From June 8th to June 14th, four master’s students from the University of Rostock took part in an enriching week-long study visit to Klaipeda University – Marine Research Institute, under the framework of the AquaLoop Cross-Border Student Exchange Program.
The visit began with a warm welcome and an introduction to the Marine Research Institute’s infrastructure and ongoing research activities, including a tour in the shrimp RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) facility and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Laboratory. The students received an overview of the AquaLoop project, with a special focus on Pilot 3 – FISHVISA, an innovative aquaponics-based system integrating fish, crayfish, and plants.
Throughout the week, students engaged in a range of hands-on activities, including:
- Measuring fish and crayfish,
- Handling aquaponic plant systems,
- Setting up and monitoring a short-term crayfish feeding experiment using fish feces as feed,
- Performing routine maintenance on the fish RAS and analyzing garfish eggs.
The visit also included a field trip to an Arctic char aquaculture farm, offering insights into regional fish farming practices and sustainability challenges in the Klaipeda region. Additionally, the students had the opportunity to visit the Lithuanian Sea Museum, further deepening their understanding of marine biodiversity and public education.
This exchange was the last part of the AquaLoop Cross-Border Student exchange program, which we hope reflected the AquaLoop project’s mission to foster international learning experiences and develop future experts in sustainable aquaculture.
Thank you all for cooperation!