Aquicultura Balear, a COOKE ESPAÑA company specialised in the production of sea bass, sea bream and meagre juveniles, is leading a FEMPA innovation project aimed at continuously improving juvenile to meet the demanding conditions open seas fish farming. This approach allows us to optimise our techniques and processes, ensuring stronger juveniles that are better prepared to face the challenges of the marine environment.
Since May 2023, and thanks to the incentive effect of CDTI funding, Aquicultura Balear has been developing its project IDI 20240675, entitled: Diversification and Improved Efficiency of Genetic Selection Programmes at Aquicultura Balear, S.A.U. at the Aquicultura Balear facilities in Palma and the Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory, LIMIA, located in Port d’Andratx.
This project falls under the aquaculture innovation line launched by CDTI and co-financed through Spain’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021–2027 (FEMPA).
The implementation of this project, which represents a € 2.125.279 investment over three years, marks a significant achievement for COOKE Spain and reinforces Aquicultura Balear’s role as a leading hatchery in the sector. It enables the continued production of high-quality juveniles tailored to the needs of COOKE Spain’s farms.
A team of 14 specialists is involved in the development of this project, which is led by Dr Marine Herlin. In 2024, Dr. Michael Bekaert, former research professor at the University of Stirling and expert in quantitative genetics and molecular biology, joined the Aquaculture Genetics team to work exclusively on this project.
