Marine Harvest boost for aquaculture studies

SCOTLAND’S largest salmon producer is teaming up with one of the country’s leading marine science research institutions to help Scottish aquaculture thrive globally.

Marine Harvest Scotland (Ltd) has pledged two scholarships to the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in AquaCulture, Environment and Society (EMJMD ACES) run by the Oban-based Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS UHI) and in collaboration with the universities of Crete and Nantes.

The course gives students the unique opportunity to travel throughout Europe as they learn about sustainable aquaculture. The two-year sponsorship, open to graduates from EU member states, will fund one student per year and includes an opportunity to work with Marine Harvest for a period of six months to complete a dissertation.

Gareth Butterfield, technical services manager at Marine Harvest, announced the scholarships and said: ‘Research and education are vital in an industry that is only 45 years old. For our business to thrive, and the industry to grow overall, we have to bring in young people who increasingly require specialist skills and training.

‘In terms of research, it’s critical we keep pushing on in this area if Scotland is to become the industry leader in research, innovation and technical development, providing science-based knowledge and better solutions in a growing sector.’

The EMJMD ACES course focuses on fin-fish and shellfish biology, interactions between farming activities and the environment and involves internationally renowned researchers in the field.

Liz Cook, the EMJMD ACES programme leader at SAMS UHI, said: ‘ One of the main themes behind this course is global food security, so we are delighted to receive the support of a world-leading food producer such as Marine Harvest Scotland.’