RESEARCH INTERACTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MURCIA WITH AQUACULTURE INDUSTRIES IN SPAIN

Marine aquaculture is a very promising business in the Mediterranean area. Among the greatest problems are the economical losses due to fish diseases as consequence of direct pathogens or poor fish management. In this sense, new diseases are continuously having in trouble traditional fish farming techniques. In an attempt to better develop and manage the farms, fish farmers are more and more taking in consideration the advice of research staff from both governmental research and academic organisms. Thus, the actual scenario for research and industries cooperation is dual. For universities, there is a need for own and new incomes. For the industries, this cooperation is a good opportunity to get better development and management of the fish production. Thus, we have been researching over 25 years on fish immunology with certain international recognition but it is only in the last years that we have gained the favour of several fish-farming industries. In this sense, we have already signed some university-industry contracts to do specific work for them. After the achievement of the goals proposed we are now enrolled in a national project to research for the industries with a great impact at research, economical and technical levels. The complexity of the interaction of several universities and companies and the involvement of a multidisciplinary human group with very different interests are the main problems. Some solutions are in progress to overcome these situations.