Research & Development – Ardtoe
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We want to create a self- sustaining unit with a commercial backbone of high-value species
Atack says that it is currently producing pacific oysters, na- tive oysters and sea urchins – it grows its own microalgae for this purpose – and it is also involved in seaweed production. The facility is also currently involved in a number of European experimental projects, including H2Ocean – a conceptual design for offshore cage farming. Tim Atack, along with Steve Divers at Fusion Marine, is looking at the aquaculture input for that. Atack explains that the facility is also involved in a range of EU pro- jects including the iDREEM project, an onshore integrated aquaculture demonstration project looking at running the nutrient flow from fish tanks through raceways, where they keep shellfish to take out the organ- ic deposition, and an algal species to remove phosphates and nitrates. Another important initiative is
AQUAFARMCONTROL, an innova- tive fish tagging system that provides more biometric information about fish using a sonar system. They are also working with SARF on shellfish and seaweed production. ‘The site sits very well with
applied research’, says Perry. ‘Ardtoe has always been very good at taking research ideas from the University of Stirling, and other institutes, and applying them to real-world projects. Benchmark is also expanding as a company; within our animal health divi- sion we have Fish Vet Group and Benchmark Vaccines, and as well as developing our own products we are also trialling others, and we need an on-site trials unit, and Ardtoe fitted the bill,’ he continues.
REDEVELOPMENT However, whilst trials can be
extremely profitable, they are also expensive to run. And, because research funding comes and goes, it cannot be relied on as a primary source of income. ‘The business model we have here, then, is to create a self-sustaining unit with a commercial backbone of the production of high-value species – like wrasse and native oys- ters – alongside trials and funded research,’ says Perry. ‘This way we can be more selective about what research money we go for, and give
us room to conduct our own trials and research.’ And, to this end, Benchmark is
investing heavily in the complete re-development of Ardtoe. Whilst some of the buildings at the site are being refurbished and cladded to make them more weather-re- sistant, others are being complete- ly rebuilt. ‘The new trials unit is basically a galvanised steel struc- ture divided into seven compart- ments, each with its own biosecure entrance and wash-down walls’, explains Perry.
‘In the initial phase there will be seven rooms, each containing seven one-metre cubed tanks. We have a slight issue with fresh water, so initially there will also be two recirculation rooms. Revamped pumps, filtration and UV steri- lisation ensures the security of incoming water, and AquaCLEAN for outgoing water. All of the water treatment systems are container- ised, which allows us the flexibility to move them as and when we need to. The containers are being supplied by Sterner. ‘All of the rooms can be fed from
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