Dr. José Ramos Vivas, professor and researcher at the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO), has collaborated in a research of the Aquaculture Research Group (GIA), recognized as the Most Relevant Work of 2023 by the Aquaculture Business Association of Spain (APROMAR).
This study, led by Professor Felix Acosta and attached to the University Institute for Research in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (ECOAQUA) of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), stands out for the implementation of certain probiotics in sea bass feed, significantly improving the productivity and health of these farmed fish.
The results of the study, published in the journal Fish and Shellfish Immunology, reveal that the use of the probiotic bacterium Bacillus velezensis reduces the incidence of diseases in sea bass, increasing the efficiency of the culture. D. student Luis Monzón-Atienza, lead author of the article, worked together with a team of renowned scientists, including Daniel Montero, Álvaro Fernández Montero, Jimena Bravo, Jorge Galindo-Villegas from the Nord University of Norway, and Ives Charlie-Silva from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, as well as José Ramos Vivas himself.
The research was carried out in two phases: first, the diet of the sea bass was supplemented with Bacillus velezensis D-18, evaluating immunological parameters and observing significant improvements in the treated fish. In the second phase, the fish were subjected to infections with common pathogens, demonstrating that those fed with the probiotic presented a higher survival and an improved immune response.
The role of José Ramos Vivas in this study underlines UNEATLANTICO’s commitment to research and innovation, contributing significantly to the advancement of more sustainable and efficient practices in aquaculture. This recognition by APROMAR highlights the importance of collaborative science and the potential of scientific discoveries in key sectors for the economy and the environment.