Boosting the aquaculture industry – hook, line and sinker
Despite the knowledge, expertise and tools generated by research on the biology of aquaculture species, scientific resources remain fragmented, with weak transfer to Europe's aquaculture industry. The 'Genomic in fish and shellfish: From research to aquaculture' (Aquagenome) project sought to remedy the situation through a number of activities, including the establishment of a contact network and website for disseminating project goals, findings and outcomes. Efforts also aimed at improving the coordination of current and future research efforts to further optimise the transfer of information to stakeholders. The EU-funded project made an inventory of existing genomic resources, developed instruments to improve on their annotation regarding fish and shellfish, and identified research domains where genomic approaches could be developed in support of the EU aquaculture industry. Other activities included organisation of two workshops, developing a document prioritising needs related to research and the exchange of knowledge, and distributing grants to support the mobility of experts and knowledge among network members. The participation of project partners in related research platforms also enabled the Aquagenome team to disseminate recommendations to the European Community. In addition, a synthesis document was produced for the European Commission that offered recommendations for aquaculture and related issues as well as suggestions for the development and maintenance of resources. The project's multifaceted approach succeeded in advancing knowledge on the subject as well as boosting the flow and exchange of information, resources, materials and expertise.
