University of Stirling hosts Chinese aquaculture delegation.
A delegation from the Chinese Academy of Fishery Scientists (CAFS) visited the University of Stirling this week to review the UK’s new National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH).
The £21 million research and development facility, operated by the University’s Institute of Aquaculture, was opened to support academic and commercial work on key challenges facing global aquaculture, including climate impacts, disease control, and resource management.
China is the world’s largest aquaculture producer, accounting for nearly two-thirds of global output. CAFS, part of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, plays a central role in national fisheries policy and research.
Trevor Telfer, acting head of the Institute of Aquaculture, said the visit highlighted opportunities for collaboration. “China is a major player in the global aquaculture industry, and its growth trajectory is set to continue,” he said. “By working collaboratively to fully utilise the combined strengths of our knowledge and facilities, we can ensure that growth is sustainable.”
The NATIH development, partly funded through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, allows researchers to replicate global freshwater environments and conduct trials across a temperature range of 6–28°C.
Professor Yu Shuzhou of CAFS said the organisations shared extensive common interests and that collaboration would deliver “mutually beneficial outcomes in both research and innovation.”
The National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub received £17 million from the UK Government through the City Region Deal, along with £1 million from the Wolfson Foundation and £3 million from the University of Stirling.
