The University of Plymouth has a strong research track record in the fields of fish health and nutrition dating back more than three decades.
Led by
Dr Daniel Merrifield
, the Fish Health and Nutrition research team actively engages with hatcheries, aquaculture farms and various other organisations nationally and internationally to support and conduct research and development at fundamental and applied levels contributing to United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production) and 14 (Life Below Water).
This research theme has been supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Innovate UK, The Newton Fund, charities and educational trusts, learned societies, foreign government departments responsible for education, science and fisheries and others.
We have strong links with the aquaculture and aquafeed industries with research projects funded by companies such as Alltech, Alltech Coppens, BioMar, Biomin, Clasado Biosciences, DSM, Eurochem, Evonik, Lallemand SAS, Leiber GmbH, Novus International, Skretting, Tereos-Syral and others.
Projects focus on various aspects of fish and crustacean health, nutrition, microbiome and aquafeed sustainability. Key themes include better understanding of host-microbe interactions, dysbiosis, mucosal health, enteritis and intestinal inflammation, functional feed additives and novel raw materials for use in aquafeeds.
These programmes span many commercially relevant species including rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, catfish, carp, Nile tilapia, ornamental species and the model species, zebrafish.
Our research team
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Dr Daniel Merrifield
Associate Professor of Fish Health and Nutrition
Research theme leader, please contact for enquiries
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Dr Victor Kuri
Lecturer in Food Quality
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Dr Mark Rawling
Research Fellow
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Dr Andrew Foey
Associate Professor of Immunology
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Mr Sheu Odu-Onikosi
Weekend Duty Technician (Main Campus)
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Mr Taofik Adeiza Momoh
Weekend Duty Technician (Main Campus)
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Miss Sherilyn Abarra
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Mr Sahya Maulu
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Mr Ben Eynon
Senior Technician
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Mr Matt Emery
Senior Technician (Microbiology)
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Miss Natalie Sweet
Technician
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Miss Victoria Cammack
Senior Technician (Nutrition Exercise and Health)
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Mrs Felicia Joshua
Supporting facilities
We have facilities capable of supporting a range of species with our dedicated tropical, zebrafish and cold-water aquaria.
Our facilities meet all current UK legislation with associated Home Office licences in place.
We use the highest standard of housing and husbandry, maintained by trained and qualified animal welfare specialists and 24/7 veterinary support.
Specialised, dedicated, zebrafish stocks and aquaria.
Our aquaria can provide recirculatory (RAS), static or semi-static holding conditions, suitable for a range of experimental and feeding trials.
We have a range of freshwater aquaria which enable us to work with temperate and tropical species.
Tank sizes from 10L-150L allow for research on a range of life stages.
In addition to our state-of-the-art aquaria facilities and wet labs, we have a suite of analytical labs
Systems Biology Centre with cutting-edge proteomics facilities; Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre with scanning and transmission electron microscopes; Nutrition, Chemistry, Histology and Microbiology laboratories and a range of other laboratories.
MSc Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries
The aquaculture and fisheries sectors make essential contributions to global food security and nutrition, contributing >175 million tonnes of production valued at over $400 billion. These sectors are intertwined; sharing the same environment and frequently interdependent on one another. Ensuring that aquatic farming practices, and wild fish populations, are sustainably managed is essential to support the needs of our growing population and to protect our aquatic ecosystems.
Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS)
CRISPS brings together a vibrant community of transdisciplinary researchers, working towards addressing the challenge of sustainably feeding a global population of 9 billion. Founded upon research excellence in aquaculture, agricultural technology and soil health, and underpinned by investment in cutting-edge facilities, the Centre will create the critical mass required to ensure impactful research and real-world deployment in the UK and beyond.