Recent activities recent activities recent activities recent activities
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The latest articleS from DIVERSIFY!
A NEW EUROPEAN PROJECT (ERANET) HAS BEEN GRANTED TO DIVERSIFY PARTNERS
The kick-off meeting for the project BESTBROOD (Identification of broodstock performance indicators and markers to boost the aquaculture of emerging fish species) took place online on the 15th and 16th of September, 2020. The project brings together a consortium of 7 organizations from Norway, Spain, Greece and Italy. The consortium partners hold high expertise in reproductive biology and biotechnology of the emerging species in focus: lumpfish, spotted wolfish, greater amberjack and Senegalese sole. Nord University in Norway is the lead partner of the project which is is co-funded by the BlueBio ERA-NET under the Horizon 2020 programme and different national funding agencies.
Broodstocks are the basis of the aquaculture industry and their productivity has an impact throughout the entire value chain until the final consumer product. However, broodstock research is usually limited due to the prohibitive costs of working with large and expensive specimens. The main objective of the project is to boost the economic feasibility of emerging aquaculture species by improving the broodstocks reproductive performance. This will be achieved through the utilisation of innovative breeding techniques and biotechnologies. During the course of the project the partners will develop reproductive performance markers and bioindicators and test new biotechnologies for fish breeding of the 4 selected emerging fish species for the European aquaculture. All the four species are in an early commercial stage, but all have showed suitability for farming, high economic value and market demand. A future increase in the production is dependent on tackling the difficulties with broodstock performance that presently limit the supply of good quality gametes and fertilized eggs for the aquaculture industry
As a result, BESTBROOD will lead to a more stable and predictable supply of high volumes of high-quality eggs for the production of juveniles to meet market demands for sustainability, and increase Europe’s aquaculture competitiveness.
The project will run for 3 years, until August 2023 and has a total budget of 1 900 000 €.
More information on the Project may be found here:https://blogg.nord.no/bestbrood/species/
Project contact: Jorge Galindo-Villegas j[email protected] (Project coordinator)
Broodstocks are the basis of the aquaculture industry and their productivity has an impact throughout the entire value chain until the final consumer product. However, broodstock research is usually limited due to the prohibitive costs of working with large and expensive specimens. The main objective of the project is to boost the economic feasibility of emerging aquaculture species by improving the broodstocks reproductive performance. This will be achieved through the utilisation of innovative breeding techniques and biotechnologies. During the course of the project the partners will develop reproductive performance markers and bioindicators and test new biotechnologies for fish breeding of the 4 selected emerging fish species for the European aquaculture. All the four species are in an early commercial stage, but all have showed suitability for farming, high economic value and market demand. A future increase in the production is dependent on tackling the difficulties with broodstock performance that presently limit the supply of good quality gametes and fertilized eggs for the aquaculture industry
As a result, BESTBROOD will lead to a more stable and predictable supply of high volumes of high-quality eggs for the production of juveniles to meet market demands for sustainability, and increase Europe’s aquaculture competitiveness.
The project will run for 3 years, until August 2023 and has a total budget of 1 900 000 €.
More information on the Project may be found here:https://blogg.nord.no/bestbrood/species/
Project contact: Jorge Galindo-Villegas j[email protected] (Project coordinator)
A NEW European PROJECT (H2020) HAS BEEN GRANTED TO DIVERSIFY PARTNERS
A new project has been funded by the EU under the Horizon 2020 funding scheme, to continue the work on species diversification that started with DIVERSIFY. The new project is titled New Technologies, Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative European Aquaculture (NewTechAqua) and is coordinated by Professor Alessio Bonaldo of University pf Bologna. The WP4, titled "Closing the reproductive cycle of emerging fish species" is lead by Dr C.C. Mylonas (HCMR), and involves the DIVERSIFY partners IRTA (Spain), University of Bari (Italy) and ARGO, GMF and IRIDA (Greece).
NewTechAqua will solve reproduction gaps in greater amberjack by using a sex differentiation study with a transcriptomic approach, recombinant hormones, specialised broodstock management software and a web-based platform to select the best Mediterranean rearing sites for captive spawning. In addition, natural reproduction in meagre to produce organic larvae will be achieved by environmental and spawning behaviour studies using sensors technology. NewTechAqua will also refine broodstock management practices of Senegalese sole towards the standardization of spontaneous spawning to close the reproductive cycle of cultured fish.
For more information see the web page of the project.
NewTechAqua will solve reproduction gaps in greater amberjack by using a sex differentiation study with a transcriptomic approach, recombinant hormones, specialised broodstock management software and a web-based platform to select the best Mediterranean rearing sites for captive spawning. In addition, natural reproduction in meagre to produce organic larvae will be achieved by environmental and spawning behaviour studies using sensors technology. NewTechAqua will also refine broodstock management practices of Senegalese sole towards the standardization of spontaneous spawning to close the reproductive cycle of cultured fish.
For more information see the web page of the project.
a new national project has been granted to DIVERSIFY partners
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A new project has been funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Development (Greece), to continue the work on greater amberjack done in DIVERSIFY. The new project (acronym MAGIATIKO) is coordinated by Dr C.C. Mylonas (HCMR), and involves DIVERSIFY partners ARGO, GMF and IRIDA. For more information see the web page of the project https://magiatiko.weebly.com
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Presentations and Interviews from the final meeting in brussels
Last November 2018, we had our Final Coordination and Dissemination meeting in Brussels. All 12 presentations on the results and progress made in the different fish species studied by DIVERSIFY, as well as results from the Fish Health, Socioeconomics and New Product Development work packages were recorded and they are available on YouTube (click on the word YouTube to access them). The presentations are also available in pdf format and can be freely downloaded.
An addition, with the collaboration and excellent work of our partner EUFIC, five short interviews aimed to target the general public were recorded. They not only summarised the main results of the project but also tackled general worries around the topic of aquaculture. The Project Coordinator (C.C. Mylonas), the Dissemination Leader (R. Robles), the Socioeconomic workpackage Leader (G. Tacken), the Product development workpackage Leader (L. Guerrero) and the Project Officer (M. Iglesias) were interviewed on the project achievements and other related aquaculture issues . The video-interviews are also available on YouTube link (click on the word YouTube to access them).
An addition, with the collaboration and excellent work of our partner EUFIC, five short interviews aimed to target the general public were recorded. They not only summarised the main results of the project but also tackled general worries around the topic of aquaculture. The Project Coordinator (C.C. Mylonas), the Dissemination Leader (R. Robles), the Socioeconomic workpackage Leader (G. Tacken), the Product development workpackage Leader (L. Guerrero) and the Project Officer (M. Iglesias) were interviewed on the project achievements and other related aquaculture issues . The video-interviews are also available on YouTube link (click on the word YouTube to access them).
!!!!!!!!End of an era!!!!!!!
final coordination and dissemination meeting of diversify in brussels.
On 22 and 23 November 2018 we had our Final Coordination and Dissemination meeting in Brussels at the Hotel Thon Brussels Center. This central location allowed us to count with the presence of a large number of relevant officers from the European Commission, the Parliament and relevant stakeholders that have their headquarters nearby. We had the pleasure to count with our project officer Marta Iglesias and a good representation of important European aquaculture related institutions, such as DG RTD, DG MARE and DG ENVIRONMENT, REA, members of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee, the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), the European Aquaculture Society (EAS), the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC), and the European Market Observatory for fisheries and aquaculture (EUMOFA). A total of 58 persons attended the first day of our final meeting. In this first day, which was an open session, we presented a summary of the achievements in each of the six species of the project (meagre, greater amberjack, pikeperch, grey mullet, halibut and wreckfish), in Socioeconomics and New Product Development, and in Dissemination. DIVERSIFY has accomplished its objectives and important and relevant amount of information on the culture of the new or emerging species has been acquired and it is available for the industry.
From these lines we want to thank all the researches of our consortium for their commitment and for their excellent work.
All the presentations from day 1 of our meeting are available in meeting page.
From these lines we want to thank all the researches of our consortium for their commitment and for their excellent work.
All the presentations from day 1 of our meeting are available in meeting page.
diversify in aquaculture europe magazine: all our articles in one single issue!!
Click on the image below or capture the QR to have access to the file.
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THE meagre KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER WORKSHOP HAS BEEN COMPLETED
On Tuesday 9 October 2018, the meagre knowledge transfer workshop took place in Barcelona, Spain. The workshop was organised by the Species Leader Dr Alicia Estevez (IRTA, Spain) . Thirty-eight people attended the meeting, coming from farms around Europe, including Greece and Spain, but also from feed companies and Universities. The program included presentations on broodstock management, larval rearing, cage culture, nutrition, fish health, new product development and consumer behaviour. The presentations of the workshop are already available in the webpage of the meeting, and the Technical Leaflet for the species will become available in the web page of the meeting shortly.
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THE greater amberjack KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER WORKSHOP HAS BEEN COMPLETED
On Tuesday 18 September 2018, the greater amberjack knowledge transfer workshop took place in Athens, Greece. The workshop was organised by the Species Leader Dr Nikos Papandroulakis (HCMR, Greece) . Seventy-eight people attended the meeting, coming from many farms around Europe, including Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and Italy, but also from feed companies and funding agencies. The program included presentations on broodstock management, larval rearing, cage culture, nutrition, fish health, new product development and consumer behaviour. The presentations of the workshop are already available in the webpage of the meeting, as well as the Technical Leaflet for the species.
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The atlantic halibut knowledge transfer workshop has been completed
On Tuesday and Wednesday 11-12 September 2018, the Atlantic halibut knowledge transfer workshop took place in Hjemeland Spa, Norway. The workshop was organised by the Species Leader Dr Birgitta Norberg (IMR, Norway) and was hosted by Mr Magnus Skretting of Stirling White Halibut (SWH, Norway). Thirty-five people attended the meeting, coming from all the farms producing halibut in Norway, but also from other countries in Europe. In addition to presenting the results of the project, inn the first day of the workshop delegates from Norway, Scotland and Iceland presented a historical perspective of the industry, over the past 30 years. Industry representatives from all Atlantic halibut operations in Norway presented their vision and strategy for the production of the unique species. The first day ended with a dinner at the SWH headquarters, with the company chef preparing a number of recipes exclusively with halibut. In the second day, a technical tour took place, visiting the two land-based sites and the sea cage farm of SWH. The presentations of the workshop are already available in the webpage of the project, as well as the Technical Leaflet for the species.
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all presentations from the wreckfish seminar already available!!
All the presentation from the special Knowledge-Transfer workshop on the 19 of July, 2018 at the facilities of IEO, Vigo, Spain are available for consultation and/or download at Knowledge-Transfer workshop page. Click on the title of the presentation to access the file.
Breakthrough in the larval rearing of wreckfish!!!!!!!
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The first wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) juveniles have been produced in Galicia, Spain, after years of research in the reproduction and larval rearing of the species in the framework of the DIVERSIFY project. Early this year, researchers in Vigo, Illa de Arousa, Vilanova de Arousa and A Coruña have finally seen their efforts coming to fruition, first with the consistent acquisition of large quantities of fertilized eggs after spontaneous tank spawning of their captive reared broodstocks. Given the continuous supply of eggs, the planned research efforts for the development of larval rearing methods have been implemented and the result is a small number of cultured juvenile wreckfish swimming happily in the tanks of IGAFA (right upper video) and IEO (below). The results of the wreckfish research of DIVERSIFY have been presented in a special Knowledge-Transfer workshop on the 19 of July, 2018 at the facilities of IEO, Vigo, Spain and a Technical Manual is available for downloading at the web site of the project. Currently a number of larvae are being reared also in the facilities of the Aquarium Finisterrae (right bottom video).
So, a small step in the production of juvenile wreckfish has been achieved as promised in the DIVERSIFY project. Based on this important development, we expect that the efforts towards the aquaculture of this great species will intensify, both at the national and European level, and we hope to be able to offer aquacultured wreckfish to the European consumer in the not-so-far future! |
The wreckfish Species leader for DIVERSIFY Dr Blanca Alvarez-Blázquez of the Instituto Español de Oceanografia (IEO), showing the larvae of wreckfish to Dr Aurelio Ortega, director of Aquaculture of IEO, during the recent Wreckfish Knowledge-Transfer workshop carried out at the facilities of IEO, Vigo on the 19 July 2018.
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Wreckfish larvae feeding on Artemia nauplii at the facilities of IEO, Vigo.
Larval rearing experiments begun in January 2018 and are still undergoing in July, as the broodstock at the Aquarium Finisterrae (A Coruña) has been induced to spawn using GnRHa implants provided by HCMR (Greece). |
final diversify promotional workshop with the greek industry- 11/07/2018
This week we have organized the 4th and final Promotional Workshop of DIVERSIFY. In the city of Athens and with the great colaboration of the Federation of Greek Maricultures (FGM),we had the opportunity to present our project to the major players of the Greek aquaculture industry. Fish producers, universities and administration representatives were part of the audience. The meeting started with an update of the project achievements in all the research areas, presented by the Dissemination leader. Five more presentations provided the background for the following debate. Among the presentations, the manager of FGM, Ioannis Pelekanakis, gave an interesting overview of the aquaculture production in Greece. During the debate, business models for Diversify species and product development were important discussion points. Consumer attitudes towards aquaculture products and the culture of carnivorous/herbivorous species as well as the use of fish meal in aquafeeds, generated interesting discussions.
We ended the workshop with a degustation in situ, of grey mullet filet preserved in olive oil and canned meagre paté prepared by CTAQUA and IRTA respectively (new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project).
You can have access to the presentations of the meeting by cliking on their title. For any further information please contact the Dissemination leader [email protected].
We ended the workshop with a degustation in situ, of grey mullet filet preserved in olive oil and canned meagre paté prepared by CTAQUA and IRTA respectively (new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project).
You can have access to the presentations of the meeting by cliking on their title. For any further information please contact the Dissemination leader [email protected].
Presentation of the Project DIVERSIFY. Rocío Robles. Dissemination leader DIVERSIFY. CTAQUA. Spain.
Aquaculture production in Greece. Yannis Pelekanakis, FGM Manager, Greece.
Current Opportunities and Challenges for Consumer Acceptance of Aquaculture Products. Marija Banovic, MAPP Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Traceability, labelling and certification of aquatic products. Javier Ojeda, APROMAR, Spain.
“ What do consumers think about aquaculture fish and the products made from it?”. Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Monells, Spain.
Competition, trends and critical success factors for new aquaculture species. Gemma Tacken (Stichting Wageningen Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands).
Aquaculture production in Greece. Yannis Pelekanakis, FGM Manager, Greece.
Current Opportunities and Challenges for Consumer Acceptance of Aquaculture Products. Marija Banovic, MAPP Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Traceability, labelling and certification of aquatic products. Javier Ojeda, APROMAR, Spain.
“ What do consumers think about aquaculture fish and the products made from it?”. Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Monells, Spain.
Competition, trends and critical success factors for new aquaculture species. Gemma Tacken (Stichting Wageningen Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands).
great success of the pikeperch workshop in nancy, france, 27 June 2018.
The second Species Workshop planned for DIVERSIFY was organized last Wednesday 27th June 2018 in Nancy, France, dedicated to pikeperch, and hosted by The University of Lorraine.
More than 60 participants from industry and academia have attended the event. The presentations covered topics related with the genetic variability of wild and domesticated populations, environmental control of the reproductive cycle for out-of-season spawning, hormonal treatments to induce spawning, optimization of protocols for larval rearing in RAS, nutritional requirements for larval rearing improvement and market, consumer perception, new product and business models for the species. The participation of the audience was remarkable and the final debate of the workshop provided interesting conclussions.
All the presentations are available in pdf format from the pikeperch Species Workshop page:
https://www.diversifyfish.eu/pikeperch-workshop.html
More than 60 participants from industry and academia have attended the event. The presentations covered topics related with the genetic variability of wild and domesticated populations, environmental control of the reproductive cycle for out-of-season spawning, hormonal treatments to induce spawning, optimization of protocols for larval rearing in RAS, nutritional requirements for larval rearing improvement and market, consumer perception, new product and business models for the species. The participation of the audience was remarkable and the final debate of the workshop provided interesting conclussions.
All the presentations are available in pdf format from the pikeperch Species Workshop page:
https://www.diversifyfish.eu/pikeperch-workshop.html
species seminars have started!! first one: grey mullet- may 14th -bari-italy
Last Monday 14th of May we have organized the first of a series of six Species Seminars in the framework of the EU project DIVERSIFY . This first seminar has been dedicated to the grey mullet (Múgil cephalus). The Seminar was held at the Palace Hotel in the city of Bari (Italy) and it gathered an audience very interested in the project results with this species.
The morning presentations covered a wide range of grey mullet related topics such as an overview of traditions and cultural heritage in grey mullet culture, reproduction and rearing of grey mullet for restocking purposes and grey mullet culture in Egypt.
DIVERSIFY presentations focused on the sexual maturation and controlling reproductive dysfunction of grey mullet in captivity and on larviculture optimization. Afternoon speakers explained, among other topics, the transition of grey mullet fingerlings from carnivorous to omnivorous feeding and how to complete the weaning period with different diets. The last two presentations were from the socioeconomic area of DIVERSIFY. Several marketing options for farmed grey mullet and the research work on consumer perceptions were explained. All the presentations promoted the participation of the audience which resulted in a very stimulating round table at the end of the day.
All the presentantions are available in pdf format from the grey mullet Species Workshop page:
http://www.diversifyfish.eu/grey-mullet-workshop.html
The morning presentations covered a wide range of grey mullet related topics such as an overview of traditions and cultural heritage in grey mullet culture, reproduction and rearing of grey mullet for restocking purposes and grey mullet culture in Egypt.
DIVERSIFY presentations focused on the sexual maturation and controlling reproductive dysfunction of grey mullet in captivity and on larviculture optimization. Afternoon speakers explained, among other topics, the transition of grey mullet fingerlings from carnivorous to omnivorous feeding and how to complete the weaning period with different diets. The last two presentations were from the socioeconomic area of DIVERSIFY. Several marketing options for farmed grey mullet and the research work on consumer perceptions were explained. All the presentations promoted the participation of the audience which resulted in a very stimulating round table at the end of the day.
All the presentantions are available in pdf format from the grey mullet Species Workshop page:
http://www.diversifyfish.eu/grey-mullet-workshop.html
third PROMOTIONAL WORKSHOP OF DIVERSiFY ORGANIZED IN verona-italy
The past 22 th of February, DIVERSIFY was present at the facilities of API (Association of Aquaproducers of Italy) in Verona (Italy) with the 3rd Promotional Workshop of the project. Fish producers, aquafeed companies, Universities and administration representatives were part of the audience. The event started with an update of the project achievements in all the research areas, presented by the Dissemination leader. Five more presentations provided the background for the following debate. Among the presentations, the director of API, Andrea Fabris, gave an overview of the aquaculture production in Italy. During the debate, production costs and marketing of Diversify species were important discussion points. Consumer attitudes towards aquaculture products and the culture of carnivorous/herbivorous species as well as the use of fish meal in aquafeeds, generated fruitful discussions.
Next Diversify Species Workshops were presented to the audience, who was very interested to attend the Seminars related to greater amberjack, meagre and grey mullet. We ended the workshop with a degustation in situ, of a delicious canned meagre paté prepared by IRTA (new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project). Smoked and canned sturgeon provided by API members were also tasted in this occasion.
You can have access to the presentations by cliking on their title. For any further information please contact the Dissemination leader [email protected].
Updated results of the Project DIVERSIFY. Rocío Robles. Dissemination leader DIVERSIFY. CTAQUA. Spain
Aquaculture production in Italy. Andrea Fabris, API Director, Italy
Traceability, labelling and certification of aquatic products. Javier Ojeda, APROMAR, Spain
Current Opportunities and Challenges for Consumer Acceptance of Aquaculture Products. Marija Banovic, MAPP Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark.
What do Italians think about aquaculture fish and the products made from it?. Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Monells, Spain.
Competition, trends and critical success factors for new aquaculture species. Gemma Tacken (Stichting Wageningen Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands).
advances on GREATER AMBERJACK, WRECKFISH AND MEAGRE research
A short interview from each of the species leader for greater amberjack (Dr. Nikos Papandroulakis, HCMR, Greece), wreckfish (Dr. Blanca Alvarez, IEO, Spain) and meagre (Dr. Alicia Estevez, IRTA, Spain) summarize the main results of the experiments and trials done with each species. Click on the play to hear the interview
diversify pikeperch work presented at VIII Fishing and Angling Professional Conference, 1 February, in Gödöllő, Hungary
Diversify partner Dr. Pascal Fontaine has addressed the pikeperch research done within the DIVERSIFY project during the event organized in Hungary. 180 participants attended the meeting from which 95% were fish farmers. For more information on the event you can contact Dr. Pascal Fontaine by email (click on his name).
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diversify 2018 annual coordination meeting on 23-25 January 2018
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The Annual Coordination Meeting for 2018 was completed last week, at University of La Laguna and at the facilities of IEO (Tenerife, Spain). The meeting was attended by 79 persons.
In the next few days, the presentations from the meeting will be uploaded in the web site, in the INTRA/Meetings & Activities page. |
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aquaculture europe 2017 dubrovnik:
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As for Aquaculture Europe 2015 in Rotterdam, DIVERSIFY had a full-day Special Session at the recent AQUACULTURE EUROPE 2017 conference in Dubrovnik (Croatia) between 17-20 October 2017. The session was chaired by the Dissemination leader (Dr. Rocio Robles) and the Project Coordinator (Dr. Constantinos C. Mylonas).
Presentations with the latest results of the project in all Research Areas were given by the a number of project partners. All Presentations in pdf format are available by clicking on the title in the list below.
Mylonas, C.C. and Robles, R. “Diversify”: exploring the biological and socio-economic potential of new/emerging candidate species for the expansion of the European aquaculture industry.
Corriero, A., Mylonas, C.C., Zupa, R., Pousis, C., Fakriadis, I., Papadaki, M., De Virgilio, C., Santamaria, N., Passantino, L. Reproductive development in wild and captive-reared greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810).
Fakriadis, I., Lisi, F., Sigelaki, I., Papadaki, M, Raftopoulos, A., and Mylonas, C.C. Spawning kinetics of greater amberjack Seriola dumerili in response to multiple GnRHa injections or implants.
Papadaki, M., Peleteiro, J.B., Álvarez-Blázquez, B., Rodríguez Villanueva, J.L., Linares, F., Vilar, A., Pérez Rial, E., Lluch, N., Fakriadis, I., Mylonas, C.C. Description of the endocrine reproductive cycle of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus in captivity.
Ramos, S., Gonzalez, W., Dutto, G., Mylonas, C.C., Fauvel, C and Duncan, N. Gamete quality and management for in vitro fertilisation in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) to facilitate the implementation of genetic breeding programs.
Baekelandt, S., Mandiki, S.N.M., Kestemont, P. Light environment affecting endocrine and immune circadian rhythms in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca).
Harboe, T., Patel, S., Nerland, A.H., Sandlund, N., Bergh, O., Norberg, B. Recirculation (RAS) vs. flow-through (FT) systems during yolk sac and first feeding stages: effects of rearing system bacteriology, and survival, quality and growth of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus larvae.
Koven, W., Gisbert, E., Nixon, O., Meiri-Ashkenazi, I., Gaon, A., Solovyev, M., Tandler, A., and Rosenfeld, H. Designing weaning diets based on the ontogeny of digestive tract enzyme activity during the carnivorous-omnivorous transition in grey mullet Mugil cephalus juveniles.
Papadakis, I.E., Papandroulakis, N., Sfendouraki, A., Camporesi, V., Vasilakis, M., and Mylonas, C.C. The effect of different stimuli on meagre Argyrosomus regius feeding behavior.
Colchen, T., Ledoré, Y., Hmilla, S., Gisbert, E., Zarski, D., Pasquet, A., Fontaine, P. Improvement of rearing conditions for juvenile pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) production in RAS
Pérez, M., Álvarez-Blázquez, B., Rodríguez, J. L., Vilar, A., Mylonas, C., Papandroulakis, N., Pérez Rial, E., Lluch, N., Pazos, G. and Linares, F. Progress in the wreckfish intensive culture. New candidate species for aquaculture.
Tsertou, M., Chatzifotis S., Fontanillas R., Cotou E., Fountoulaki E., Smyrli M., Antonopoulou E., Katharios P. Recent advances in the study of systemic granulomatosis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius).
Kotzamanis, Y. Fontanillas, R., Kouroupakis, E., Ilia, V., Vardali, S., Antonopoulou, E. Lysine optimization of a diet with low fish meal inclusion for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili, risso 1810).
Fernández-Montero, A., Caballero, M.J., Torrecillas, S., Milne, D.J., Secombes, C.J., Izquierdo, M., Montero, D. Dietary use of prebiotics in greater amberjack juveniles: effects on growth performance, immune gene expression and disease resistance against Neobenedenia girellae.
Banović, M., and Krystallis, A. Fish for the future: what could influence European consumer choice of new aquaculture products? Evidence from an experimental study with low and medium processed products.
Corriero, A., Mylonas, C.C., Zupa, R., Pousis, C., Fakriadis, I., Papadaki, M., De Virgilio, C., Santamaria, N., Passantino, L. Reproductive development in wild and captive-reared greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810).
Fakriadis, I., Lisi, F., Sigelaki, I., Papadaki, M, Raftopoulos, A., and Mylonas, C.C. Spawning kinetics of greater amberjack Seriola dumerili in response to multiple GnRHa injections or implants.
Papadaki, M., Peleteiro, J.B., Álvarez-Blázquez, B., Rodríguez Villanueva, J.L., Linares, F., Vilar, A., Pérez Rial, E., Lluch, N., Fakriadis, I., Mylonas, C.C. Description of the endocrine reproductive cycle of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus in captivity.
Ramos, S., Gonzalez, W., Dutto, G., Mylonas, C.C., Fauvel, C and Duncan, N. Gamete quality and management for in vitro fertilisation in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) to facilitate the implementation of genetic breeding programs.
Baekelandt, S., Mandiki, S.N.M., Kestemont, P. Light environment affecting endocrine and immune circadian rhythms in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca).
Harboe, T., Patel, S., Nerland, A.H., Sandlund, N., Bergh, O., Norberg, B. Recirculation (RAS) vs. flow-through (FT) systems during yolk sac and first feeding stages: effects of rearing system bacteriology, and survival, quality and growth of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus larvae.
Koven, W., Gisbert, E., Nixon, O., Meiri-Ashkenazi, I., Gaon, A., Solovyev, M., Tandler, A., and Rosenfeld, H. Designing weaning diets based on the ontogeny of digestive tract enzyme activity during the carnivorous-omnivorous transition in grey mullet Mugil cephalus juveniles.
Papadakis, I.E., Papandroulakis, N., Sfendouraki, A., Camporesi, V., Vasilakis, M., and Mylonas, C.C. The effect of different stimuli on meagre Argyrosomus regius feeding behavior.
Colchen, T., Ledoré, Y., Hmilla, S., Gisbert, E., Zarski, D., Pasquet, A., Fontaine, P. Improvement of rearing conditions for juvenile pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) production in RAS
Pérez, M., Álvarez-Blázquez, B., Rodríguez, J. L., Vilar, A., Mylonas, C., Papandroulakis, N., Pérez Rial, E., Lluch, N., Pazos, G. and Linares, F. Progress in the wreckfish intensive culture. New candidate species for aquaculture.
Tsertou, M., Chatzifotis S., Fontanillas R., Cotou E., Fountoulaki E., Smyrli M., Antonopoulou E., Katharios P. Recent advances in the study of systemic granulomatosis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius).
Kotzamanis, Y. Fontanillas, R., Kouroupakis, E., Ilia, V., Vardali, S., Antonopoulou, E. Lysine optimization of a diet with low fish meal inclusion for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili, risso 1810).
Fernández-Montero, A., Caballero, M.J., Torrecillas, S., Milne, D.J., Secombes, C.J., Izquierdo, M., Montero, D. Dietary use of prebiotics in greater amberjack juveniles: effects on growth performance, immune gene expression and disease resistance against Neobenedenia girellae.
Banović, M., and Krystallis, A. Fish for the future: what could influence European consumer choice of new aquaculture products? Evidence from an experimental study with low and medium processed products.
second PROMOTIONAL WORKSHOP OF diverisfy organized in el puerto de santa maria- cádiz (spain)
Last Thursday, 28th of September, it was organized at the factilities of CTAQUA, the 2nd Promotional Workshop of the project DIVERSIFY. Fish producer, processors, retailers and administration representatives were part of the audience. The event started with an update of the project achiviements in all the research areas, presented by the Dissemination leader. Five more presentations provided the background for the following debate on how to improve the image of aquaculture products and the consumer attitude towards them. Sanitary regulatory issues related to the fisheries and aquaculture products were also discussed. The final part of the Workshop consisted in a degustation in situ, of two new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project: grey mullet filet preserved in olive oil (prepared by CTAQUA) and pikeperch paté (prepared by IRTA).
You can have access to the presentations by cliking on their title. Speakers can be contacted directly in the email address included in the their presentations:
DIVERSIFY PROJECT: Results update. Rocio Robles. Dissemination leader. CTAQUA. Spain
Traceability, labelling and certification of fish products. Spanish consumer market choices. Javier Ojeda,APROMAR. Spain
Setup of virtual store test. Maren Vos,TU/e Eindhoven. The Netherlands
BLUE REVOLUTION: Uncovering solutions that drive commercially viable aquaculture products for European market. Marija Banovic, MAPP. Aarhus University. Denmark
Cross-cultural consumer perception of new fish products. Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Spain.
Sanitary control in primary production and post-production. Ulises Ameyugo Catalán, Regional Food Safety and Health. Spain
----POST-DOC POSITION IN FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMUR, BE----
Click here to get all the information about the post-doctoral position
For more information contact Prof. Patrick Kestemont ([email protected])
Click here to get all the information about the post-doctoral position
For more information contact Prof. Patrick Kestemont ([email protected])
DIVERSIFY RESULTS PRESENTED AT THE WORLD AQUACULTURE MEETING HELD IN CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA)
Last June 26-30 with the ocasion of the World Aquaculture Society meeting celebrated in Cape Town (South-Africa), Dr.Karl André from Instituto de Recerca y Tecnologia Agroalimentarias (IRTA, Spain) gave an interesting presentation about the project and the latest results on the "Gene expression analysis of antimicrobial peptides during larval rearing and grow-out of meagre (Argyrosomus regius)". The co-authors of this work were Dr.Cindy Campoverde, Dr. Alicia Estévez also from IRTA and Dr. Douglas Milne and Prof. Christopher Secombes from University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
If you are interested to know more, please contact the authors directly by clicking on Dr. André's name.
If you are interested to know more, please contact the authors directly by clicking on Dr. André's name.
FIRST PROMOTIONAL WORKSHOP OF DIVERSIFY CELEBRATED IN BREMEN (GERMANY)
The past 24th of May, it was held in the Business Lounge (Hall 7, 1st floor), Theodor-Heuss-Strasse in Bremen (Germany) the 1st. Promotional Workshop of the project DIVERSIFY. The objective of the workshop was to promote the DIVERSIFY activities mainly in the Socioeconomic Research Area and with focus on specific audience, such as fish processors (very important sector in Germany), retailers, consumers organizations etc. Thanks to our local DIVERSIFY partner, Matthias Keller from BVFi, relevant speakers from professional associations and consumer’s organizations were invited to the workshop.
A morning session with six presentations provided a perfect ground for an intense and constructive debate on marketing, commercialization and consumer related issues concerning seafood products. The final part of the Workshop consisted in a degustation in situ, of two new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project: grey mullet filet preserved in olive oil (prepared by CTAQUA) and pikeperch paté (prepared by IRTA).
You can have access to the presentations by cliking on their title:
* Presentation of the project DIVERSIFY.
Rocio Robles, Dissemination leader. Technical Director, CTAQUA, Spain.
* The German fish market in figures: Update on valuable data.
Matthias Keller, Managing Director of BVFi, Germany.
* German markets: consumer attitude to new fish products.
Jürgen Pauly, Category Manager Fresh, Globus SB-Warenhaus, Germany.
* Aquaculture products for the long run: Consumer-driven product idea development from Diversify.
Marija Banovic, MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.
* Traceability, labelling and certification of fish products.
Javier Ojeda, APROMAR, Spain.
* Cross-cultural consumer perception of new fish products.
Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Monells, Spain.
The list of attendees is available here.
A morning session with six presentations provided a perfect ground for an intense and constructive debate on marketing, commercialization and consumer related issues concerning seafood products. The final part of the Workshop consisted in a degustation in situ, of two new fish products developed within the DIVERSIFY project: grey mullet filet preserved in olive oil (prepared by CTAQUA) and pikeperch paté (prepared by IRTA).
You can have access to the presentations by cliking on their title:
* Presentation of the project DIVERSIFY.
Rocio Robles, Dissemination leader. Technical Director, CTAQUA, Spain.
* The German fish market in figures: Update on valuable data.
Matthias Keller, Managing Director of BVFi, Germany.
* German markets: consumer attitude to new fish products.
Jürgen Pauly, Category Manager Fresh, Globus SB-Warenhaus, Germany.
* Aquaculture products for the long run: Consumer-driven product idea development from Diversify.
Marija Banovic, MAPP Centre, Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.
* Traceability, labelling and certification of fish products.
Javier Ojeda, APROMAR, Spain.
* Cross-cultural consumer perception of new fish products.
Luis Guerrero, IRTA, Monells, Spain.
The list of attendees is available here.
aquaculture europe 2017-diversify special session
DIVERSIFY will have a Special Session during the next Aquaculture Europe confenrence to be held in Dubrovnic, Croatia next October.
You can click on the following link to send your abstract for the conference:
https://www.was.org/EasOnline/abstracts/default.aspx
We have already some abstracts. You can see all submitted abstracts by pressing the button below. Below are the latest abstracts submitted:
"Fish for the future: what could influence European consumer choice of new aquaculture products?. Evidence from an experimental study with low and medium processed products" by M. Banović and A. Krystallis (AU, HRH)
"Spawning kinetics of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) in response to multiple GnRHa injections or implants” by Ioannis Fakriadis, Francesca Lisi, Irini Sigelaki, Maria Papadaki, Anastasios Raftopoulos and Constantinos C. Mylonas (HCMR and ARGO)
"Broodstock management and spawning induction of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) reared in tanks and sea cages in Greece" by Constantinos C Mylonas, Ioannis Fakriadis, Anastasios Raftopoulos, Georgios Iakovopoulos, Nikos Papandroulakis, Maria Papadaki, Irini Sigelaki (HCMR, ARGO and GMF)
"Description of the endocrine reproductive cycle of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus in captivity" by Maria Papadaki, Jose Benito Peleteiro, Blanca Alvarez-Blázquez, J.L. Rodríguez Villanueva, Fatima Linares, Antonio Vilar, Evaristo Pérez Rial, Nuria Lluch, Ioannis Fakriadis, Constantinos C. Mylonas (HCMR, IEO, CMRM and MC2)
"Effect of male rotation on induced pair spawning of meagre Argyrosomus regius" by Irini Sigelaki, Maria Claudia Nogueira França, Dimitris Karamanlidis, Ioannis Fakriadis, Neil Duncan, Constantinos C. Mylonas (HCMR and IRTA)
“DIVERSIFY”: Exploring the biological and socio-economic potential of new/emerging candidate species for the expansion of the European aquaculture industry" by Constantinos C Mylonas and Rocio Robles (HCMR and CTAQUA)
"Designing weaning diets based on the ontogeny of Digestive tract enzyme activity during the carnivorous-omnivorous transition in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) juveniles" by William Koven, Enric Gisbert, O. Nixon, I. Meiri-Ashkenazi, A. Gaon, M.M. Solovyev , Amos Tandler and Hanna Rosenfeld (IOLR and IRTA)
"Recirculation (RAS) v flow through (FT) systems during yolk sac and first feeding stages: effects on rearing system bacteriology and survival, quality and growth of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) larvae" by Torstein Harboe, Sonal Patel, Audun H. Nerland, Nina Sandlund, Øivind Bergh and Birgitta Norberg (IMR)
"Improvement of rearing conditions for the juveniles pikeperch (Sander luicoperca) production in RAS" by T. Colchen, Y. Ledoré, S. Hmilla, E. Gisbert, D. Zarski, A. Pasquet and P. Fontaine (UL and IRTA)
"Combined effect of immune-stimulant enrichment products and feeding frequency on greater amberjack larval performance" by M.V. Martín, J.A. Pérez, S. Jerez, E. Chaves-Pozo, A. Lorenzo, M. Arizcun, A. Bolaños, C. Rodríguez (IEO and ULL).
The 2017 annual coordination meeting was completed in barcelona (17-19 January)
The 3-day Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) for 2017 was held in the beautiful Palau Macaya and the Campus del Mar of the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. During the first 2 days there were a large number of presentations on specific tasks carried out during the last years of the project. The presentations of the ACM 2017 are available for the public and can bee found in the INTRA-meetings page of this website.
FEATURED ARTICLE ABOUT DIVERSIFY IN AQUAFEED INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
A featured article about DIVERSIFY work and results have been published in the last issue of the magazine Aquafeed International. The magazine also includes an article on "Consumers' perception
of new fish products".
Click here to read both articles
of new fish products".
Click here to read both articles
NEW DIVERSIFY VIDEO: MAJOR RESULTS FROM 3 YEARS OF WORK
DIVERSIFY AT EUROTIER 2016
A presentation on the DIVERSIFY project has been delivered at EuroTier, Hannover, Germany (www.eurotier.com), by Dissemination leader Rocio Robles (CTAQUA) on November 17th. EuroTier, is one of the world’s leading trade shows for animal husbandry and livestock management. It attracts exhibitors from all over the world to present their innovations for cattle, pig and poultry farming as well as in aquaculture. The presentation opened a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Matthias Keller (BVFi), DIVERSIFY partner, with the participation of Mr. Jürgen Pauly (GLOBUS), Mr. Bent Urup (Sashimi Royal), Mr. Javier Ojeda (APROMAR), also DIVERSIFY partner and Dr. Robles. The discussion was followed by a lively “International FishTalk” and a friendly “FishParty”.
Consumers’ perception of new fish products from new aquaculture species
Consumers are the last step in the production chain and those who ultimately decide on the success or failure of a new product launched into the market. It is therefore essential to understand the factors affecting consumer behaviour and the key aspects driving decision-making and product purchasing. Sensory properties have been identified as one of the main determinants of food selection and consumption.
Read the full article from the DIVERSIFY Socioeconomic team here.
Read the full article from the DIVERSIFY Socioeconomic team here.
great success of diversify at ae 2016 in edinburgh.
DIVERSIFY project was well represented at the recent Aquaculture Europe 2016 held in Edinburgh, Scotland during the past 20 to 23 of September. The conference featured a scientific conference, an international trade event, special sessions for aquaculture producers and satellite workshops. The session on “Diversification in finfish aquaculture” took place on Thursday, September 22, from 10:30 to 12:50 h at the Carrick conference room. The session was chaired by the Dissemination leader of DIVERSIFY, Rocio Robles, who presented the most relevant results of the Research Areas of the project. DIVERSIFY talk attracted quite some audience, completing the capacity of the Carrick room. The session comprised four oral presentations of the DIVERSIFY project and 12 posters. For the next 2017 Aquaculture Europe meeting, “Cooperation for growth” to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, our project will have a dedicated session day.
three new scientific publications from diversify RESEARCHERS:
Relevant results in the field of reproduction control of meagre have been published in the article included in the Aquculture issue 464, "Enhancement of oogenesis/spermatogenesis in meagre Argyrosomus regius using a combination of temperature control and
GnRHa treatments", from Constantinos C. Mylonas, Sara Salone, Tommaso Biglino, Paulo H. de Mello, Ioannis Fakriadis, Irini Sigelaki and Neil Duncan. Click here to contact the author.
Also relevants and very interesting are the results from the work performed in the socioeconomical research area of the project. Two articles have just been published in Food Research International "Consumers as co-creator of new product ideas: an application of projective and creative research techniques", authored by Marija Banović, Athanasios Krystallis, Luis Guerrero and Machiel J. Reinders (click here to contact the author), and a second article from the same team, "Consumer perceptions of farmed fish: A cross-national segmentation in five European countries " to be published in the British Food Journal. Click here to contact the author.
GnRHa treatments", from Constantinos C. Mylonas, Sara Salone, Tommaso Biglino, Paulo H. de Mello, Ioannis Fakriadis, Irini Sigelaki and Neil Duncan. Click here to contact the author.
Also relevants and very interesting are the results from the work performed in the socioeconomical research area of the project. Two articles have just been published in Food Research International "Consumers as co-creator of new product ideas: an application of projective and creative research techniques", authored by Marija Banović, Athanasios Krystallis, Luis Guerrero and Machiel J. Reinders (click here to contact the author), and a second article from the same team, "Consumer perceptions of farmed fish: A cross-national segmentation in five European countries " to be published in the British Food Journal. Click here to contact the author.
video summary of the annual coordination meeting of diversify held at the university of lorraine (nancy, france).
DIVERSIFY PRESENTED AT THE 6th OFFSHORE MARICULTURE CONFERENCE IN BARCELONA, SPAIN.
The 6th Offshore Mariculture Conference, an international two-day conference focused on the offshore fish farming business, has been held in Barcelona, Spain on 6-8 April 2016. The conference has gathered fish farmers and aquaculture industry members with the aim to grow their offshore fish farming businesses.
Dr. C.Mylonas, DIVERSIFY project coordinator at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research attended and presented the project and its main outcomes after two years of research out of its five years duration. Progress has been made in all the research areas of the project: genetics and reproduction; nutritional management; larval and grow-out husbandry; and fish health. Besides the technical improvement of the selected species, the socio-economic research in DIVERSIFY includes solutions on perception of aquaculture products, market demand, buyer preferences, new product development, value adding and market development. These outcomes will help the EU aquaculture sector and the supply industry in targeted marketing and improvement of its international competitive position. Click here to view the presentation
Dr. C.Mylonas, DIVERSIFY project coordinator at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research attended and presented the project and its main outcomes after two years of research out of its five years duration. Progress has been made in all the research areas of the project: genetics and reproduction; nutritional management; larval and grow-out husbandry; and fish health. Besides the technical improvement of the selected species, the socio-economic research in DIVERSIFY includes solutions on perception of aquaculture products, market demand, buyer preferences, new product development, value adding and market development. These outcomes will help the EU aquaculture sector and the supply industry in targeted marketing and improvement of its international competitive position. Click here to view the presentation
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New article on the progress of DIVERSIFY in the research with greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), published in the magazine of the European Aquaculture Society "Aquaculture Europe", Vol 41(1), March 2016.
Advances in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) research: the DIVERSIFY project Mylonas C.C., Katharios, P., Grigorakis, K. and Papandroulakis, N. (Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Heraklion, Crete, Greece) Robles, R. (CTAQUA, Spain) Corriero, A., Pousis, C. and Zupa, R. (University of Bari, Italy) Fernández-Palacios, H., Montero, D., Izquierdo, M.S., Roo, J. and Hernández-Cruz, C.M. (Fundación Canaria Parque Científico Tecnológico, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) Rodríguez, C. and Pérez, J.A. (Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) Jerez, S. (Instituto Español de Oceanografia, Tenerife, Spain) Secombes, C. (University of Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K.) Guerrero, L. (IRTA, Spain) |
interesting video on the monogenean parasite of greater amberjack zeuxapta seriolae.
By Dr. Pantelis Katharios, HCMR, Crete.
The Annual coordination meeting 2016 in nancy, france (2-4 february 2016) has been completed. Please visit the meeting page for information on the meeting and the presentations
DIVERSIFY 4th NEWSLETTER
diversify session at aquaculture europe conference in rotterdam 2015
great success of the diversify session at AE2015 conference in rotterdam last thursday 22 october
A Special Session was organized at the AQUACULTURE EUROPE 2015 conference held between 20-23 October 2015 at Rotterdam, The Netherlands, focusing on the work carried out in the last 2 years in the DIVERSIFY project . The session was chaired by the Project Coordinator (PC) of DIVERSIFY (Dr. Constantinos C. Mylonas) and the WP31 Dissemination leader (Dr. Rocio Robles). Summary presentations were given by each of the six Species Leaders (SL) of DIVERSIFY : meagre (Argyrosomus regius), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), wreckfish (Polyprion americanus), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). Work done in the Socioeconomic area of the project was also presented.
(Click on the name of the species to access the presentation)
(Click on the name of the species to access the presentation)
diversify was present at the spanish aquaculture conferencem with the work on greater amberjack by the university of las palmas (p2.Fcptc).
Advances in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) research during the first 18
months of diversify
INTERVIEW WITH DR. MYLONAS, DIVERSIFY PROJECT COORDINATOR
In this interview Dr. Constantinos (Dinos) Mylonas gives an overview of the main achievements of the project until July 2015.
Click here to listen to the interview
Click here to listen to the interview
diversify presented at the aquaculture round table in germany
The Ministry of Fisheries of Germany has organized a Round Table on Aquaculture on 15th July 2015. DIVERSIFY project has been presented during the meeting that was held in Bonn, by partner BVFi (Bundesverband der Deutschen Fischindustrie und des Fischgrosshandels E.V.). Audience of the meeting included gubernamental representatives, policy makers, fish and aquaculture processing industry members and media representatives. Dr. Matthias Keller introduced DIVERSIFY and presented the most relevant results of the project after one year, with special emphasis on the work packages related to the socioeconomical dimension of DIVERSIFY. Results obtained from WP28 related to consumer perception of aquaculture products were presented at the meeting. See more
broodstock evaluation of greater amberjack at ieo in tenerife, spain.
Last month of May, several broodstock specimens of
greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) born in captivity at the Instituto
Español de Oceanografia in Tenerife (Canary Island, Spain), were examined in
order to evaluate their reproductive condition.
DIVERSIFY INCLUDED IN THE DUTCH MAGAZINE AQUACULTUUR:
FISH INNOVATORS: EUROPEAN CONSUMERS WITH AN INTEREST IN FARMED FISH
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Fish is good for you. Most consumers do not question this. But the health benefits of fish do not always tempt people to buy it. Not enough European consumers are following the dietary recommendations to eat more fish. The nutritional value of the product is, of course, an asset to be cherished, but it does not induce consumers to eat more of it. The answer might lie in product innovation. ‘DIVERSIFY’ is looking for innovative ideas to supplement nutritional value as a ‘classic’ core quality of fish and to make fish more appealing to today’s consumer.
Read more |
DIVERSIFY NEWSLETTER-3 2015.
DIVERSIFY AT THE eatip conference in brussels
Last week, during 28 and 29 April 2015, the European
Aquaculture Technological and innovation Platform (EATiP), has celebrated its
annual general meeting (AGM) in the hotel NH Grand Sablon, Brussels.
During the meeting, several important EU projects have been presented, related to 'technical textiles for large scale seaweed growth', 'the advancement and enhancement of algae', 'the potential for insect proteins' and our project DIVERSIFY.
Our coordinator, Dr. Mylonas gave an overview of the project’s objectives, explained the rationale behind the species selection for the project, as well as provided a resume of the major achievements after the first year of the project. The works of the first year have focused on the optimization of reproduction and larviculture protocols for meagre (Argyrosomus regius), great amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). In the case of meagre, trials have proven that paired spawning of high quality eggs is possible and could be used in breeding selection programs.
Concerning the work done in the Socioeconomic area of the project, some interesting results from an on-line consumer survey have shown that, in general, consumers' knowledge of the main characteristics and advantages of farmed fish seems to be rather low. The results obtained in the study indicated that effective information strategies about farmed fish and production systems are very needed in order to improve its image and increase acceptance.
During the meeting, several important EU projects have been presented, related to 'technical textiles for large scale seaweed growth', 'the advancement and enhancement of algae', 'the potential for insect proteins' and our project DIVERSIFY.
Our coordinator, Dr. Mylonas gave an overview of the project’s objectives, explained the rationale behind the species selection for the project, as well as provided a resume of the major achievements after the first year of the project. The works of the first year have focused on the optimization of reproduction and larviculture protocols for meagre (Argyrosomus regius), great amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). In the case of meagre, trials have proven that paired spawning of high quality eggs is possible and could be used in breeding selection programs.
Concerning the work done in the Socioeconomic area of the project, some interesting results from an on-line consumer survey have shown that, in general, consumers' knowledge of the main characteristics and advantages of farmed fish seems to be rather low. The results obtained in the study indicated that effective information strategies about farmed fish and production systems are very needed in order to improve its image and increase acceptance.
ADVANCES IN MEAGRE (Argyrosomus regius) RESEARCH DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT "DIVERSIFY"
ANTONIO VILLAR FROM THE AQUARIUM OF FINISTERRAE TALKS ABOUT DIVERSIFY PROJECT Find the article in spanish_
Antonio Villar, from the Aquarium of Finisterrae (P32, MC2)
March, 2nd 2015
Antonio Vilar, from the Aquarium of Finisterrae (P32. MC2) was interviewed yesterday by "La opinión" (Galicia, Spain). They talked about DIVERSIFY project main objectives and how the Aquarium of Finisterrae is involved in reproduction & Genetics of Wreckfish and Wreckfish larval husbandry. The Aquarium has a big sotck of this species and interesting progress were achieved in such disciplines in 2014 by DIVERSIFY team. "I think that at the end of 2018, whith the conclusion of DIVERSIFY project, wreckfish will be ready to be at the market" he said.
Antonio Vilar, from the Aquarium of Finisterrae (P32. MC2) was interviewed yesterday by "La opinión" (Galicia, Spain). They talked about DIVERSIFY project main objectives and how the Aquarium of Finisterrae is involved in reproduction & Genetics of Wreckfish and Wreckfish larval husbandry. The Aquarium has a big sotck of this species and interesting progress were achieved in such disciplines in 2014 by DIVERSIFY team. "I think that at the end of 2018, whith the conclusion of DIVERSIFY project, wreckfish will be ready to be at the market" he said.
wreckfish sampling - Ull, Feb 2015
On February 2015, researchers from the University of La Laguna (Tenerife), conducted a sampling of two specimens of wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) at the dependencies of Makro in La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain). These two mature male specimens of 27 and 28 Kg weight, were caught from the coast of the Canary Islands by longline art. The specimens were filleted, obtaining about 32 kg of meat that were packaged under vacuum for shipment to the IRTA (Tarragona) and HCMR (Greece) where it will undergo a sensory analysis. The University of La Laguna took samples of muscle, gonad and liver and somatometric measures relevant to the planned studies in diverse areas of main disciplines of DIVERSIFY project (socioeconomic, reproduction, nutrition, etc.).
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MEAGRE WORK IRTA 2014
A summary of the work carried out on meagre at IRTA facilities in Spain is available on youtube. Click here
diversify first year summary
To see a summary of the first year of Diversify, click here
PARTICIPATION OF DIVERSIFY AT THE REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE-2014
An international conference organized by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM/FAO), the European Commission and the Italian Ministry of Agricultural Food and Forestry Policies took place in Bari (Italy) on December 9-11. The objective of the conference was to review the progress made by aquaculture in the Mediterranean region and to address the main governance, economic, social and environmental challenges for the aquaculture sustainable development.
Professor Aldo Corriero (University of Bari A;do Moro) accompanied by Mr Javier Ojeda (APROMAR) offered a presentation to the plenary detailing the objectives and activities of the DIVERSIFY project which attracted great attention and interest from the audience. More information about the project was available in a booth at the conference’s exposition area during the 3-day conference.
Annual Coordination Meeting 2014
The Annual Coordination Meeting for 2014 was completed last week, at the Palazzo Ateneo of the University of Bari Aldo Moro, hosted by Dr. Aldo Corriero.
The meeting was attended by 73 persons, including 7 invited guests from outside the consortium. The Agenda consisted of a common session for all participants during DAY 1 (including invited guests from outside the consortium), then 6 Workshop Sessions running in parallel during DAY 2, and finally during DAY 3 a common session dealing with Dissemination, Reporting and Financial Reporting. In DAY 3 there was also a meeting of the Steering Committee.
In the next few days, the presentations from the meeting will be uploaded in the web site, in the INTRA/Meetings & Activities page. In the photo on the left, the attendants of the meeting were photographed at the grand staircase of Palazzo Ateneo, with the Rector of the University of Bari Aldo Moro.
The meeting was attended by 73 persons, including 7 invited guests from outside the consortium. The Agenda consisted of a common session for all participants during DAY 1 (including invited guests from outside the consortium), then 6 Workshop Sessions running in parallel during DAY 2, and finally during DAY 3 a common session dealing with Dissemination, Reporting and Financial Reporting. In DAY 3 there was also a meeting of the Steering Committee.
In the next few days, the presentations from the meeting will be uploaded in the web site, in the INTRA/Meetings & Activities page. In the photo on the left, the attendants of the meeting were photographed at the grand staircase of Palazzo Ateneo, with the Rector of the University of Bari Aldo Moro.
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Presentations at the European aquaculture society's meeting in san sebastian, SPain.Two presentations from DIVERSIFY were given at the 2014 conference of the European Aquaculture Society. An oral presentation authored by C.C. Mylonas and R. Robles was presented in the Diversification Session in the morning of Wednesday 14th October. In the same session, a poster presentation was authored by J. L. Rodriguez, J.B. Peleteiro and F. Linares. Both presentations and their abstracts can be viewed in the "DISSEMINATION-Posters & Presentations" section of this website.
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How to train greater amberjack to feed on commercial extruded feeds (protocol)
Transfer of greater amberjack fingerlings from the AQUALABS to the Agios Kosmas facilities of HCMR for nutrition studies.
After the successful spawning induction and larval rearing of greater amberjack that was performed in collaboration with the Greek national Programme "KRIPIS" at the facilities of the Hellenic Center of Marine Research (HCMR) in Crete, a group of fingerlings were transferred on the 16th September 2014, to the HCMR facilities of Agios Kosmas, Athens, in order to begin the experiments on the nutritional requirements of the species. The fish are now about 10 g in body weight and they will be used in studies examining the nutrient requirements of the species.
After the successful spawning induction and larval rearing of greater amberjack that was performed in collaboration with the Greek national Programme "KRIPIS" at the facilities of the Hellenic Center of Marine Research (HCMR) in Crete, a group of fingerlings were transferred on the 16th September 2014, to the HCMR facilities of Agios Kosmas, Athens, in order to begin the experiments on the nutritional requirements of the species. The fish are now about 10 g in body weight and they will be used in studies examining the nutrient requirements of the species.
Assessment of sperm characteristics from DIVERSIFY species.
During spring 2014, several sperm samplings have been organized by Dr Christian Fauvel, IFREMER, France, in order to qualify and perform first trials for successful transport and storage. Samples for sperm quality assessment were taken from 6 wreckfish males from la Coruña Aquarium, 2 males from Luso Hispanica Aquicultura (LHA) and 2 males from the Vigo facilities of the Instituto Español de Oceanografia (IEO), all situated in Galicia (Spain).
The mean concentration of wreckfish sperm was 250 billion of spermatozoa per ml. Only fresh sperm of the Vigo broodstock could be correctly assessed for motility, since gametes from the other sites were transported in suboptimal conditions of conservation before lab analyses. Sperm did not start moving after 24h raw storage, but exhibited motility if diluted at collection in different storage media, although lower speed and lower motility duration were recorded compared to fresh sperm. It was concluded that conditions of sperm storage and transportation must be improved if male and female gamete collection must occur in separate locations or different times. For this, storage media and temperature of preservation have to be adapted to this species in further experiments.
Concerning meagre, between May 12th and 17th, the French private company ”Les Poissons Du Soleil” kindly offered us the opportunity to collect sperm from 2 broodstocks of meagre with 2 objectives:1) to get first analytical data about meagre sperm in order to prepare next year's investigations, 2) to train our Israeli partner of IOLR (Dr Iris Meiri Ashkhenazi), in order to prepare the characterization of grey mullet sperm during the next reproductive season (October) using the same tools as those developed for wreckfish, meagre and later, amberjack. The mean concentration of semen of fish at the peak of the reproductive season was 45 billion spermatozoa per ml, whereas a significant decrease was observed for those at the end of season (males from shifted broodstock) showing only 30 billion spermatozoa per ml. The initial velocity was 130 µm per sec, decreasing rapidly to 0 after 50 sec. As a preliminary conclusion, meagre sperm roughly behaves as European sea bass sperm. Moreover, diluents formulated for chilled storage of European sea bass sperm were very efficient in sustaining meagre sperm motility for at least 24h. These preliminary results are very promising for the development of artificial fertilization in meagre, planned for the next years.
During spring 2014, several sperm samplings have been organized by Dr Christian Fauvel, IFREMER, France, in order to qualify and perform first trials for successful transport and storage. Samples for sperm quality assessment were taken from 6 wreckfish males from la Coruña Aquarium, 2 males from Luso Hispanica Aquicultura (LHA) and 2 males from the Vigo facilities of the Instituto Español de Oceanografia (IEO), all situated in Galicia (Spain).
The mean concentration of wreckfish sperm was 250 billion of spermatozoa per ml. Only fresh sperm of the Vigo broodstock could be correctly assessed for motility, since gametes from the other sites were transported in suboptimal conditions of conservation before lab analyses. Sperm did not start moving after 24h raw storage, but exhibited motility if diluted at collection in different storage media, although lower speed and lower motility duration were recorded compared to fresh sperm. It was concluded that conditions of sperm storage and transportation must be improved if male and female gamete collection must occur in separate locations or different times. For this, storage media and temperature of preservation have to be adapted to this species in further experiments.
Concerning meagre, between May 12th and 17th, the French private company ”Les Poissons Du Soleil” kindly offered us the opportunity to collect sperm from 2 broodstocks of meagre with 2 objectives:1) to get first analytical data about meagre sperm in order to prepare next year's investigations, 2) to train our Israeli partner of IOLR (Dr Iris Meiri Ashkhenazi), in order to prepare the characterization of grey mullet sperm during the next reproductive season (October) using the same tools as those developed for wreckfish, meagre and later, amberjack. The mean concentration of semen of fish at the peak of the reproductive season was 45 billion spermatozoa per ml, whereas a significant decrease was observed for those at the end of season (males from shifted broodstock) showing only 30 billion spermatozoa per ml. The initial velocity was 130 µm per sec, decreasing rapidly to 0 after 50 sec. As a preliminary conclusion, meagre sperm roughly behaves as European sea bass sperm. Moreover, diluents formulated for chilled storage of European sea bass sperm were very efficient in sustaining meagre sperm motility for at least 24h. These preliminary results are very promising for the development of artificial fertilization in meagre, planned for the next years.
Collection of greater amberjack eggs from sea cages, after hormonal induction of spawning
On Wednesday 25 June 2014, the first spawned eggs from greater amberjack were obtained from the Souda Bay, Sea cage facilities of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR). The cage contained a broodstock of 3 females and 7 males, which were induced to mature and spawn 2 days earlier, using GnRHa implants (see previous announcement below). A total of 500,000 eggs (~70% fertilization success) were collected from the cage by 10:00 am, and were packaged and shipped to the Aqualabs facilities of HCMR, where they were stocked in various tanks, in order to begin the implementation of the WP15 Larval husbandry - greater amberjack and WP25 Fish health - greater amberjack.
In addition, eggs were collected on Friday 27 and Saturday 28, 2014, from a collaborating commercial facility in Greece (Galaxidi Marine Farms, S.A.), from a cage containing a total of 23 mature created amberjack (11 females and 12 males). The fish were also induced to mature and spawn on Thursday 26 June 2014, using GnRHa implants (see previous announcement below). A small quantity of eggs (15,000, ~99% fertilization success) was obtained on 27 June 2014, produced by a single female that was at a very advanced stage of maturation (Germinal Vesicle Breakdown) at the time of the GnRHa treatment. Another batch of 400,000 eggs (~95% fertilization success) were collected from the cage the next day. We expect that more eggs will be produced in the coming days.
On Wednesday 25 June 2014, the first spawned eggs from greater amberjack were obtained from the Souda Bay, Sea cage facilities of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR). The cage contained a broodstock of 3 females and 7 males, which were induced to mature and spawn 2 days earlier, using GnRHa implants (see previous announcement below). A total of 500,000 eggs (~70% fertilization success) were collected from the cage by 10:00 am, and were packaged and shipped to the Aqualabs facilities of HCMR, where they were stocked in various tanks, in order to begin the implementation of the WP15 Larval husbandry - greater amberjack and WP25 Fish health - greater amberjack.
In addition, eggs were collected on Friday 27 and Saturday 28, 2014, from a collaborating commercial facility in Greece (Galaxidi Marine Farms, S.A.), from a cage containing a total of 23 mature created amberjack (11 females and 12 males). The fish were also induced to mature and spawn on Thursday 26 June 2014, using GnRHa implants (see previous announcement below). A small quantity of eggs (15,000, ~99% fertilization success) was obtained on 27 June 2014, produced by a single female that was at a very advanced stage of maturation (Germinal Vesicle Breakdown) at the time of the GnRHa treatment. Another batch of 400,000 eggs (~95% fertilization success) were collected from the cage the next day. We expect that more eggs will be produced in the coming days.
Spawning induction of greater amberjack and collection of eggs from sea cages
The first spawning induction trials were carried out on 23 June 2014, at the Souda Bay, Sea cage facilities of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research. Eleven mature greater amberjack brood stock were maintained in a 40 m perimeter, 10 meter deep cage in the western part of Crete, Greece. Part of the stock was maintained there for several years, and another part was transferred there at the beginning of April. All fish examined for stage of maturation using gonadal biopsy, and upon verification of the appropriate stage of maturation, they were treated with controlled release delivery implants loaded with GnRHa, to induce maturation, ovulation and spawning.
The males (n=7) were in spermiation, though no sperm could be collected with abdominal pressure, due to the thick musculature of the abdominal cavity. Sperm samples were collected with a catheter and the sperm was evaluated under the microscope, exhibiting 40-100% motility upon activation with sea water. The females (n=3) were in post vitellogenesis, with oocytes exhibiting the early stages of oocyte maturation (lipid droplet coalescence).
A passive egg collector was placed in the perimeter of the cages, and in the following days the cage will be monitored for spawning. The collected eggs will be transported to the HCMR facilities in Iraklion, Crete to be used for the larval rearing experiments.
The first spawning induction trials were carried out on 23 June 2014, at the Souda Bay, Sea cage facilities of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research. Eleven mature greater amberjack brood stock were maintained in a 40 m perimeter, 10 meter deep cage in the western part of Crete, Greece. Part of the stock was maintained there for several years, and another part was transferred there at the beginning of April. All fish examined for stage of maturation using gonadal biopsy, and upon verification of the appropriate stage of maturation, they were treated with controlled release delivery implants loaded with GnRHa, to induce maturation, ovulation and spawning.
The males (n=7) were in spermiation, though no sperm could be collected with abdominal pressure, due to the thick musculature of the abdominal cavity. Sperm samples were collected with a catheter and the sperm was evaluated under the microscope, exhibiting 40-100% motility upon activation with sea water. The females (n=3) were in post vitellogenesis, with oocytes exhibiting the early stages of oocyte maturation (lipid droplet coalescence).
A passive egg collector was placed in the perimeter of the cages, and in the following days the cage will be monitored for spawning. The collected eggs will be transported to the HCMR facilities in Iraklion, Crete to be used for the larval rearing experiments.
Sampling campaign of wild greater amberjack
Blood, brains, pituitaries, gonads, muscle, liver, otoliths and vertebrae have be sampled on 31 May 2014 from a first batch of wild adult amberjack caught in Lampedusa (Italy) from a commercial fishing vessel. The sampling will continue during June-July 2014 and will be completed during the reproductive season 2015. The collected samples will be used for a detailed study of the reproductive cycle of wild greater amberjack. The reproductive activity of wild greater amberjack will be compared with that of reared individuals in order to identify possible dysfunction occurring in captivity. Proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells during spermatogenesis will be examined. Sperm characteristics will be analysed using a computerised system (CASA). A comparison of liver vitellogenin (Vg) and ovary Vg receptor (VgR) gene expression between captive and wild females will be assessed by cDNA sequencing and real time-PCR (qPCR); an analysis of oocyte yolk accumulation will be performed on histological sections using image analysis. Measurement of the sex steroid hormones T, E2, 11-KT and 17,20β DHP will be done using ELISAs and the expression of LH and FSH, as well as their plasma protein levels will be measured (IOLR). An ELISA for measuring leptin (IOLR), a key metabolic hormone known to interact with the endocrine system to provide critical information about the nutritional status will be developed. The nutritional status of wild and captive-reared fish will be compared (ULL).
Blood, brains, pituitaries, gonads, muscle, liver, otoliths and vertebrae have be sampled on 31 May 2014 from a first batch of wild adult amberjack caught in Lampedusa (Italy) from a commercial fishing vessel. The sampling will continue during June-July 2014 and will be completed during the reproductive season 2015. The collected samples will be used for a detailed study of the reproductive cycle of wild greater amberjack. The reproductive activity of wild greater amberjack will be compared with that of reared individuals in order to identify possible dysfunction occurring in captivity. Proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells during spermatogenesis will be examined. Sperm characteristics will be analysed using a computerised system (CASA). A comparison of liver vitellogenin (Vg) and ovary Vg receptor (VgR) gene expression between captive and wild females will be assessed by cDNA sequencing and real time-PCR (qPCR); an analysis of oocyte yolk accumulation will be performed on histological sections using image analysis. Measurement of the sex steroid hormones T, E2, 11-KT and 17,20β DHP will be done using ELISAs and the expression of LH and FSH, as well as their plasma protein levels will be measured (IOLR). An ELISA for measuring leptin (IOLR), a key metabolic hormone known to interact with the endocrine system to provide critical information about the nutritional status will be developed. The nutritional status of wild and captive-reared fish will be compared (ULL).
Progress with meagre reproduction experiments
The experiments to induce paired spawning of meagre were initiated in IRTA, Spain on 7 April 2014. Six pairs of breeders were selected based on oocyte diameter and presence of motile sperm. Each pair was induced with a single injection of GnRHa; 15 µg/kg body weight for females and 7.5 µg/kg body weight for males. The pairs of breeders were then placed into separate tanks and allowed to spawn. According to the work planned in WP 6 Reproduction & Genetics – meagre, the selected breeders were induced to spawn every 7-9 days. Before each spawning induction the maturity of the breeders was determined and the males were transferred to a different tank in order to be cross bred with a different female.
To date a total of 37 spawns have been collected that represent offspring from 19 different families. Egg quality has been variable, but generally good with fertilisation rates of 85±15% and many spawns of over a million eggs. Many of the pairs of breeders have spawned successfully to demonstrate that paired spawning is an approach that must be considered for the production of families for a genetic selection program.
The larvae produced are being used for experiments in WP 14 Larval Husbandry - meagre and WP 20 Grow Out Husbandry - meagre.
The experiments to induce paired spawning of meagre were initiated in IRTA, Spain on 7 April 2014. Six pairs of breeders were selected based on oocyte diameter and presence of motile sperm. Each pair was induced with a single injection of GnRHa; 15 µg/kg body weight for females and 7.5 µg/kg body weight for males. The pairs of breeders were then placed into separate tanks and allowed to spawn. According to the work planned in WP 6 Reproduction & Genetics – meagre, the selected breeders were induced to spawn every 7-9 days. Before each spawning induction the maturity of the breeders was determined and the males were transferred to a different tank in order to be cross bred with a different female.
To date a total of 37 spawns have been collected that represent offspring from 19 different families. Egg quality has been variable, but generally good with fertilisation rates of 85±15% and many spawns of over a million eggs. Many of the pairs of breeders have spawned successfully to demonstrate that paired spawning is an approach that must be considered for the production of families for a genetic selection program.
The larvae produced are being used for experiments in WP 14 Larval Husbandry - meagre and WP 20 Grow Out Husbandry - meagre.
Beginning of wreck fish reproduction experiments
The experiments to induce spawning of wreck fish were initiated in Spain and Greece. At the HCMR facilities in Crete, Greece on 12 May 2014 a pair of wreck fish breeders were evaluated for reproductive conditions and were treated with GnRHa implants to induce maturation and spawning. At this stage, the females was in full vitellogenesis, while the male was spermiating very well. The fish were placed in a 35 m3 tank and were allowed to spawn spontaneously, according to the work planned in WP 6 Reproduction & Genetics - wreckfish.
Two spawns of a small number of eggs of very low fertilization success were obtained so far. On 20 May 2014, the pair of breeders was evaluated again (blood hormones, gonadal biopsies) and was treated again with GnRHa and was returned to the spawning tank. At this stage the female contained post-ovulated eggs (remnants of the previous ovulations) as well as oocytes in oocyte maturation (1550 µm in diameter). Spawning will be monitored in the following days hoping to obtain viable eggs for larval rearing.
Meanwhile in Spain, spontaneous spawning has been obtained from a group of breeders without any hormonal treatment. Eggs have been forwarded to larval rearing sites for the experiments in GWP 4 Larval husbandry.
The experiments to induce spawning of wreck fish were initiated in Spain and Greece. At the HCMR facilities in Crete, Greece on 12 May 2014 a pair of wreck fish breeders were evaluated for reproductive conditions and were treated with GnRHa implants to induce maturation and spawning. At this stage, the females was in full vitellogenesis, while the male was spermiating very well. The fish were placed in a 35 m3 tank and were allowed to spawn spontaneously, according to the work planned in WP 6 Reproduction & Genetics - wreckfish.
Two spawns of a small number of eggs of very low fertilization success were obtained so far. On 20 May 2014, the pair of breeders was evaluated again (blood hormones, gonadal biopsies) and was treated again with GnRHa and was returned to the spawning tank. At this stage the female contained post-ovulated eggs (remnants of the previous ovulations) as well as oocytes in oocyte maturation (1550 µm in diameter). Spawning will be monitored in the following days hoping to obtain viable eggs for larval rearing.
Meanwhile in Spain, spontaneous spawning has been obtained from a group of breeders without any hormonal treatment. Eggs have been forwarded to larval rearing sites for the experiments in GWP 4 Larval husbandry.
Beginning of greater amberjack reproduction experiments - verifying reproductive status of a wild-caught brood stock at ARGO, Greece
On 13 May 2014, the newly acquired stock of wild greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) at the Argosaronikos A.E. facilities in Salamina Island, Greece was examined in order to evaluate its reproductive maturity and stage of reproductive development. This stock was acquired from another farm in September 2013 (Asteras A.E., Astakos, Greece) and was originally captured from the wild at the juvenile stage. The stock consists of 60 individuals and will be used to examine the feasibility of inducing spawning and collecting eggs from sea cages within the work planned for WP3 Reproduction & Genetics - greater amberjack.
A total of 30 individuals were examined (biopsied and P.I.T. tagged) raining in size between 7 and 14 kg. Sixteen fish were identified as females ranging from immature to fully vitellogenic fish and 14 fish were spermiating males. Sperm was collected via a canula, since the muscular nature of the abdominal cavity walls did not allow manual stripping. The sperm was examined under a microscope and was found to be of good motility. The stock will be examined again in the middle of June in order to induce spawning and attempt to collect eggs from the sea cages.
On 13 May 2014, the newly acquired stock of wild greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) at the Argosaronikos A.E. facilities in Salamina Island, Greece was examined in order to evaluate its reproductive maturity and stage of reproductive development. This stock was acquired from another farm in September 2013 (Asteras A.E., Astakos, Greece) and was originally captured from the wild at the juvenile stage. The stock consists of 60 individuals and will be used to examine the feasibility of inducing spawning and collecting eggs from sea cages within the work planned for WP3 Reproduction & Genetics - greater amberjack.
A total of 30 individuals were examined (biopsied and P.I.T. tagged) raining in size between 7 and 14 kg. Sixteen fish were identified as females ranging from immature to fully vitellogenic fish and 14 fish were spermiating males. Sperm was collected via a canula, since the muscular nature of the abdominal cavity walls did not allow manual stripping. The sperm was examined under a microscope and was found to be of good motility. The stock will be examined again in the middle of June in order to induce spawning and attempt to collect eggs from the sea cages.
UNIVERSITY OF LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA
The Research Group in Aquaculture (www.giaqua.org) from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University (www.ulpgc.es) offers 3 PhD and 2 Post-Doc positions for 2014-2019. For further information, please contact Marisol Izquierdo ([email protected]) or consult the link below:
PhD candidates and Post-Doc positions
The Research Group in Aquaculture (www.giaqua.org) from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University (www.ulpgc.es) offers 3 PhD and 2 Post-Doc positions for 2014-2019. For further information, please contact Marisol Izquierdo ([email protected]) or consult the link below:
PhD candidates and Post-Doc positions
Transport of 30 greater amberjack breeders to HCMR, Crete, Greece
On 10 April 2014, greater amberjack breeders (31 individuals) were transported to the facilities of HCMR in Crete. The fish ranged in body weight between 7.5 and 17.1 Kg and most of them are expected to be mature this coming reproductive season. Twenty-one of the fish were placed in tanks at the AQUALABS facilities, but 8 breeders will be moved to the cage facilities of HCMR in Souda Bay, Crete. The breeders will be used for the experiments planned in WP 3 Reproduction and Genetics - Greater Amberjack for developing a spawning induction protocol and a method for the collection of eggs from spawning breeders in sea cages.
The transport took 22 h from loading to unloading and fish recovered well after unloading, and hopefully will begin feeding promptly.
The fish were originally captured from the wild as juveniles (~500 g) by Asteras A.E. (the late Mr. Eustathios Lyssaris and his son Stefanos Lyssaris) in Astakos, Greece and were reared in sea cages for 2 years. They were then transferred to the facilities of Galaxidi Marine Farms in September 2013, where they were "hosted" until space became available at the facilities of HCMR.
On 10 April 2014, greater amberjack breeders (31 individuals) were transported to the facilities of HCMR in Crete. The fish ranged in body weight between 7.5 and 17.1 Kg and most of them are expected to be mature this coming reproductive season. Twenty-one of the fish were placed in tanks at the AQUALABS facilities, but 8 breeders will be moved to the cage facilities of HCMR in Souda Bay, Crete. The breeders will be used for the experiments planned in WP 3 Reproduction and Genetics - Greater Amberjack for developing a spawning induction protocol and a method for the collection of eggs from spawning breeders in sea cages.
The transport took 22 h from loading to unloading and fish recovered well after unloading, and hopefully will begin feeding promptly.
The fish were originally captured from the wild as juveniles (~500 g) by Asteras A.E. (the late Mr. Eustathios Lyssaris and his son Stefanos Lyssaris) in Astakos, Greece and were reared in sea cages for 2 years. They were then transferred to the facilities of Galaxidi Marine Farms in September 2013, where they were "hosted" until space became available at the facilities of HCMR.
Wreckfish sampling at the Finisterre Aquarium
The wreckfish housed in the tank Nautilus of the Finisterrae Aquarium (IEO Vigo, Spain) have been sampled last week. The main objective of this sampling was to monitor the maturity state of the specimens (males and females) and to obtain growth data from their weight and size. There are a total of 24 specimens weighing between 30 and 15 kg.
At this time of the year, some of the females are conspicuously mature and the males are also mature. The males usually have abundant sperm. The specimens are tagged with an electronic chip and with a Floyd tag with a color code, allowing easy identification. External marks are often lost because other fish sharing the tank find the tags very attractive and bite on them causing detachment or damage of the tags. A second mark is then provided but using electronic tagging.
Individuals are identified and separated (by a net panel) for further evaluation of maturity stage by measuring the diameter of oocytes obtained by cannulation of the ovary. Depending on the oocyte diameter the females are placed in the separated tank or returned to the exposition tank if they are immature.
The wreckfish housed in the tank Nautilus of the Finisterrae Aquarium (IEO Vigo, Spain) have been sampled last week. The main objective of this sampling was to monitor the maturity state of the specimens (males and females) and to obtain growth data from their weight and size. There are a total of 24 specimens weighing between 30 and 15 kg.
At this time of the year, some of the females are conspicuously mature and the males are also mature. The males usually have abundant sperm. The specimens are tagged with an electronic chip and with a Floyd tag with a color code, allowing easy identification. External marks are often lost because other fish sharing the tank find the tags very attractive and bite on them causing detachment or damage of the tags. A second mark is then provided but using electronic tagging.
Individuals are identified and separated (by a net panel) for further evaluation of maturity stage by measuring the diameter of oocytes obtained by cannulation of the ovary. Depending on the oocyte diameter the females are placed in the separated tank or returned to the exposition tank if they are immature.
Next Annual Coordination Meeting (4-6 November 2014; Bari, Italy)
Tentative Agenda
Arrival (3 November) - Dinner at local restaurant
Day 1 (4 November) - Open Session
Summary presentations from Group WP leaders on all 6 Scientific Disciplines
Selected presentations from Task that made significant progress-breakthroughs
Selected presentations from invited guests from outside DIVERSIFY
Day 2 (5 November) - Workplan Year 2 (DIVERSIFY Partners only)
Parallel sessions on the 6 Scientific GWP
Day 3 (6 November) - Project management (DIVERSIFY Partners only)
Financial management
Reporting
Departure (7 November) - Optional tour of the area around Bari
The meeting (Day 1 only) will be open to a number of scientists from outside the DIVERSIFY consortium, based on an invitation or application. The invited/accepted persons must be involved actively in the fish species and areas studied in DIVERSIFY, and will be required to make a short presentation of their experiences/projects.
Contact the coordinator if you are interested in attending the 2014 ACM meeting.
Tentative Agenda
Arrival (3 November) - Dinner at local restaurant
Day 1 (4 November) - Open Session
Summary presentations from Group WP leaders on all 6 Scientific Disciplines
Selected presentations from Task that made significant progress-breakthroughs
Selected presentations from invited guests from outside DIVERSIFY
Day 2 (5 November) - Workplan Year 2 (DIVERSIFY Partners only)
Parallel sessions on the 6 Scientific GWP
Day 3 (6 November) - Project management (DIVERSIFY Partners only)
Financial management
Reporting
Departure (7 November) - Optional tour of the area around Bari
The meeting (Day 1 only) will be open to a number of scientists from outside the DIVERSIFY consortium, based on an invitation or application. The invited/accepted persons must be involved actively in the fish species and areas studied in DIVERSIFY, and will be required to make a short presentation of their experiences/projects.
Contact the coordinator if you are interested in attending the 2014 ACM meeting.
WP5 Reproduction and Genetics - Atlantic halibut
The first experiments on the induction of ovulation in hatchery-produced Atlantic halibut were initiated on the 25 and 26 February 2014, at the Austevoll, Norway facilities of the Institute of Marine Research, as described in Task 5.2 of the project.
A group of 12 females of an average weight of 15 kg were biopsied and selected to be at the same stage of oogenesis. Fish had completed vitellogenesis and some were in early oocyte maturation, with oocytes with a diameter of >2 mm. All males were in full spermiating condition. The females were allocated randomly to three groups and were treated with one of two doses of GnRHa in a controlled-release delivery system (EVAc) or we sham implanted and were used as controls.
In the following days, females have been monitored daily for ovulation, and eggs were first collected after 5 days from treatment, and by 9 days after GnRHa treatment all females in the high GnRHa treatment entered a cycle of regular ovulations. Females in the lower GnRHa treatment did not ovulated yet, but their gonadal stage of development had advanced further. Females in the control group did not progress in development.
Click here to read more about Atlantic halibut reproduction and see photos of the experiments undertaken at Austevoll.
The first experiments on the induction of ovulation in hatchery-produced Atlantic halibut were initiated on the 25 and 26 February 2014, at the Austevoll, Norway facilities of the Institute of Marine Research, as described in Task 5.2 of the project.
A group of 12 females of an average weight of 15 kg were biopsied and selected to be at the same stage of oogenesis. Fish had completed vitellogenesis and some were in early oocyte maturation, with oocytes with a diameter of >2 mm. All males were in full spermiating condition. The females were allocated randomly to three groups and were treated with one of two doses of GnRHa in a controlled-release delivery system (EVAc) or we sham implanted and were used as controls.
In the following days, females have been monitored daily for ovulation, and eggs were first collected after 5 days from treatment, and by 9 days after GnRHa treatment all females in the high GnRHa treatment entered a cycle of regular ovulations. Females in the lower GnRHa treatment did not ovulated yet, but their gonadal stage of development had advanced further. Females in the control group did not progress in development.
Click here to read more about Atlantic halibut reproduction and see photos of the experiments undertaken at Austevoll.
