Research

Chair of Aquaculture carries out research in various topics related to aquaculture and management and conservation of endangered fish and crayfish species: artificial reproduction, feeding and rearing technologies in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), domestication and selective breeding (heritability estimates of important traits, QTL mapping), population, conservation and ecological genetics, genomics and transcriptomics (genetic diversity, adaptation, host-parasite co-evolution, gene expression), biology and ecology of indigenous and non-indigenous crayfish species, diseases of fish and crayfish etc.

Ongoing and recent R&D projects:

• Genomic basis of adaptation to extreme environment of humic lakes in Eurasian perch (1.01.2020−31.12.2024). Principal investigator Riho Gross
• Innovative approaches to monitoring and assessing marine environment and nature values in Estonian sea area (1.01.2019−31.12.2021). Principal investigator Anti Vasemägi
• Development of artificial reproduction and rearing technologies, and revealing the best performing strains for wels catfish (Silurus glanis), a promising new species in Estonian aquaculture (2017–2022).Principal investigator Riho Gross
• Development of resource-efficient and environment-saving feeding technologies for the noble crayfish in Estonia (2017–2022).Principal investigator Katrin Kaldre
• Population genetic, genomic and transcriptomic approaches in studies of genetic diversity and local adaptations in fish and farm animals (2013-2018).Principal investigator Riho Gross
• Research on artificial reproduction of endangered fish species (annual research contract). Principal investigator Riho Gross
• Implementation of the action plan for management and protection of the noble crayfish resources (annual research contract). Principal investigator Margo Hurt
• Parasitological study of sea trout (Salmo trutta morphatrutta ) in the Baltic sea coastal area of Estonia (2017−2018)". Principal investigator Priit Päkk.
• Effect of PIT tagging on the noble crayfish moulting and growth (2017-2018). Principal investigator Katrin Kaldre
• Effect of PIT tagging on the noble crayfish survival in crayfish farm and indoor conditions (2016-2017). Principal investigator Katrin Kaldre
• Screening the noble crayfish populations in Estonia for crayfish plague using modern molecular genetic diagnostics methods (2015-2016). Principal investigator Katrin Kaldre
• Genetic mapping of natural populations and captive stocks of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) (2014-2015). Principal investigator Riho Gross
• Mapping the most suitable areas for aquaculture escalation, development of infrastructure in Estonia and the implementability of innovative technologies (2014-2015). Principal investigator Heiki Jaanuska
• Integrating Aquaculture and Fisheries Management towards a sustainable regional development in the Baltic Sea Region (AQUAFIMA) (2011-2014). Principal investigator Tiit Paaver
• Healthy fish stocks - indicators of successful river basin management (HEALFISH) (2010-2013). Principal investigator Riho Gross