First Issue of ParaFishControl Project News Now Available
ParaFishControl is an EU Horizon 2020-funded research project that aims to improve our understanding of fish-parasite interactions and develop innovative solutions and tools to prevent, control and mitigate harmful parasites which affect the main fish species farmed in Europe (Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, common carp, turbot, European sea bass, and gilthead sea bream). Aquaculture is the fastest growing food producing sector worldwide, currently providing half of all fish for human consumption. Fish disease prevention and management are essential for the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. ParaFishControl aims to improve the productivity, economic performance and image of European aquaculture through improved biosecurity, health and welfare of farmed fish. In this first ParaFishControl newsletter Dr Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla, ParaFishControl Project Coordinator, welcomes everyone: “This has been an exciting year for ParaFishControl! Extensive coordination and management was necessary to organise the work ahead and kick off the various activities from each of the project’s different work packages. We have already made significant progress in achieving the aims of various tasks in the project.” The newsletter introduces the ParaFishControl project, providing an overview of the parasite-related challenges the aquaculture industry is facing and how the ParaFishControl project will address them. The expected outcomes of the project and their potential uses are also discussed. Highlights of activities which have taken place within the ParaFishControl consortium are given, including exchanges between partners and the project kick-off meeting. One of the main features of this and future ParaFishControl newsletters are the “parasite portraits” which introduce different parasite species studied in ParaFishControl. This first edition also contains further information on the projects publications so far and relevant events. The project’s work is going full steam ahead. To stay informed about the progress and results of ParaFishControl, visit the project’s website: www.parafishcontrol.eu For more information and press queries, contact Dr Claudia Junge, AquaTT Project Officer, email: claudia@aquatt.ie Notes for Editors The ParaFishControl project will run from 2015 to 2020, with a total budget of €8.1 million, of which €7.8 million is funded by the European Union. The ParaFishControl consortium comprises experts from 29 organisations in 13 European countries. The project is coordinated by the Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Spain. Dr Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla, ParaFishControl Project Coordinator, is head of the Fish Pathology group at CSIC. CSIC is the largest public research institution in Spain and the third largest in Europe. Its main objective is to develop and promote research that will help bring about scientific and technological progress. CSIC covers all fields of knowledge from basic to applied research. AquaTT is the project dissemination partner.
Keywords
farmed fish, aquaculture, aquaculture industry, parasites, fish disease, parasite control
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom