Broodstock maintenance facilities
The facilities include tanks of various volumes (3 x 35 m3, 7 x 15 m3, 2 x 10 m3, 8 x 5 m3 and 14 x 2 m3) for the maintenance of broodstock of different species. All but the smallest tanks can operate either in flow through or recirculation mode, and are equipped with temperature and photoperiod control. The species maintained include European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), sharp snout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo), shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa), meagre (Argyrosomus regius), dusky grouper (Epinephelus marinates) and greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili).
Recently, a new Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) has been constructed, in the framework of the EU Horizon Europe research programme "Cure4Aqua" (https://cure4aqua-project.eu). The new RAS is a state-of-the-art design by StavRAS Aquatic Solutions (Cyprus) manufactured by SENECT Aquaculture Technology (https://www.senect.de/en/).
Recently, a new Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) has been constructed, in the framework of the EU Horizon Europe research programme "Cure4Aqua" (https://cure4aqua-project.eu). The new RAS is a state-of-the-art design by StavRAS Aquatic Solutions (Cyprus) manufactured by SENECT Aquaculture Technology (https://www.senect.de/en/).
REPRODUCTIVE Biology analytical lab
This analytical lab is equipped with a variety of equipment for the study of reproductive biology and endocrinology. These equipment include a variety of controlled temperature incubators and regular and ultra-freeze refrigerators. Histological evaluations are done using methacrylate resin and various stains. Hormonal analyses are done using ELISAs, and include the sex steroid hormones and GnRHa. A spectrophotometer is used to monitor water quality in the broodstock tanks. The lab is also equipped for the production of polymer-based, controlled-release devices for reproductive hormones (implants and microspheres), as well as for the evaluation of egg and larval quality using the micro titer plate method.
GAMETE QUALITY EVALUATION lab
This wet lab is used for the initial evaluation of gamete and egg quality obtained from the various experimental and production brood stocks. Light compound and stereo microscopes are used to evaluate the quality of oocytes obtained via ovarian biopsies, in order to monitor the stage of oogenesis and select females for hormonal spawning induction. A computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system is available for the evaluation of sperm quality, looking at sperm motility characteristics.