Portsmouth Business School

Thesis summary

My research is concerned with the sustainable development of aquaculture, in particular salmon and trout farming in the UK. Salmon and trout farming have grown rapidly over the past 20 years or so and although as an industry it is economically important (providing economic opportunity in otherwise unproductive areas), questions have been raised regarding its contribution to environmental degradation.

My research is concerned with the sustainable development of aquaculture, in particular salmon and trout farming in the UK. Salmon and trout farming have grown rapidly over the past 20 years or so and although as an industry it is economically important (providing economic opportunity in otherwise unproductive areas), questions have been raised regarding its contribution to environmental degradation.

The main aim of my research is to assess the potential substitutability of fishmeal for alternative proteins (this being the major issue regarding sustainable development) from a technical and economic perspective (in simple terms can fish actually grow when fed alternative proteins and from a farmers point of view is it economically efficient?).

Undertaking a PhD at the University of Portsmouth has provided an invaluable insight into the process of working as part of a research on large externally funded European Projects, a field which I aspire to be part of in future.