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.
