Aquaculture biology and Fisheries ecology
At the Aquaculture biology and Fisheries ecology group, led by Geert Wiegertjes, it is our mission to be leading in academic research and education on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries. Our focus is on socially relevant questions, and on the interactions between aquatic organisms and their environment. We address nutrition and health in aquaculture systems and adaptation of fish and fisheries to changes in the environment.
Research themes
Fisheries research
We study how factors such as fisheries exploitation, climate change, eutrophication and socio-economic environments affect fish communities, and food-web dynamics.
Aquaculture research
We aim to contribute to sustainable, future-proof innovations by studying fish and shellfish nutrition and health in circular aquaculture systems.
Education
Education by this Chair Group
We participate in education at BSc, MSc, and PhD level, often closely aligned with our research. Aquaculture and Fisheries contributes to undergraduate teaching in the BSc Animal Sciences and of the BSc Marine Sciences. A large part of our education efforts on aquaculture and fisheries is embedded in the MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management, which aims to train academic professionals in the field of sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of marine and aquatic ecosystems and resources.
Publications & Projects
We contribute to relevant innovations in aquaculture by studying fish and shellfish nutrition and health, preferably in circular aquaculture systems. In our research on fisheries, we analyse how factors such as climate change, eutrophication, and socio-economic environments affect the structure of fish communities, food-web dynamics, and their resilience.
Highlighted projects
- Ecological Dynamics of Coral Reef Degradation: Linking Microbial Shifts, Nutrient Enrichment, and Climate Stress Across Scales
- NO-REGRETS – NOrth Sea Renewable Energy: Gaining the Required Ecological Knowledge for the TranSition
- Microbial protein fermentation in fish: a threat or opportunity for gut health?
Highlighted publications
- Advancing Aquaculture Sustainability: A Comprehensive Review of Biofloc Technology Trends, Innovative Research Approaches, and Future Prospects
- A Comparison of Fleet Dynamics Models for Predicting Fisher Location Choice
- Combining Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor meals in diets for European seabass: Effects on growth, nutrient utilisation, intestinal morphology and muscle quality
Chair Holder
Geert Wiegertjes is chair of the Aquaculture biology and Fisheries ecology group. He has a broad interest, from fish immunology to the interaction between fish nutrition and health in aquatic production systems. Wiegertjes underscores the urgent and global need for a sustainable production of (shell)fish products in a world where demands for seafood are rising rapidly. To meet these increased demands, there is a strong need to find bio-inspired solutions.
prof.dr.ir. GF (Geert) Wiegertjes
Professor / Chairholder
People of Aquaculture biology and Fisheries ecology
Each chair group of Wageningen University & Research, under leadership of a professor, has its own area of expertise. Meet the people of this Chair Group.
Calendar
Follow us on social media
Stay up-to-date and learn more through our social channel.