Fish Health and Nutrition

Environmental and Applied Biology Research Group
Facilities in the fish health and nutrition research laboratories
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

Supporting facilities

We have facilities capable of supporting a range of species with our dedicated tropical, zebrafish and cold-water aquaria.

Fish tanks in the facilities for animal studies 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.

Fish tanks in the facilities for animal studies Specialised, dedicated, zebrafish stocks and aquaria.

Fish tanks in the facilities for animal studies Our aquaria can provide recirculatory (RAS), static or semi-static holding conditions, suitable for a range of experimental and feeding trials.

Fish tanks in the facilities for animal studies 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, including:
  • Systems Biology Centre which houses cutting edge proteomics facilities
  • Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre providing access to both Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopes
  • Nutrition laboratories
  • Chemistry laboratories
  • Histology laboratories
  • Microbiology laboratories
  • And a range of other laboratories and services available within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

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.
Find out more about our MSc Sustainable Aquaculture
Getty imageSustainable aquaculture systemsfish farm