The aquaculture laboratory is home to research activities related to the breeding of marine fish species of commercial interest. Histological and histopathological analysis of organs and tissues and assessment of the welfare status of reared fish are conducted. The laboratory is equipped with the necessary instrumentation for setting up and observing a histological preparation (microtome, inclusion station, microscopes with image analyzer, staining equipment) and for assaying hematochemical indicators of well-being (spectrophotometer, photometer and microplate washer, heating magnetic stirrer, thermostatically controlled water bath, refrigerated centrifuges, precision and analytical balance, single- and multichannel pipettes, microhematocrit centrifuge).
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
