Wednesday 25 March 2009

COLLABORATION SET TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC SKILLS

Fisheries Research Services (FRS), Aberdeen and NAFC Marine Centre, Shetland, have entered into a joint agreement to combine the skills of the two organisations in the area of aquatic resource management more effectively.

The collaboration entitled, the Shetland Fisheries Research Fund (SFRF) is being set up to make joint funding available for topics deemed scientifically valuable by the newly formed board comprising FRS and NAFC members. 

SFRF Board Member and FRS Programme Director, Dr Bill Turrell said “FRS and NAFC have worked together for many years. However, this new agreement cements the partnership between the two organisations. NAFC’s location offers us exciting opportunities to work collaboratively on the fisheries and unique environments surrounding Shetland. Having a science partner in Shetland makes much sense from the point of view of gaining from local understanding of fisheries and the environment, as well as from more practical considerations such as reducing travel and carbon emissions”

Fellow Board Member and Director of the NAFC Marine Centre, Professor David Gray added “We are delighted to formalise this new working partnership with FRS.  Part of our strategy at the Centre is to explore and strengthen links with other institutions as we continue to carry out high quality relevant research on Shetland’s fisheries and marine environment.  Shetland is already a leader in marine science and technology and we welcome this opportunity to expand our research work further.”

The SFRF will first look at how best to sample Shetland demersal, pelagic and shellfish fisheries. It is hoped this initial work will be a stepping stone towards expansion into other areas of partnership in marine research and development.

Notes to Editors

• Fisheries Research Services (FRS) provides expert scientific and technical advice on marine and freshwater fisheries, aquaculture and the protection of the aquatic environment.

• An agency of the Scottish Government, FRS incorporates the FRS Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen, the FRS Freshwater Laboratory near Pitlochry and outstations throughout Scotland.  www.frs-scotland.gov.uk

• The NAFC Marine Centre originally opened as the North Atlantic Fisheries College in 1992 to support Shetland’s fisheries industries including fish catching, aquaculture and fish processing.  Its remit has expanded over the years to see it providing first class training, marine science, research and quality management services to support the islands’ nautical, fisheries, engineering, aquaculture and food industries.  www.nafc.ac.uk

For further information, please contact:

Lyndsay Cruickshank
Communication Officer
Fisheries Research Services
Tel:01224 295675
Email:  communications@marlab.ac.uk

Louise Rosie
Communications Officer
Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd
Tel: 01595 692465
Email: louise.rosie@shaw-online.com