28 August, 2007

A SHETLAND-based maritime college has taken delivery of new fish farm cages which will be used in experimental trials.

Scientists at the NAFC Marine Centre, in Scalloway, will use the two blocks of six individual cages as a working platform for a range of studies including vaccine and feed trials, as well as for farming species new to aquaculture.

The cages have also been earmarked for trials to assess the effectiveness of using wrasse as a biological lice treatment for salmon.

The specially designed polyethylene (PE) cages were delivered buy Oban-based manufacturer Fusion Marine.

The company said that the compact nature of the small, six metre square cages was ideal for researchers to carry out scientific work.

Fusion Marine production manager Neil Blackadder said: "These small cages have been specially designed for research tasks as they provide a safe and convenient means of carrying out important trials on finfish culture."

As part of the supply package, Fusion Marine developed a new safety decking system, based on its successful injection-moulded design already widely used by major fish farming companies.

NAFC technical fish farming manager Stewart Sales said: "In Shetland, the industry has been calling for more research into the farming of finfish and the installation of these square cages is the first stage of that important process. This is very much an industry-led initiative."

The cages for Shetland have been produced with support from the UHI research and development funding grant.

Financial backing has also been received from industry representative body Shetland Aquaculture, which will provide a liaison group to prioritise research projects. Its members will also supply fish, feed, additional equipment and manpower to support the NAFC Marine Centre's resources.

Shetland Aquaculture general manager David Sandison said: "This is an extremely useful facility that will carry out focused feed trials, vaccine trials, test innovative products, measure and monitor environmental impacts of new innovations and investigate new aquaculture species.

"It will also look at polyculture - the growing of more than one species in an integrated site area."