New research center to open on PEI
The Centre for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) is an R&D and contract service organization focused on the application of biotechnologies to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in aquaculture and related industries. CAT was first established in 2012 in San Diego CA, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tethys Oceans BV/Linnaeus Capital Partners BV.
In late 2014 a subsidiary of CAT opened on PEI, Canada, as The Centre for Aquaculture Technologies Canada. As opposed to research operations at the San Diego site where warm water aquatic species are the focus, CATC focuses on R&D and commercialization activities in cold water species. CATC is launching a new 21,000-square-foot operation in a facility once housing Ocean Choice International, which will allow the company to conduct independent research for aquaculture and other related industries.
VP of research and lead scientist Dr Debbie Plouffe said the aim for the centre was “…to create a one-stop shop for aquaculture research here in Souris…”, by combining extensive experience in aquaculture with a strong background in cellular and molecular technologies and in vivo testing to provide research-based solutions in the fields of breeding and genomics, fish health and nutrition, diagnostics, genotyping and molecular biology.
This new research facility is opening at an opportunistic time, as aquaculture on the east coast is in its infancy. The grand opening of the Centre is September 2015.
