Centre for fish trials

Our land-based fish laboratory conducts research and teaching on salmonids

Contact info:

Ricardo Tavares Benicio
Email: ricardo.benicio@nmbu.no

Phone: +47 93 97 85 95

Address:
Arboretveien 40
1430 Ås
Norway

Address:

Opening hours:

08:00 - 15:00

We offer services in our small-scale RAS facility at the
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), both for the university's research and teaching activities and for external clients within aquaculture.

The facility uses recirculated freshwater (RAS), has fish tanks for feeding experiments and laboratories for studies of fish behaviour, eggs and fry, water chemistry and dissection. Our modern facilities, solid technical expertise and links to the research environments at NMBU provide the basis for research and education at an internationally high level.

We are centrally located on Campus Ås, within walking distance of both the research environments and students. The laboratory has its own production of salmon and rainbow trout used in the experiments. Operations are based on recirculation of fresh water with 3 RAS units.

• Services and equipment

  Here you can conduct controlled small-scale experiments in three independent RAS units in all fish life stages outside seawater:

  • Feeding trials
    Growth and digestibility in groups down to individual and ingredient level
  • Environmental toxicology
    Testing of individual parameters at the ion level
  • Farming technology
    Testing of equipment such as sensors, cameras, hatcheries, pumps, fans etc.
  • Controlled environment
    Light control, tank size, fish density and water quality
• Trials and facilities

  Feeding trials are the main activity at the facility, where new feed raw materials are investigated with high precision. Other activities also take place in the test rooms, such as research into different types of lighting and testing of new technical installations.

  Feeding trials

  We have four separate sections for conducting feeding trials to ensure that the fish in each of the trials are shielded from other activities. Lighting, water environment and tank environment are standardised and uneaten feed can be collected for accurate calculation of feed utilisation.

  We have fish sizes up to 1 kg, but most feeding trials are conducted with 10-200 gram fish. The tank size in most trials is 300L and each of the rooms has up to 24 tanks.

  Fish behaviour

  Fish behaviour and stress effects related to, for example, handling and environmental conditions have received increased attention. We have our own laboratory where fish behaviour is studied under controlled conditions and with camera monitoring. 

  Water chemistry and environment

  The water environment is important for the well-being and health of the fish. We have a water chemistry lab and a separate department (isotope lab) where compounds in the water or feed can be studied individually and in combination. For example, we can study short- and long-term effects when water is contaminated by compounds such as sulphur compounds or aluminium. This department has its own treatment plant and does not use recycled water.

  Dissection lab  

  We have a spacious, well-equipped dissection lab that is used for research and teaching. In research, the short distance between the fish tanks and the dissection lab is particularly beneficial at the end of the experiments, as we can process ultra-fresh tissue samples. In teaching, the dissection lab is used in many different courses, where students can learn about fish anatomy and physiology, metabolism, fish quality and, not least, fish health and welfare.

  

  Teaching and experimental activities at NMBU

  The veterinary, technology and biology departments at the university conduct their research projects and student teaching at the centre.

  Both bachelor and master's degree students are frequent users of the fish laboratory to ensure that they get a good combination of practical and theoretical learning. Already in the first semester of the aquaculture programme, students receive practical training in production biology, fish welfare and fish behaviour, where fish are monitored daily under expert guidance. Furthermore, fish health biology, feed and feeding, fillet quality and water quality are important topics for the students.

  Knowledge of the technical installations in an onshore facility and their interaction with biology is also an important topic for the students. Number processing and financial understanding are naturally the focus of the practical exercises.

  

• Booking and prices

  Please contact Ricardo Tavares Benicio ricardo.benicio@nmbu.no +47 93 97 85 95 for information

• Employees

  Get in touch for a friendly chat

Address

Visiting: Arboretveien 40, 1430 Ås, Norway