Hellenic Centre for Marine Research -H.C.M.R-

The HCMR' s policy is to provide links between industry and research to help users in the marine science area and to act as a link in the transfer of technology to and from Greece.

There are several areas where HCMR technology has been used in this way or is available for such use. Some practices of the Institute of Aquaculture are described as follows:

Hormone delivery systems for the induction of spawning (Dr. C.C. Mylonas)
The Institute has developed controlled release delivery systems of gonadotropin releasing hormone against (GnRHa), which induce a long term increase in LH release from the pituitary, which is necessary for the induction of the necessary steroidogenesis in the gonads.

These gonadal steroids, in turn, induce final oocyte maturation and ovulation in the females and spermiation in the males. After administration to the broodfish, GnRHa is releases continuously for a period of 14 - 28 days, depending on water temperature. Due to this sustained release, a single administration therapy during the reproductive season is usually adequate, in contrast to the need for multiple injections of GnRHa in physiological saline. Therefore, there are savings in the necessary handling of the fish and the employed personnel.

These GnRHa implants have important applications in the aquaculture industry, and specifically in broodstock management, in fish that exhibit reproductive dysfunctions, or in situation where maturation and spawning has to be achieved with artificial methods (e.g., in genetic selection methods or hybrid production). These implants have been used successfully for various Mediterrranean species, including the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), meagre (Argyrosomous regius), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), sole (Solea senegalensis) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

Phytoplankton production by use of photobioreactors (Dr. P. Makridis)
The Institute of Aquaculture runs consultancy work with fish farms, but also with other enterprises interested in phytoplankton production.

Phytoplankton production is used in aquaculture when applying green water technique and in the production of rotifers. The Institute of Aquaculture has a long experience in use of large scale photobioreactors (1.5 m3), which are adapted to the climatic conditions in Greece. High cell concentration can be obtained by use of photobioreactors.

The technology of high cell density-cultures of phytoplankton may find applications not only for aquaculture purposes, but also in biotechnology (production of pigments, energy, bioactive compounds etc.).

Fish quality (Dr. K. Grigorakis)
The analytical evaluation of the postmortem changes resulted to the establishment of organoleptic evaluation schemes for the Greek aquacultured fish species that are widely used from the companies to check their commercialized fish.
Furthermore, through the various studies on fish quality, the diets, as well as the feeding management, have been improved and thus the quality characteristics of the cultured fish have been progressed.

Drug analysis (Dr. G. Rigos)
The Institute of Aquaculture has developed methodologies to detect registered and banned chemicals (antibacterials) in fish tissues. Having this ability, consumer welfare can be protected from potential hazards arising from the indiscriminate use of chemicals in aquaculture products. Used legal chemicals must be below Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) established by agencies of the European Union (EMEA) to ensure fish safety.

Additionally, drug kinetics can be determined in target fish species and thus efficient, economic and safe dosage scheduled can be designed.

More information can be found in the web pages of each Research Institute. More

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