NEW FINFISH RESEARCH CENTRE
A BOOST FOR AQUACULTURE
Cawthron Institute has officially opened its new Finfish Research Centre in
Nelson and will provide a worldclass centre for research excellence with
systems and capacity unique in New Zealand.
The centre will deliver commercially relevant
science to enable improved stock
management, breeding and husbandry,
and will support the development and
growth of the aquaculture industry,
aquaculture group manager Dr Serean
Adams says. “The efficient salmon
research programme currently underway
in the facility will combine new, innovative
analytical tools with industry-wide
data analysis, environmental monitoring,
and controlled trials. This will translate
into a step-change in industry knowhow
and selective breeding of finfish to
boost production efficiency, leading to
greater economic returns and sustainable
environmental management,” she
says. “For farmers, fish growth rates,
how healthy their stocks are and how
efficiently they convert feed into weight
gain are important factors for optimising
productivity and make a big difference
to the economic bottom line and to environmental
sustainability. Feed is the largest
cost of farming fish so knowledge
about food conversion efficiency and
the underlying biological processes that
determine it is extremely important.”
Cawthron senior aquaculture scientist
WHAT
THE NEW
FINFISH
RESEARCH
CENTRE
PROVIDES
• New and enduring
infrastructure for
aquaculture research
• Stand-alone, fully
contained customised
recirculation
aquaculture systems
• Three tank trial
rooms, including
specialised
equipment for
efficiency, physiology
and behavioural
research
• Two separate nine
tank systems that
can be operated
at four different
temperatures
simultaneously
(the influence of
temperature can
be studied in a
replicated, controlled
environment)
• One smaller nine tank
system with dual
temperature capability
• All systems can
operate with
freshwater or
seawater.
Dr Jane Symonds is leading the efficient
salmon programme and says it’s important
to identify and fill knowledge gaps.
“By understanding processes that influence
finfish feed conversion, industry
can improve its performance, profitability,
and sustainability,” Symonds says.
This multi-disciplinary research involves
multiple New Zealand and international
collaborators and the Cawthron team
has been joined by five new technical
staff working at the centre. Cawthron
Institute is New Zealand’s largest independent
science organisation, offering
a broad spectrum of services to help
protect the environment and support
sustainable development of primary industries.
Cawthron works with regional
councils, government departments,
major industries, private companies and
other research organisations throughout
New Zealand and around the world, and
is a diverse organisation employing more
than 250 scientists, laboratory technicians,
researchers and specialist staff
from 26 countries. Cawthron’s scientists
have expertise in aquaculture research,
marine and freshwater resource
management, food safety and quality, algal
technologies, biosecurity and analytical
testing. Its ground-breaking science
is supported by substantial testing and
research laboratories, state-of-the-art
technology and a purpose-built aquaculture
park. www.cawthron.org.nz
36 NOVEMBER 2018
/www.cawthron.org.nz
