Work Packages - PerformFISH

Work Package 1 – WP1 Selective Breeding for Robust Fish

Organisation: HCMR
Work Package Leader: Costas Tsigenopoulos
Contact details: tsigeno@hcmr.gr

Objectives

Develop and optimise a medium-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip tool to be used for the first time for selective breeding purposes in gilthead sea bream and European sea bass focusing on important phenotypic traits for the MMFF sector (feed efficiency, disease resistance, deformities). Specific Objectives:

Develop a practical SNP genotyping tool for marker assisted/genomic selection
Develop new phenotyping methods for important traits (feed efficiency, disease resistance, fish shape)
Evaluate genetic and genomic variation for these traits and produce fish for genotype by feed interactions (WP6)
Produce case studies to include genomic evaluation in European sea bass and gilthead sea bream breeding programs

Work Package 2 – WP2 Juvenile Quality and Growth Potential

Organisation: CCMAR
Work Package Leader: Deborah M. Power
Contact details: dpower@ualg.pt

Objectives

To improve predictability, quality and sustainability of the hatchery phase of seabream and sea bass by exploiting existing technical and biological knowledge and when necessary conduct original research to fill gaps. Specific Objectives:

Investigate the correlation between egg quality and larval with juvenile performance by identifying, optimising and validating robust indicators of larval and juvenile quality (KPIs) for commercial hatcheries
Determine the main sources of egg, larval and juvenile quality variation across European commercial hatcheries and establish standard operating procedures (SOP) to improve predictability of hatchery production
Correlate fish quality between different ontogenetic stages in several hatcheries and correlate morphological quality between the juvenile (1.5g) and fish of commercial size
Identify developmental plasticity in hatchery stages using early programming strategies to exploit species maximum biological capacity towards SOPs and improved KPIs
Create a reference framework for a European juvenile quality certificate through the use of advanced analytics using biochemical, molecular, morphological and immunological indicators of larval and juvenile quality.

Work Package 3 – WP3 Boosting Fish Health at all Lifecycle Stages

Organisation: UAB
Work Package Leader: Francesc Padros Bover
Contact details: francesc.padros@uab.cat

Objectives

Evaluate the most relevant factors related to fish health which impact on productive KPI’s to provide the Mediterranean finfish aquaculture with efficient diagnostic, prevention and treatment tools to improve these KPI’s. Results of new diagnostic approaches, preventive measures and vaccination will be combined to evaluate their impact on KPI for fish health and welfare (WP7). Specific Objectives:

Provide deeper insight into identification, tracking, prevention and control of the most relevant diseases for Mediterranean seabream and sea bass farming
Identify and develop reliable diagnostic methods
Generate different preventive strategies based on immunoprophylaxis and efficient treatments against the relevant diseases
Outline practical methodologies for fish welfare awareness at farm level.
Develop health management strategies for the industry in order to improve the current KPI’s (mortality, morbidity and economic indexes)

Work Package 4 – WP4 Efficient Feeds to Improve the Current KPIs in Production Systems

Organisation: ULPGC
Work Package Leader: María Soledad Izquierdo López
Contact details: marisol.izquierdo@ulpgc.es

Objectives

The main aim of this work package is to develop sustainable, cost-effective feeds that improve KPIs by maximizing growth potential and survival and improving feed efficiency, supporting the nutritional quality of the fish fillet to meet the consumer expectations and to promote economic and environmental sustainability. Besides, the WP will aim to set a threshold of nutritional quality for the Mediterranean production as affected by novel feed formulations. Specific Objectives:

Fill identified gaps in the knowledge of micro and macro‐nutrients requirements for sea bream/sea bass that allow formulating species‐specific nutrient‐balanced diets
Provide a toolbox for determination of nutrient bioavailability of raw materials/feeds to screen a palette of alternative ingredients, micronutrients and feed additives
Develop sustainable, cost-effective feeds using alternative ingredients of low ecological footprint that support enhanced growth and welfare of selected fish promoting fillet quality to satisfy the consumer demands
Nutritionally condition farmed fish for a better utilization of novel feeds and increased biological efficiency to improve growth, feed efficiency and survival under industrial conditions
Develop a decision support system model for optimal feeding incorporating data from different modules that includes fish growth, biomass estimation and feeding behaviour.

Work Package 5 – WP5 Reinforcing the Marketing of European Seabass and Seabream Products

Organisation: Eurofish
Work Package Leader: Christian Philip Unmack
Contact details: Christian@eurofish.dk

Objectives

This work package will design innovative marketing actions for the market development of European seabream and seabass (European BB) of the Mediterranean Marine Fish Farming (MMFF) industry capitalizing on existing fish food health claims, increasing consumer confidence in the European BB products and strengthening competitiveness of the MMFF industry. The work package will aim at designing innovative strategic marketing plans for product development, promotion and commercialization of European BB aquaculture production on existing and new markets in order to increase competitiveness and sustainable growth of the Mediterranean aquaculture products. Specific Objectives:

Generating new attributes for European BB products consistently with consumers' habits, preferences and expectations both in existing and emerging markets
Assessing the use and importance of different information indications for European BB products
Creating an overarching marketing strategy (i.e. at EU level) intended to improve the image of European BB products and to develop new and existing markets for consumption of premium European BB products. The strategy will be supported by a marketing plan and will include elements adjusted to specific markets requirements (e.g. countries) and market niches
Exploring policy options aimed at highlighting contribution of European BB consumption towards a more sustainable diet regime.

Work Package 6 – WP6 Testing and Validation: Combining promising solutions, technologies and testing in industrial settings

Organisation: AQUARK/CETGA
Work Package Leader: Panos Christofilogiannis/ Santiago Cabaleiro
Contact details: panos@aquark.gr cabaleiro@cetga.org

Objectives

To validate integrated solutions in the operational MMFF environment and advance the solutions from WP1-WP4 to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) in a consumer-driven fashion. Outcomes of WP1-WP4 regarding genetic selection, juvenile programming, new diagnostic approaches, preventive measures and vaccination, feeding and nutrition will be combined to address production challenges and their impact on KPI improvements will be assessed and quantified in WP7 according to KPI tool developed in task 7.1. Specific Objectives:

Validate in field conditions improved vaccines and vaccination protocols that protect seabass against VNN + Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida and Vibrio anguillarum
Validate in field conditions improved vaccines and vaccination protocols that protect seabream against VNN + Ph. damselae subsp. Piscicida
Validate in field conditions integrated diagnostic and antiparasitic approaches to combat parasitic infections with special emphasis on Enteromyxum leei and Sparicotyle chrysophrii infections
Validate the correlation between genetic markers with important production traits, growth and robustness against VNN and parasitic infections in sea bass and sea bream in realistic Genotype X Environment trials
Validate the set of markers identified in WP2 as predictive juvenile quality indicators to constitute the Juvenile Quality Certificate
Integrating novel feeding approaches, toolbox and technology for tackling cost-efficiently improvement in FCR and fish health and welfare.

Work Package 7 – WP7 KPIs Impact Assessment and Code of Conduct

Organisation: ISPRA
Work Package Leader: Giovanna Marino
Contact details: giovanna.marino@isprambiente.it

Objectives

To build a robust benchmarking system based on KPIs that integrate all production chains and make a validated system adopted by the industry to support the sector to achieve cost-efficiency, welfare friendly husbandry practices and environmental sustainability. WP7 will also develop and implement a Code of Conduct and best practices for Mediterranean Marine Fish Farming (MMFF) to significantly contribute to increased productivity, harmonised standards and both social and environmental responsibility. Specific Objectives:

To establish a benchmarking system based on KPIs to cover all performance aspects of MMFF
To develop a web cloud system (Virtual Research Environment VRE) under the EU D4Science e-Infrastructure for storage, analysis and processing of KPI data
To assess the impact of TRL advances (from WP1-4 and WP6) on farm efficiencies through KPIs (growth rate, mortality, feed efficiency, fish welfare) and environmental performance
To develop a Code of Conduct and consolidate best practices and harmonised standards to raise consumer awareness and advocate social and environmental responsibility of the MMFF industry

Work Package 8 – WP8 Dissemination, Knowledge Transfer, Exploitation and Capacity Building

Organisation: AquaTT
Work Package Leader: David Murphy
Contact details: david@aquatt.ie

Objectives

WP8 will ensure that the outcomes and achievements of PerformFISH are effectively transferred to end‐users and there is measurable uptake and impact. A Dissemination and Exploitation Plan (DEP) has been designed, and will be applied immediately upon project implementation, ensuring effective protocols for management of Intellectual Property and Knowledge Transfer. Specific Objectives:

Promote the project activities and results beyond the consortium to the industrial stakeholders, scientific community and general public
Ensure timely and efficient Data Management to facilitate immediate open access to appropriate results
Capture key messages and outcomes for active Knowledge Transfer through training and appropriate communication channels
Carry out Capacity Building and Training based on knowledge generated through the PerformFISH project across the MMFF
Perform Outreach activities targeted at the general public and consumers.

Work Package 9 – WP9 Coordination, Quality Assurance and Project Management

Organisation: University of Thessaly
Work Package Leader: Katerina Moutou
Contact details: kmoutou@bio.uth.gr

Objectives

To manage the project and partnership effectively, ensuring that the project progresses according to the work plan, and that all contractual obligations are delivered effectively and timely, as described in the Description of Action (DoA). Specific Objectives:

To ensure the project meets its objectives within the agreed time schedule and budget
To provide overall management of legal, contractual and finance issues
To ensure an accurate and timely communication flow among the project partners and with the European Commission
To ensure the PerformFISH project legacy by establishing procedures to manage and capitalize on its outputs beyond the funded duration of the project.

Work Package 10 – WP10 Ethics requirements

Organisation: University of Thessaly
Work Package Leader: Katerina Moutou
Contact details: kmoutou@bio.uth.gr

Objectives

To continuously screen for ethics issues and effectively apply the appropriate measures to ensure compliance with ethics codes as they are expressed in local, national, EU legislation and regulation. Specific Objectives:

to ensure respect for people, human dignity and protection of the values, rights and interests of the research participants
to implement procedures for data collection, storage, protection, retention and destruction that comply with national and EU legislation
to ensure that all research activities involving animals adopt the 3R’s guidelines (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and adhere strictly to the respective national and EU legal frameworks, specifically those relating to animal welfare and Directive 2010-63-EU
to identify the possible harm to the environment caused by the research and state the measures that will be taken to mitigate the risks
to ensure compliance with ethics requirements regarding the participation of non-EU countries.