January 30, 2026

New Onsite Practicum for Aquaculture Diploma Students

As part of the Aquaculture Diploma programme, a new onsite practicum took place from 28 to 30 January 2026 in southern Iceland, between Reykjavík and Grindavík, offering students a full immersion into the different sectors of Icelandic aquaculture.
We met the students together with Professor Óli and Marie at the Benchmark Genetics site, which once again warmly welcomed us. Two seminars were held: one introducing the company and its activities, and the other highlighting the importance of employee well-being within the company—an essential aspect of the sustainable operation of aquaculture facilities.
In the afternoon, Professor Óli led an interactive discussion-based lecture on feeding in aquaculture, followed by visits to an Arctic charr farm and an abalone farm.
The visits continued the following day, giving students a comprehensive overview of the many facets of aquaculture. They explored additional Arctic charr farming facilities and visited the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, where a wide range of research projects are conducted on various marine species such as cod, wolf fish, and capelin.
The programme continued with a visit to a farm producing Senegalese sole, where students also had the opportunity to observe sturgeons, before discovering a farm specialised in the production of lumpfish. These fish are used as cleaner fish to control salmon lice in aquaculture cages and currently represent one of the most natural and sustainable solutions to this issue.
On the final day, we returned to Benchmark Genetics to attend two lectures focused on shellfish farming and kelp farming. In the afternoon, Professor Óli led an interactive discussion-based course focused on feeding in aquaculture. After that, the students took part in a debate that included a SWOT analysis comparing land-based aquaculture systems with other production alternatives, such as open sea cages and new-generation closed sea cages. Professor Óli also presented recent advances in aquaculture, particularly the development of these closed sea cage systems. During the session, he introduced and explained the key calculations related to feeding and growth, providing students with essential analytical tools.

This rich and educational experience enabled students to connect theory with practice while gaining insight into the diversity of careers and approaches within aquaculture.

​We are looking forward to meeting the students again for the next onsite session, which will take place in Hólar!