NATIH Freshwater
NATIH Freshwater facilities offer multi species freshwater research capabilities based on and off campus.
Our on-campus freshwater research facility
Our state of the art research units comprise of 17 separate recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), with a temperature range of 6-28 degrees Celsius. This enables multiple different experiments trials to take place simultaneously, or larger investigations/trials involving a wide range of different water conditions at the same time.
More information about our on-campus freshwater research facility
Three flow-through challenge rooms are also available with temperature range of 6-28 degrees Celsius.
Our facilities are designed in compliance with the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3 Rs) principles for use of animals in scientific research, which aim to minimise animal suffering and maximise scientific validity when animal research is necessary.
Experimental aquatic facilities: flexible facilities with controlled temperature rooms expanding research on temperate and tropical species. This has increased the capacity of the Institute’s research facilities by 300%.
Bio-secure challenge facilities: a bio secure level 2 challenge facility to study bacterial, viral and parasitic disease of fish.
Collaboration space: high quality business space for the NATIH team to work and collaborate with stakeholders in the aquaria facility.
Business accelerator: specialist aquaculture business support facilities to make sure businesses (particularly micro and SMEs) benefit fully and rapidly from new technologies, opportunities and solutions.
Our off-campus research unit
Our off campus research unit is gravity fed from the nearby Buckieburn reservoir, providing over two million gallons a day of temperature stable water, as it is drawn from a constant depth all year round.
We have a total of 42 flow through holding units of various volumes, ranging from 0.8m3 to large 25m3. Each of these systems can be run in distinct groups, from one unit to twenty, these can be monitored and data logged daily for various water quality parameters. Additional oxygenation is available using a high capacity oxygen injection system.
The unit has a dedicated sterile room for live fish work as well as a laboratory for further detailed analysis. This feature allows greater flexibility in the timeframes for research experiments, the investigation of species allowing increased capacity to deliver a range of projects. The facility also has full temperature controlled recirculation units of up to 24, 800 litre tanks, as well as a dedicated on site hatchery, with computer controlled monitoring, full solunar lighting, for out of season work as well as fully integrated feeding systems. This allows for research and innovative solutions across the entire lifecycle of multiple aquatic species.
Compliance with European Union - UK Home Office legislation
Our NATIH research units are fully compliant with European Union - UK Home Office legislation in conducting a wide variety of activities, such as but not limited to:
- Environmental manipulation and monitoring of experimental parameters
- Production of triploid stock and effect on their physiology
- Sex reversal and manipulation of sexual differentiation
- Immune function
- Vaccination studies
- Vaccine safety tests
- Larval / juvenile / broodstock fish performance
- X-ray feed intake performance
- Production of research robust stock
Benefits of using our facilities and services
- Improved animal health, welfare and resilience
- Improved industry performance
- Improved industry sustainability
- Reduced environmental impacts
Get in touch
Our capabilities and research expertise are very diverse and cover a range of activities in addition to those listed above. Please contact us to find out more.