Since 1978 the Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center (ARC) has gained a leading role in research on larviculture of fish and shellfish species of aquaculture interest. Initially, the main research effort focused on the universally used brine shrimp Artemia as vital food source for fish and shellfish larvae, namely: brine shrimp culturing biology, natural occurrence, production techniques, strain characterisation, nutritional value and enrichment. Gradually, research activities extended into the other live food organisms, micro algae and rotifers, i.e. their production and nutritional manipulation, with main emphasis on lipids and vitamins C and E. Meanwhile, the worldwide industrialisation of larviculture demanded more thorough research on the zootechnical, microbiological and immunological aspects of larviculture. Therefore, the ARC engaged in a multidisciplinary collaboration effort with specialists from different research institutes, local and abroad, in the framework of nationally and internationally funded R&D projects.
The Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center (ARC) is part of the Department of Animal Production, one of the 13 departments of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium.
Download a presentation by Dr. Patrick Sorgeloos and colleagues on how the ARC all started from the link below:
laboratory-of-aquaculture-artemia-reference-center
laboratory-of-aquaculture-artemia-reference-center