Main objective

The Department of Fisheries and Natural Science (AFN) has been one of the main actors in the development of higher education in the field of fisheries in Norway. AFN started its fisheries study programme in 1972 and had by 1984 already established a specialised aquaculture study programme. Bodø University College’s location in one of the world’s most productive coastal areas suggests that aquaculture and fisheries are natural fields of endeavour with regional relevance. The aquaculture business is extensively developed in the county of Nordland, and the county has, thanks to its long coastline, a large potential for farming various marine species. The aquaculture business’s future development will require a great research effort. AFN’s main objective must therefore be to secure production and dissemination of expertise and competence that can lead to the increased creation of worth based on the sustainable utilisation of the coast’s marine resource base.

The Department of Fisheries and Natural Sciences’s research strategy objectives for the period 2004-2007

In order to deliver relevant research for Norwegian aquaculture, the main objective for AFN during the period 2004-2007 is to establish a PHD study programme in aquaculture. This objective presupposes several different sub-goals. One has:

·        To strengthen and develop existing R&D activity, with special expertise in the fields of quality and marine spawn production.

·        To contribute towards trade development based on sustainable use of local coastal resources.

·        To care for increased national and international research co-operation.

The most important challenge for AFN is to develop the R&D environment, with special expertise at national level related to selected research fields. The R&D environment can deliver research which is relevant for Norwegian aquaculture, and satisfy international requirements to academic quality. High quality in research is a presupposition in order to be able to participate in national and international research networks. The quality is measured in the form of publicising and citations in scientific articles, as well as participation in large scale research projects. Co-operation with society, trade and working life are all important at all levels of the research process.

The PHD-study programme in aquaculture is to be based on broad co-operation with other research institutions. The co-operation is grounded on differentiation in the national research effort and builds on AFN’s natural competitive advantage, and is also in accordance with the authorities’ demands for regional relevance. Aquaculture research is, moreover, multidisciplinary and very dependent on infrastructure and local environmental conditions. Research is suitable for greater co-operative projects which can provide synergy effects and mutual value creation. AFN has therefore always made an effort to recruit special expertise in secondary positions from relevant co-operative partners both at home and abroad.