Centro de Ciencias do Mar do Algarve (Portugal)
CCMAR is and independent multidisciplinary, non-profit research organisation within the University of Algarve, with the mission of promote research and education on processes in the marine environment, with emphasis on biological interactions and the sustainable use of resources. CCMAR provides short-duration courses and post graduations through the University of Algarve. Knowledge and technology transfer activities directed at SMEs are and increasingly important component of the action portfolio along with an active program of outreach in collaboration with National and International programs. CCMAR is one of the foremost marine science research centers in Portugal, classified EXCELLENT in the 2014 research assessment of the Foundation for Science and Technology, with competence in a range of areas of aquaculture, fisheries, biotechnology and ecology.
CCMAR has an annual budget of 4.6 million € and hosts 253 scientists and technical staff (scientists, young scientists, PhD students and technicians). CCMAR publishes 150-200 articles annually and in the last 5 years had 15 patents and established 2 spin-off companies. In the last 5-year period, the main funding sources have been the Foundation for Science and Technology, the European Commission, Regional Development Fund (FEDER, the Innovation Agency, S.A.) and private funds.
One of the central aims of CCMAR is to contribute to the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry, through basic and applied research directed to studies on nutrition and physiology of fish, protein metabolism, on the development and optimisation of production systems and feeding regimes for fish. CCMAR has infrastructures and equipment to carry out research and advanced training, and has been a partner in several H2020, FP7, and FP6 projects. CCMAR is the national node for MoU-signed EMBRC (www.embrc.eu), Aquaexcel2020 (www.aquaexcel2020.eu), (ELIXIR (www.elixir-europe.org), and EMSO (www.emso-eu.org/).
Partners / Researchers
Sofia Engrola
Researcher. Expertise in fish nutrition, with relevancy on juvenile nutrition physiology and feeding, and also in understanding fish metabolic plasticity in response to dietary nitrogen, namely the trade-offs between growth performance and innovative diets. S Engrola has a PhD in Aquaculture Nutrition (2008). She has published a total of 47 papers in international peer review journals; and 6 book chapters. S Engrola is currently supervising five PhD students, in topics related to improving growth performance through a nutritional approach. Presently, coordinator of CCMAR participation in several national and international research projects (e.g. MEDAid (H2020), ValorMar (ANI), PROLAR (FCT), WISEFEED (MSCA-RISE, H2020)).
Cláudia Aragão
Researcher. Vast experience in fish nutrition, focusing on the use of alternative ingredients in fish feeds and their effects on growth and physiological condition, amino acid metabolism and taurine requirements in fish, and on the interactions among growth, stress and nitrogen utilisation. C Aragão has a PhD in Aquaculture (2004), has 37 publications and is cited a total of 867 times. Dr. Cláudia Aragão has coordinated 2 national projects and has/had an active role has a member of other 7 national, 3 European and 3 contract-research projects.
