value chain.

The centre and its associated marine facility are designed for breeding cod, but also offer outstanding facilities for other types of trials with cod and other marine species.

The European research project FISHBOOST will advance European aquaculture to the next level. Nofima is coordinating this FP7 project.

Our scientists have pioneered work in fish breeding since the beginning of the 1970s, and have contributed to the ability of the Norwegian aquaculture industry to produce salmon now with better health and in half the time previously required, using less feed.