Our research

The Aquaculture Biotechnology Research Group is a leading research provider that pulls together experts and postgraduate and undergraduate students to work on innovative research that can be applied to the growing New Zealand aquaculture industry and internationally.

Research focus

Our research focus is on developing novel tools and creative approaches to resolve aquaculture research and production bottlenecks, such as:

• Broodstock conditioning and spawning success
• Hatchery production and larval development
• Nutrition, diets and feed formulation
• Health assessment, diseases and stress
• Immunological and histopathological tools
• Metabolomics and omics integration
• Gut microbiome and microbiology
• Selective breeding and genetic fingerprinting
• On-growing efficiency and sustainable production
• New aquaculture species development
• Marine bioactives and bioprospecting
• Post-harvest quality control and transport

Our applied research is based on long-standing relationships with aquaculture industries where most of our students carry out their research projects, often leading to employment opportunities.

We have generated over $6 million in external funds (MBIE, FRST, Seafood Innovation, Ministry of Fisheries, Sustainable Seas and individual aquaculture companies), patents and start-up companies and consultancies throughout the world.