EU funded project to prevent the escape of fish

The university’s Department of Biology is taking part in an EU programme to tackle the problem of fish escaping from aquaculture in European coastal waters.

The escape of fish from sea-cage aquaculture is perceived as a threat to natural biodiversity in Europe's marine waters. Escapes from sea-cages have been reported for almost all major species presently cultured across Europe, including Atlantic salmon, sea bream, sea bass, Atlantic cod and rainbow trout.

The present level of escapes is regarded by many as a problem for the future sustainability of aquaculture as escapees can have detrimental genetic and ecological effects on populations of wild fish.

Moreover, escapes were often reported in the press and the aquaculture industry was painted in a negative light on such occasions.

The new project, Prevent Escape (www.sintef.no/preventescape), aims at improving both fish farming technology and how the technology is used in the sea to prevent escapes.

It is specifically designed to conduct and integrate biological and technological research on a pan-European scale to improve recommendations and guidelines for aquaculture technologies and operational strategies that reduce escape events.

The three-year project, up to April 2012, involves 11 partners from six countries - Norway, Greece, Spain, Malta, Scotland and Ireland, and is led by SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture of Norway.

The team from the University of Malta’s Department of Biology is being led by Joseph A Borg.