Aquaculture Research
Aquaculture refers to all forms of culture of aquatic animals (including finfish, shrimp, mussels, etc) and plants such as seaweed in marine, brackish, or fresh waters. Aquaculture refers to net pens in Norwegian fjords holding thousands of Atlantic salmon but also to freshwater pond cultures in South-East Asia holding tilapia, or shrimp. At the same time, on-land recirculating aquaculture systems, or RAS, are massively transforming some of our current day aquaculture industry practices. While society drives us to think about more sustainable, circular approaches for the future. We try to contribute to relevant innovations by studying fish and shellfish nutrition and health in preferably, circular aquaculture systems, be it recirculating or ponds.
Our aquaculture research is strongly embedded within Wageningen – Aquaculture Research & Education (W-ARE), a network of aquaculture experts of Wageningen university & Research.
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prof.dr.ir. GF (Geert) Wiegertjes
studies physiological keys to fish health. Enhancers of immunity can be incorporated in fish feed to help battle the development of antimicrobial resistance. Shortly after exposure to such stimuli, innate immune responses can be primed, but innate immune cells may not return to basal levels, their physiology remaining enhanced through long-term reprogramming. -
ing. EH (Ep) Eding
stood at the basis of the RAS technology that allows for intensive culturing of fish while minimizing the use of natural resources, such as water and energy. In combination with good hygiene, these systems are rapidly becoming a first choice for much of the aquaculture sector and are being implemented globally for many fish species. -
F (Fotini) Kokou
studies microbial communities and their interactions with fish in aquaculture systems. Microbes are essential for proper animal functioning, assisting in host digestion and battling opportunistic pathogens. At the same time, microbial populations within aquaculture systems are important for maintaining high water quality for fish health and welfare. Understanding the factors steering microbial communities is important to promote fish performance and disease control. -
J (Jules) Petit
studies the mechanisms underlying the immuno-modulation through feed additives. Using feed additives increases resistance of fish to pathogens and stress. Immuno-modulatory feed additives can affect the host directly but might also affect the microbiota and its metabolites. Unravelling and understanding how feed additives modulate the immune system and improves fish health, aids in improving current supplementation strategies subsequently resulting in improved health and welfare of the animals. -
RM (Roel) Maas MSc
works, since 2021, as an aquaculture researcher with a focus on RAS and the effects thereof on culture animals. Fish in aquaculture (eco)systems are critically dependent on water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide and different nitrogen species, parameters influenced by host-microbe interactions. Central to aquatic ecosystems functioning is management of the main biological processes affecting water quality. This holds true for all aquaculture systems, ranging from small pond systems to intensive RAS which provide exciting developments to modernize aquaculture. Successful aquaculture systems integrate biological, physical and chemical insights in water quality with optimal effects on fish growth, health and performance.
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dr.ir. JW (Johan) Schrama
studies diet composition, including protein and carbohydrate content, energy, but also physical properties of fish feed because all are crucial determinants of the fish’ metabolism. Fish and shellfish in aquaculture are heavily dependent on nutrition, while regulation of feed intake and waste production determine dissolved oxygen and thus critically influence growth performance and health. -
dr. MCJ (Marc) Verdegem
developed a ‘nutritious ponds’ concept based on stimulating microbial-mediated use of wastes, where fish can be harvested at high but sustainable rates without causing unacceptable environmental damage. This concept aligns very well with the interests of WorldFish, an international (CGIAR) research organization that harnesses fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty. -
dr. M (Maria) Forlenza PhD
Associate Professor -
dr.ir. HJWC (Hendrik-Jan) Megens
performs research on genetic variation within and between fish species and is interested in understanding patterns of variation during evolution or domestication. He uses whole-genome bioinformatics approaches by next-gen sequencing for functional analysis of fish genomes. -
MAJ (Marit) Nederlof MSc
Post-doc shrimp nutrition and performance -
DA (Diego) Safian Carrillo
Postdoctoral fellowship, maternal immune tolerance, studies different aspects of fish reproduction, including the regulation of gametogenesis and the evolution of different reproductive modes. Reproduction is a fundamental trait of every organism and fish are ideal models because of their economical relevance and remarkably diversity, which can range from egg-laying to live-bearing fish with a placenta. A good understanding of the reproductive cycle and its diversity in fish is key to improve the aquaculture systems and also unravel how organisms evolve.
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