Ώ΄Ζ¬ΏρΘΛ

Scientists from across the Highlands and Islands are today (Wednesday) meeting with representatives of the region’s aquaculture industry in an effort to improve knowledge exchange between the sectors.

The UHI (University of the Highlands and Islands) Aquaculture Hub is hosting ‘Hebridean Aquaculture in 2050: Towards a resilient future’ at the Stornoway campus of .

The aim of the two-day event is to examine the anticipated environmental, commercial and societal challenges for the coming 25 years and look at how the industry can build resilience to these challenges.

Academics from across the UHI partnership will join representatives of finfish, shellfish and seaweed aquaculture companies in the discussions.

UHI Aquaculture Hub chairman Prof Keith Davidson, from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Ώ΄Ζ¬ΏρΘΛ) in Oban, said: “The purpose of this event is to stimulate academic-industry interactions. With the UHI Aquaculture Hub being based in the same region as the majority of Scotland’s aquaculture industry, there is a natural partnership there.

“Scottish aquaculture needs strong academic underpinning and academia needs to understand the needs of the various sectors, from the more established finfish and shellfish operations to the emerging seaweed industry.”

HIE is sponsoring the industry networking event on Wednesday afternoon with the main forum even being held on Thursday.  A similar event was held last year in Shetland.