The French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea is a French institute that undertakes research and expert assessments to advance knowledge on the oceans and their resources, monitor the marine environment and foster the sustainable development of maritime activities. As an integrated marine sciences research institute, IFREMER contributes to national research and innovation, as well as to the European research landscape. The group involved in AQUAEXCEL3.0, mainly located in Palavas-les-Flots, holds expertise to carry out scientific research in fish domestication and selective breeding, health and welfare, and conception of innovative production systems such as recirculated systems and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). It works mostly with European sea bass as a model species.

Role in the AQUAEXCEL3.0 project:

Ifremer will be specifically involved in WP1 (T1.2), WP4 (T4.1 and T4.2) WP5 (T5.1) WP6 (T6,1, T6.2 and task leader in T6.3) , and will provide Trans-National Access to the Palavas, La Tremblade and Bouin Research Stations.

Key persons involved:

Dr. Marie-Laure Bégout is a full-time senior Scientist in the field of behavioural ecology of fishes, welfare and adaptation. Overall, she has published more than 90 SCI papers (orcid.org/0000-0003-1416-3479), 6 book chapters and >80 international and >30 national communications, h-index 28. She has participated and lead WPs in several EU research programs on fish welfare (e.g. COPEWELL, WINFISH, SUSHIFISH). She will be task leader in JRA3 and contact person for Ifremer.

Dr. François Allal is a researcher in the field of genetic and genomic selection of sea bass. He has >40 SCI papers (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8232-904X), >50 international communications and >35 national communications, h-index 15. He has co-directed 2 PhD thesis. He is coordinator of 2 EMFF projects (GENESEA and SELFIE) and participated to several EU research programs (e.g. AQUAECXEL2020, FISHBOOST, AquaIMPACT). He will participate in JRA1, JRA2 and JRA3.

Mr. Alain Vergnet is a senior technician in the field of genetic and selection of sea bass. He is responsible of the development and management of the selected lines of sea bass developed at PEARS and he has unique expertise in broodstock management, large factorial cross, on-growing, large-scale automated phenotype analyses and germ stem cells grafting. He has participated in several research projects on genetic and fish welfare.

Mr. Frédéric Girardin is an aquaculture engineer responsible for the Ifremer mollusc experimental platform of La Tremblade. He manages a team of 5 technicians to allow experimental mollusc breeding in national and international collaborative projects.

Mr. Emmanuel Rezzouk is an aquaculture engineer responsible for the Ifremer Palavas-les-Flots experimental aquaculture platform. He manages a team of 10 technicians and engineers. The platform is involved in more than 20 research projects, he will manage Transnational Access at Palavas-les-Flots.

Dr. Christophe Stavrakakis is a research engineer specialized in shellfish farming and water treatment processes. He is heading the Ifremer Research Unit SG2M working on mollusc diseases, genetic and microbiology. This Research Unit is particularly involved in AE3 with its 2 mollusc experimental platforms in La Tremblade and Bouin and will manage Transnational Access for them.

Ms. Virginie Le Razavet is an engineer in biology and is responsible for the Ifremer mollusc experimental platform of Bouin. She manages a team of 6 engineers and technicians to allow experimental mollusc breeding in national and international collaborative projects.

Dr. Thierry Laugier is a senior scientist in the field of marine ecology applied to exploited coastal ecosystem or aquaculture systems (32 SCI papers, co-authored 2 books). He is heading the Ifremer Research Unit MARBEC which is involved in AE3. Within AE3, he will coordinate the Ifremer’s TNAs.