Minister visits Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research

Alun Davies, Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Agriculture Food, Fisheries and European Programmes visited the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR) at Swansea University last month and found out more about the Institutes role in supporting aquaculture and fisheries. He was accompanied by Mr Gary Hagatty Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Strategy

The visit included a guided tour of the Centre’s modern suite of controlled environment laboratories in which a diverse range of freshwater and marine organisms such as fish, algae, shellfish and other invertebrates are grown under optimal conditions and are allied to comprehensive facilities for field sampling and laboratory analysis.

The research centre operates on behalf of commercial aquaculturists and fishers, technology providers and research councils. The centre also advises governmental institutions, in the UK and internationally – and has drafted the aquaculture section of the Wales Fisheries Strategy (2008).

Deputy Minister Alun Davies, said:

“As the world’s demand for fish grows, I am keen that aquaculture plays a leading role in helping to meet this demand and the challenge is to do this in a sustainable way. This is not just my aim but it is also a fundamental part of the European Commission’s plans for a reformed Common Fisheries Policy. I am pleased that we have such a wealth of academic resource in Wales that will continue to have an important role to play in helping to shape these important opportunities.”

“The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with CSAR through these changing times to develop key strategic opportunities for Wales.”

Dr Robin Shields Head of CSAR said: ‘‘We very much look forward to introducing the Deputy Minister to our activities supporting fisheries and aquaculture in Wales and to our international research collaborations in this arena.”