A central part of this project is the development of competence in the industry, and our introductory course for RAS biology is well established. This year it attracted 36 participants. Thus far more than 130 participants have followed this course, representing 14 different fish farming companies, 4 high schools, Fagskolen i Nord, RnD and management. BIO-6002 EVU RAS biology, the more advanced course ran for the second time with 7 participants. Two different hatcheries, Fagskolen i Nord, and Tromsø Aquaculture Research station had participants. Registration for the next course that start up in November has opened. Following this round, it is time for a more thorough evaluation of the course.
We work to find alternative funding sources for studyprograms, and have applied for an enducational farming license. This was submitted in January 2025. It is likely that universities will collaborate more on the education, especially on Master programs. The project group has specific research and teaching expertise and continues the dialogue about possibilities for a joint international master's program in RAS biology.
The post-doc in water chemistry have been mapping dynamic changes in total organic carbon and soluble organic components in different compartments of RAS systems. So far more than 300 compounds have been identified. A fully funded PhD was employed 1 of July, and has already started with her work. The start-up is a bit late due to delays in RASForsk, so we will have to apply for an extension of the project to accommodate for a full 36 month PhD project period.
The other two PhD students partly funded by the project is well underway with their work. An industrial PhD is closing in to the end of his project, and is expected to defend early next year. Another industrial PhD student has got funding in place, and will start up his work during this year. Another UiT funded PhD student will work with a spin off project, and we are currently evaluating candidates aiming at a start up this year. An employee at Freshwater Institute are compiling a Dr. philos thesis that also includes research from CandRAS. At the end of this year we expect to have 7 PhD students linked to the project.
Work on testing the different systems in our new research facility (RASforsk) has been ongoing this period. The first trial with fish focused on water retention time (HRT) in the tanks, and revealed some challenges when systems were pushed. Two fish groups have been start fed in the systems during the summer. During early stages in the testing, there were challenges with activity in the biofilters, so a planned density trial had to be postponed to this autumn. Three master students have been involved in these tests, working with water quality, fish welfare and first feeding, together with a PhD student and the post-doc. In total 11 master students have done their thesis in connection to CandRAS or linked projects, with another three with work still ongoing and we continue to recruit.
Thus far we have had five mobility activities, and another three are being planned; a PhD student and our post-doc will spend time at DTU and FI, and an employee at FI are planning a visit to UiT.
Through joint meetings, we have identified relevant issues for the industry in the region, and several have led to joint projects with the involvement of project-affiliated researchers and research fellows. At the time of the mid-term meeting in May a total of 10 projects, previous and ongoing, could be listed. The last two financed this year being RASExpo, that is addressing challenges of salmon production in RAS with especial emphasis on the north, and an industrial PhD project. Both funded by the Norwegian Research council. In addition to these, we are involved in an application to the Green Platform initiative at the research council, that involves floating closed containment systems at sea based on RAS technology for water treatment.
One of our PhDs have published two papers the last year, with a third submitted. Another PhD student presented her work at the European Aquaculture Society meeting in Valencia this September. The most important channel for communication for the project is through teaching and teaching materials.
Havbruksnæringen i Norge er i ferd med å gjennomføre en omstilling av settefiskproduksjonen fra tradisjonelle gjennomstrømmingsanlegg til gjenbruk av vannet ved å ta i bruk lukkede resirkuleringsanlegg (RAS). Målsettingen med prosjektet er å utvikle kunnskap og bygge kapasitet og forskningskompetanse for verdiskaping og omstilling/nyskaping i havbruksnæringen og tilknyttet arbeidsliv med særlig vekt på Nord-Norge.
CandRAS prosjektet vil bidra til å styrke samarbeid mellom forsknings- og utdanningsmiljøene og næringslivet ettersom FoU aktiviteter og undervisningstilbud tilpasses næringens kort- og langsiktige behov. Per i dag finnes ikke spesifikke kurs eller studieprogrammer for RAS biologi i Nord-Norge, og utvikling av kursmateriell, EVU kurs, og utdanningsprogrammer på videregående og universitetsnivå blir sentrale deler av prosjektet. Dette vil bidra til å øke næringsrelevant utdanningskapasitet og forsker-kompetanse i regionen. En post doc stilling planlegges i tidlig fase av prosjektet for å komme raskt i gang med forskningsoppgavene, Post doc stillingen vil være tilknyttet institutt for kjemi ved UiT og ha fokus på interaksjoner mellom fisk, system og vannkvalitet. Dette arbeidet vil gi grunnlag for å utarbeide en problemstilling for en stipendiatstilling, finansiert av prosjektet. UiT vil finansiere to universitetsstipendiatstillinger som skal jobbe med næringsrelevante problemstillinger, der driftskostnadene dekkes fra prosjektet. Det er også planlagt, og søkt midler for, en nærings-PhD som også vil bli tilknyttet prosjektet. Prosjektet vil videre styrke fagmiljøene innen havbruk med RAS kompetanse og bidra til utvikling av kompetanse og kapasitet på analytisk kjemi ved UiT. Prosjektet vil også styrke samarbeidet mellom Universitet og instituttsektoren, både regionalt og internasjonalt.
