Together with Uni Research Environment, and the University of Bergen, the Cluster has examined important innovation aspects related to growth, appetite, stress, and osmoregulation in salmon farming, which are central to understanding the interactions between fish and the environment in the various farming systems.

Photo: Vetinst.no Vet inst AN17 Today, a number of new, technical / biological solutions have been initiated, such as closed farms in floating plants or in recirculating systems (RAS) on land. Successful development of such systems depends on the fact that the fish’s performance (growth, feed utilization) through the production chain is good and that the welfare and physiology of the fish taken well care of.

"Kunnskap om FISKEVELFERD"
In the RFF project “Kunnskap om FISKEVELFERD", Professor Ivar Rønnestad from The University of Bergen, and Senior Scientist Tom-Ole Nilsen from Uni Environment have examined important aspects of growth, appetite, stress, and osmoregulation, which are central to understanding the interactions between fish and the environment in the various farming systems. The project has gain new knowledge for the development of good welfare indicators in salmon farming.

Collaboration Norway – Japan
A central basis in this project has been an establishment of a collaborative axis between research and education institutions in Norway and Japan, ExcelAQUA. In this consortium, there is considerable competence in important aspects of fish biology/physiology, ranging from basic understanding of molecular mechanisms to fish performance, growth and well-being in order to develop innovative farming strategies.

The purpose
The purpose of the qualification project has been to gain knowledge about how research-based solutions related to welfare can contribute to production of robust fish and value creation in farming. The project has consisted of tree work packages (WPs). In WP1 we reviewed and described some of the key indicators involved in appetite control, feed intake and digestion; in WP2 we have examined how physiological adaptations to different types of stress affects growth, homeostasis and fish welfare in production of Atlantic salmon. The FISKEVELFERD qualification project has set the basis to further develop analytical methods and bioindicators of welfare in aquaculture.

Contact:

Ivar Rønnestad
ivar.ronnestad@uib.no
University of Bergen

Tom Ole Nilsen
tom.nilsen@uni.no 
Uni Research

Read more about the project: Velferdsindikatorer hos laks