Progress in breeding work can provide a basis for profitable cod farming according to a new report just submitted by Nofima to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD).

MedAID (Mediterranean Aquaculture Integrated Development), a four year EU H2020 research project, will address key factors to improve aquaculture production in the Mediterranean.
The project brings together the best aquaculture experts from over 30 organisations from 12 countries.

Climate change has already begun to significantly affect aquaculture, according to FAO. Although challenging, climate change may introduce opportunities for aquaculture if it manages to adapt. In an FAO symposium a Nofima research scientist, Dr. Panya Sae-Lim recently presented key adaptive strategies for breeding programs for farmed aquaculture species under climate change.

The aim of the project is to increase the competitiveness of Norwegian berry production and berry industry through well suited, new cultivars of strawberries and raspberries for processing and fresh market.

Fish Breeders’ Round Table is a meeting for global aquaculture breeding industry and research organisations, where the program is set up to allow for plenty of discussion. All participating organisations must present results, but no abstracts are required.

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.

Shrimp aquaculture is carried out in large parts of Asia and Latin America. White spot syndrome is one of the most serious diseases of farmed shrimp, and there is currently no effective way of combating this disease. Scientists have recently discovered markers for genes that determine how well black tiger shrimp resist the disease. They are now planning to look for the genes in the white shrimp.

It is important to minimise the risk of disease in cod aquaculture. Scientist Rama Bangera of Nofima has studied the effect that the cod’s genes have on its resistance to three fatal diseases, and found that the resistance of farmed cod can be increased by selective breeding.

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.