Industry Training and Workshops

 

 

2008

 

Rapid Testing for Shellfish Toxins Workshop and Training Course

 

A two-day workshop and training course was held in September on the rapid testing of shellfish for algal toxins.  All shellfish producers and processors were invited to attend the course, which was led by Hans Kleivdal of Biosense Laboratories AS in Norway, accompanied by a team from FRS Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban.

 

As well as an overview of control measures to hinder the harvesting and processing of contaminated shellfish, the course covered specific hands-on training on how to test for shellfish toxins using commercial kits.  Ultimately, the programme will enable participants to integrate toxin testing as part of the food safety management system at shellfish processing facilities.

 

The training course was organised by the EU Collective Research project SPIES-DETOX – a strategic three year collaboration between leading national universities, government agencies, research laboratories and industry groups from the UK, Norway, Spain, Ireland and Greece.

 

 

2006

 

D-Larvae Workshop

 

The Sea Fish Industry Authority/Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) held a practical two-day workshop in November for mussel farmers and representatives of the NAFC Marine Centre.  The delegates found out more about collecting, identifying and counting mussel larvae and hard Dr Susan Steele of BIM deliver an overview of Irish experiences in rope-mussel culture and recent BIM trials in collecting seed on collection ropes placed on the sea bed.

 

The short course was delivered by Dr Steel, BIM's aquaculture and fish quality training officer, together with Martin Syvret, an aquaculture consultant working on behalf of Seafish.  The workshop was supported by Seafish, BIM, NAFC Marine Centre and Seafood Shetland.

 

2004

Plankton Identification

A group of eight Shetland-based shellfish farmers attended a short half day course on plankton identification at NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway in 2004. The course was run by two of NAFC's EU research fellows, Hanne Irvine and Dr Angelika Prael, and was held in response to an earlier request by the shellfish farming industry. The half day course covered a variety of topics including: lifecycles of bivalve larvae; hatchery culture of mussels and oysters, algal cultures, problematic fouling organisms and ways to reduce their effects on bivalve culture, harmful algae and benefits of routine sampling programmes.

 

Commenting on the day, director of C & A Thomason, Christopher Thomason, said: "I thought the course was excellent and very worthwhile. The delivery of information was first class and I found all the topics covered to be very relevant".

 

2003

 

Strategies To Reduce Risks Posed By Harmful Algal Blooms (HABS)

 

A further two workshops were held on 9 and 10 June 2003, with a similar content to the first workshop (see below), with the following additions:

 

Dr Blair Johnston (University of Aberdeen) explained his role in the EUROGEL project - studying the acute and chronic effects that jellyfish stings have upon the fish themselves. Dr Robin Raine (National University of Ireland, Galway) discussed quick and inexpensive sampling techniques and monitoring strategies available for shellfish/fish farmers and described one site where it is possible to predict HABs. Charlotte Deeley (RS Aqua) demonstrated the use of environmental equipment that can be used for in situ measuring of oxygen, algae and currents.

 

Algal Bloom Monitoring Workshop

 

The first algal bloom monitoring workshop was held at NAFC at the end of March 2003. The morning presentations began with an introductory presentation from Hanne Irvine from the NAFC on the EUROGEL Project (link).

 

Sarah Hughes (FRS, Aberdeen) discussed the long term monitoring project around Scotland of physical and biological parameters and consequences for the productivity of our seas. Grant Cumming (NAFC Fish farm manager) presented successful methods of reducing impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) by forecasting the occurrence of blooms and ways to minimise the problem once on site. Dr Fiona Hannah (University of London, University Marine Biological Station Millport) ran a practical workshop, discussing the various harmful phytoplankton groups, factors affecting their growth and the ability to predict HABs. Participants were able to view and identify both toxic and normal spring plankton species themselves.

 

 

2001/2002

 

Shellfish Purification and Handling workshop

 

This workshop was conducted by Martin Pyke of Seafish Industry Authority in November (and repeated in 2002) and provided up-to-date information with participation in practical sessions on aspects of purifying shellfish prior to selling including; harmful algae, biology and microbiology, the need for depuration, legal issues, technical and practical advice on setting up depuration centres.

 

 

2001

 

Cod Workshop

 

This workshop brought together leading scientists and industry representatives from Norway, Iceland, Canada, Faroes, Denmark, Wales, Ireland, and the UK in February to discuss all aspects of cod biology and cultivation with the intent of progressing cod culture.  The workshop was highly successful.