The overarching aim of this research is to develop new and improved approaches to assess the impact of climate change on marine aquaculture and identify potential adaptation responses. Most studies focus on impact at a global scale but it is the local conditions surrounding the farm that will affect farm production, fish health and welfare, and it is the changing farm environment that the industry must adapt to. In this project, we are generating new information on the complex farm-level interactions to support more targeted and effective climate adaptation responses.

Focusing on salmon production in Scotland and Norway, we are evaluating how digitalisation of the aquaculture sector can unlock new understanding of climate change at farm-level and then developing and using models and decision support tools to simulate potential consequences of different scenarios and decisions. We are also working with people across the aquaculture community to better understand the reasons for choosing certain strategies, and evaluting the trade-offs between different adaptation options that may be available.