Aquaculture experts make a splash at Royal Highland Show

Scientists from the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture made a splash at this year’s Royal Highland Show, promoting the Scottish aquaculture industry to hundreds of school children.

In workshops hosted by The Royal Highland Educational Trust and funded by the Scottish Aquaculture Research Fund, Stirling experts dove into the world of fish farming with more than 570 pupils across two days.

School pupils gather around to learn about the biology of salmon.

The experts ran a mixture of teaching and practical sessions, which covered the “journey” of salmon production, from hatching to the final product, and highlighted employment opportunities within the industry.

Interactive

Children and adults alike had the opportunity to get close to some salmon, finding out about the fish’s internal and external anatomy in interactive learning sessions. 

Dr Andrew Preston, Research Fellow at the Institute and Deputy Manager of Machrihanish Field Station, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people, young and old, engage with the field of aquaculture at this year’s Royal Highland Show.

“Fish farming is a major economic driver in Scotland, and has the potential to help create a world without hunger. It’s crucial that we teach others about this exciting industry and the work that we do at the Institute to develop a sustainable future and tackle global food security concerns.”

Other visitors to the Institute’s pop-up stall included Lord Aberdeen Chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and its Vice-President Sir Moir Lockhead.

The Royal Highland Show welcomed 190,000 visitors – a record number – to celebrate Scotland’s farming, food and rural culture across four days.