Fishery and Aquaculture Laboratory of Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University is located at the tip of Curonian Spit – a unique place protected by UNESCO. This location between Baltic sea and Curonian Lagoon straight gives a unique opportunity to use brackish Baltic sea water, fresh water from the Curonian lagoon and groundwater.
Laboratory have three recirculating aquaculture systems for fish production and experiments. Three separate systems consist of fish egg incubation system with vertical, horizontal incubators and Weiss jars; the 12 juvenile rearing tanks of 2 m diameter; and 4 fish growing tanks of 3 m diameter. Main parameters (temp, oxygen, pH) are monitored and regulated automatically. Temperature range in the systems could be set between +4°C... +16°C in incubation system and between +10°C...+22°C in other systems.
The laboratory also has the unique mesocosm system of 12 integrated modules. Tanks are of large volume (3 m3, 4 m height), each equipped with automatic temperature control within range of +4°C...+30°C. Simulation of thermal stratification in three layers is possible to test processes of aquatic ecosystems. System enables us to conduct different ecological experiments, includind several trophic levels, eutrophication processes, planktonic food webs, biogeochemical cycles.
Experimental flume is 8 m length, 1 m width and 0,75 m height device for Short-term experiments to study: open channel flow dynamic; sediment transport and sedimentation processes; behaviour and ecology of water plants and animals. The flume have slope control within 0-1 %, water depth up to 0.6 m; flow velocity – up to 1.5 m/s;
• Consultation for RAS technology and its implementation
• RAS technology development and optimization (technological, biological and chemical process testing)
• Water quality assessment
• Biosecurity solutions for aquaculture
• Personal onsite/offsite training and consultation
• Consultation for business plan
• Fish stock assessment in lakes, rivers and sea
• Fish community research
• Aquatic ecology experiments in mesocosm system, aquariums, flume and other facilities
• Standard and active metabolism measurement for aquatic animal (microplate, mini-chamber, swim tunnel respirometry systems)
• Aquaculture animal behaviour video analysis