Institute of Aquaculture

General information

The Institute of Aquaculture brings together and develops cross-disciplinary, world class researchers and students to meet the wide range of challenges faced as aquaculture grows to meet global demands.

Research focuses on fundamental questions relating to strategies for sustainable aquaculture, whether in modern commercial markets or in feeding poor communities in developing countries. Fundamental research on environments, reproduction, genetics, aquatic health, nutrition and feed supplies, on production systems, on markets and value chains, and on social and economic impacts all play significant roles. We have grown steadily over the last 35 years to our present size of more than 110 staff and 120 postgraduate students.

We have built up a first class international reputation in teaching, research, commercial contract research and consultancy, with an annual operating budget of almost £5 million. Our core-funded is from SHEFC via the University and we also receive substantial research and project funding from Research Councils, UK Government departments (DFID, DEFRA), the European Community and from a wide variety of national and international research organisations, foundations and trusts and industry.

We have links with many other academic institutions, throughout Europe, and also with the Asian Institute of Technology and the Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (Thailand), the National Agricultural University, Mymensingh (Bangladesh), the College of Fisheries, Mangalore (India), Bunda College Univ of Malawi, Univ of Science and Technology UST , Kumasi (Ghana) the Universidad Michocana, Morelia (Mexico) and Myazaki University (Japan). We have had considerable direct involvement with the industry during its rapid expansion and evolution and we provide disease and environmental management services to industry as well as project design, development and management through Stirling Aquaculture for which we received the Queens Award for Industry in 1990.