University of Wales, Bangor (UK)
RTD PeformerThe Centre for Applied Marine Sciences is the division of the School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor (UWB) that carries out commercial and applied research for industry and governments. CAMS is a multidisciplinary centre, with staff working in the areas of marine biology (including aquaculture), marine chemistry, oceanography, coastal zone management, survey and instrumentation and geosciences. Currently CAMS is undertaking contracts worth €3.5m and has a dedicated staff of 15 people, with a further 5 people being taken on in the next 3 months. In addition, the 100 members of staff of the School of Ocean Sciences act as associate members, adding greatly to the expertise available to the Centre. The School is one of the largest marine biology departments in Europe and the main UK research centre for coastal seas. The laboratories, aquaria, equipment, ICT facilities, library, boats and research vessel of SOS are also available for CAMS contracts. The School of Ocean Sciences has a 30-year history of aquaculture research, and has developed an international reputation in shellfish aquaculture. Commercial aquaculture work within CAMS is a significant proportion of the portfolio, with close connections to industry and a good European and international network of contacts. CAMS has a technology transfer remit that strongly supports this close relationship with industry, which has resulted in existing collaborations with Deepdock and other shellfish companies. The multi-disciplinary capability of the group allows all aspects of aquaculture research to be covered. Andy Beaumont, the responsible person within the BLUE SEED project, has worked in the field of bivalve shellfish culture and genetics for 30 years and was the first to publish a method for rearing the larvae of the European scallop (Pecten maximus). He has published around 70 peer-reviewed papers, several book chapters, has edited a significant Conference publication and has recently authored a text book on biotechnology and genetics in fisheries and aquaculture. Genetic studies that are of relevance to this application have included work on (a) the population genetics of fish and shellfish, particularly on mussels and their hybridisation, (b) aspects of allozyme heterozygosity in relation to aquaculture and (c) the development of methods to produce triploid bivalves. Dr. Jonathan King is business co-ordinator and a research officer at the Centre for Applied Marine Sciences. He is responsible for technology transfer, including applied/commissioned research in marine resource management and aquaculture. Currently managing projects valued at £1,500,000. In addition, he is experienced in commercial aquaculture research and is starting a spin out company with 11 Ha of shellfish beds for commercial/R & D operations. He has a worked on the aquaculture of novel species, nutrition and feeding behaviour trials and has a PhD in the regulation of food intake in fish. Dr Helen McCombie has worked on bivalve cytogenetics for five years, focusing on tetraploidy in the cupped oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in a recent a post-doc. She previously trained in agronomy (BSc Agricultural Botany, Reading, UK 1991) and genetics (PhD Exeter, UK, 1996, studying the evolution of life history variation in yellow monkey flower Mimulus guttatus). She has practical experience with polyploidy induction techniques and her work includes the development of new tetraploidy induction methods on oysters. She is also experienced in the evaluation of somatic ploidy and chromosome set stability in polyploid and natural oyster populations. Tom Galley - Research Technician, full time,
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