The collaboration between Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði and Matís for research on the environmental issues of the coastal sea has undoubtedly resulted in new thoughts and approaches, according to Þorleif Eiríksson, director of Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði.
Þorleifur says in a conversation with Útvegsblaðið that the collaboration shows the possibilities inherent in cluster collaboration such as the Icelandic Ocean Cluster.
The research collaboration between Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði and Matís has ranged from observations of optimal locations for aquaculture to what happens to organic residues such as eutrophication of bottom and sea. The collaboration began when Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði came to Matís' research regarding experiments with using light to delay the maturation of cod. Náttúrustofan also participated in Matís' study of the environmental aspects of aquaculture that the company worked on with aquaculture companies in the Westfjords.
Due to the collaboration, Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði has been able to increasingly develop various theories that can be generalized! from. The research has also produced results that are more useful to aquaculture than narrow service research. "Since then, our collaboration has enabled Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði to move to pure academic basic research on the environmental issues of coastal waters in addition to consulting and service research for individual companies. Among other things, we have conducted research on what happens to organic excesses that are released into the environment and their impact on the marine environment. That project has developed into our largest collaborative project, "says Þorleifur to Útvegsblaðið.
New ideas and approaches have emerged as a result of the collaboration. "When it comes to our projects, the main thing is to work on research that promotes environmentally friendly aquaculture. The research has since developed into larger projects where we are trying to understand these environmental issues in a larger whole. We were completing a basic research project we call “Biosphere Life! a. "This is a basic study of the tolerance limits of Icelandic fjords for organic pollution."
According to Þorleif, other research has been carried out in collaboration with Matís, for example on the development of breeding pens and what attachments are attached to the pens. Náttúrustofa Vestfjarði, in collaboration with Matís, is working on examining the combination of cod and mussels, but it is too early to report those results.
This news is published on Bæjarinn Besta's website, www.bb.is (asta (at) bb.is)