The Aquaculture Research Group (GIA), led by Professor Juan Manuel Afonso López, has developed more than a hundred national and European research projects since 1990 and has more than 40 members including researchers and technical staff from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands Institute of Marine Sciences, with common objectives of teaching, research, technology transfer and development cooperation in aquaculture.

In 2022, GIA is involved in 19 research projects with a budget of around one and a half million euros. Eleven of these projects are European scope: PerformFISH, AquaIMPACT, AQUAVITAE, BiomedAqu, AQUAEXCEL 3.0, Islandap Advanced, AQUAINVERT, MIMAR+, PISCIBIEN, REBECA-CCT and StartCircular.

It is also working with Ecuador on extra community project called ECUANARIA. About the national projects, the ULPGC's ECOAQUA university institute leads the MORFOGEN and PLANASER 2.0 projects, and works on the development of the circular economy in the autonomous community with different lines of research integrated in the ELITE, MELUSA, INTEGRAB, AQUACIRCULAR and MEDREGALGAE projects.

It develops its activity in different facilities of the Fundación Parque Científico Tecnológico de Taliarte of the ULPGC.

Members

  • Juan Manuel Afonso

    PhD in Biological Sciences from the ULL in 1988. He is at present the head of the Aquaculture Research Group of the ECOAQUA University Institute. He has more than thirty scientific publications to his credit.

    Academic position: Professor of the ULPGC specialising in Animal Production.

    Corporate email: 
    juanmanuel.afonso@ulpgc.es


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  • María Soledad Izquierdo López

    Professor specialising in Zoology, whose work focuses on the nutrition of aquaculture species of commercial interest.

    She is an Honorary Life Member of the World Aquaculture Society, the first Spanish woman to receive this award and the second woman to be recognised in its 50 years of history.

    Academic position: Vice-Chancellor for Research and Transfer of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    marisol.izquierdo@ulpgc.es


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  • Daniel Montero Vítores

    He is responsible for the GIAculture service, scientific coordinator of aquaculture facilities and coordinator of the doctorate program ACUISEMAR. His research focuses on nutrition and stress resistance in captive bred marine fish.

    Academic position: Professor of Zoology-Aquaculture of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    daniel.montero@ulpgc.es


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  • Félix Acosta Arbelo

    PhD in veterinary, he is the coordinator of the Master's Degree in Animal Health and Aquaculture of the ULPGC. His numerous scientific publications related to Pathology in aquaculture, studies of the immune system in fish species of commercial interest and studies in marine biotoxins.

    Academic position: Professor of Animal Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    felix.acosta@ulpgc.es


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  • Lidia E. Robaina Robaina

    PhD in Marine sciences, has focused her research in the area of aquaculture knowledge and sustainable development. Her 80 R+D+i projects and her 100 scientific publications have made it possible for her to be recognised, since 2018, as one of the four most prestigious and internationally relevant researchers of the ULPGC.

    Academic position: Professor specialising in Zoology of the ULPGC

    Corporate email:
    lidia.robaina@ulpgc.es


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  • María Jesús Zamorano

    Veterinarian PhD, with experience in genetics, genomics and animal selection. She has published more than more than 45 articles scientific related to animal breeding and molecular tools useful in aquaculture production.

    Academic position: Professor contracted by the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    mariajesus.zamorano@ulpgc.es


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  • Rafael Ginés Ruiz

    Expert on the quality of aquaculture products, is the Service Manager of the IU-ECOAQUA. He has more than 40 scientific publications related to sensory evaluation, nutritional value, food safety, freshness evolution along shelf life and consumer preferences.

    Academic position: Professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

    Corporate email:
    rafael.gines@ulpgc.es


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  • Pedro Luis Castro Alonso

    PhD in Veterinary and expert in Cell Biology. His research revolves around the nutrition and cellular effects of various species reared in aquaculture.

    Academic position: Professor contracted by the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    pedro.castro@ulpgc.es


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  • Gercende Courtois de Viçose

    PhD in Biology, with more than 20 year’s experience in aquaculture, marine biology and ecology. She has specialised on molluscs, invertebrates and algae production, as well as sustainable aquaculture techniques and Integrated Multitrophic aquaculture.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    Corporate email:
    gcourtois@ulpgc.es


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  • María del Pino Viera Toledo

    PhD in Marine Sciences, with more than 25 year´s experience in aquaculture both in private sector and research activities.  Specialised in the production of fish, molluscs, especially abalone, seaweed, as well as in sustainable aquaculture techniques and integrated multitrophic aquaculture. 

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    Corporate email:
    maria.viera@fpct.ulpgc.es


  • Francisco Javier Roo Filgueira

    He is senior scientist at Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovacion y Sociedad de la Información from the Canary Government, where he is responsible for its R&D&I projects.

    This PhD is the coordinator of the Medregalgae project, and has experience managing and development R&D projects on Blue Growth and Circular Economy, in the field of marine aquaculture.

    Academic position: Researcher associated.

    Corporate email:
    javier.roo@ulpgc.es


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  • Silvia Torrecillas Burriel

    PhD in aquaculture by the ULPGC, specialist in Nutrition and Health of aquaculture species with more than 50 publications in this field. She has 15 years of experience in the area of functional additives, alternative raw materials and mucosal tissue health, coordinating transfer and research agreements with the private sector.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    Corporate email:
    silvia.torrecillas@ext.ulpgc.es


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  • David Domínguez Montesdeoca

    ULPGC Post-doc whose research focuses on the supplementation of micronutrients (especially minerals and vitamins) in feed for the main marine species produced in Europe.

    Academic position: GIA Research Associate, currently working at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Bergen, Norway.

    Corporate email:
    david.dominguez@ulpgc.es


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  • Jimena Bravo García

    Degree in Marine Sciences, PhD from the ULPGC. She has publications in the field of microbiology, immunology, and ecology. Ongoing research on dietary supplementation and immunostimulation in aquaculture and marine toxins.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    Corporate email:
    jimena.bravo@ulpgc.es


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  • Hyun Suk SHIN

    PhD from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University specialising in quantitative genetics in aquaculture. Her research focuses on the molecular biology of fish and endocrinological mechanisms influenced by various environmental factors. She is technical head of the ECUANARIA international project.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    hyunsuk.shin@ulpgc.es


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  • Samira Sarih

    PhD from the ULPGC specialising in the reproduction and nutrition of aquaculture fish, with around thirty scientific publications.

    Academic position: Researcher contracted by IU-ECOAQUA.

    Corporate email:
    samira.sarih@ulpgc.es


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  • Marta Ribeiro Carvalho

    PhD from the ULPGC and portuguese researcher who won the "Women in Aquaculture" scholarship in 2021 awarded by the Norwegian company Kvarøy Arctic, one of the world's largest producers of Atlantic salmon.

    Carvalho specialises in fish nutrition, and is looking for new ingredients that enable the development of sustainable and efficient aquaculture feeds to maximise the growth, health and welfare of aquaculture species.

    Academic position: Researcher of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    marta.carvalho@ulpgc.es


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  • Álvaro Lorenzo Felipe

    PhD from the ULPGC and degree in Biotechnology from the Pablo de Olavide University and specialised in aquaculture and bioinformatics after finishing the Master's Degree in Marine Cultures at the ULPGC. He currently works in the area of genetics and molecular biology at the GIA Group. The line of research on which his thesis focuses is the study of the genetic architecture of skeletal deformities in sea bream (Sparus aurata).

    Academic position: Researcher of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    alvaro.lorenzo103@alu.ulpgc.es


  • Sergio León Bernabeu

    PhD from the ULPGC and biotechnologist specialising in genetics and aquaculture. He is currently working on his PhD thesis on genetic improvement in sea bream and leading research activities in the company Aquanaria, S.L., which is dedicated to the production of Atlantic sea bass.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    sergi.leon101@alu.ulpgc.es


  • Sivagurunathan Ulaganathan

    Pre-doctoral researcher specialising in fish nutrition, feed technology and fish physiology.  He won the best poster presentation award at ISFNF2020 for his study on 'Dietary requirements of vitamin D3 and vitamin K3 in sea bream (Sparus aurata) larvae in relation to growth and gene expression of bone biomarkers'.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    sivagurunathan.ulaganathan101@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Raquel Quirós Pozo

    Degree in Veterinary, with a Master's degree in Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Therapeutic Research and a Master's degree in Marine Cultures from the ULPGC. Her research focuses on the optimization of the cultivation of emerging species, mainly mugilids, with special emphasis on the improvement of acclimation, management, nutrition and reproduction protocols.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    raquel.quiros101@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Yiyen Tseng

    Researcher specialising in fish nutrition, feed technology and physiology. She obtained her degree and Master's degree, both in Aquaculture, from the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Taiwan, and now she continues her PhD at the ULPGC.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    yi.tseng101@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Sara Ramírez Bolaños

    Researcher associated with the Islandap Advanced project, which works on the revaluation of alternative raw materials for aquaculture from the circular economy of the islands.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    sara.ramirez@ulpgc.es


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  • Cathaysa Pérez-García

    Training researcher specialising in genetic improvement. She studies the use of microsatellite markers in Senegalese sole (Solea Senegalensis) and white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

    Academic position: : PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    cathaysa.perez108@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Marina Martínez Soler

    She is part of the research staff in training under contract at the IU-ECOAQUA. Her line of research revolves around marine genetics and broodstock selection.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    marina.martinez@ulpgc.es


  • Luis Monzón Atienza

    Degree in Veterinary from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, continues doing his first year of doctoral thesis at the IU-ECOAQUA in the doctoral program Acuicultura sostenible y ecosistemas marinos specialising on probiotics in aquaculture.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    luis.monzon@ulpgc.es


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  • Antonio Serradell Pastor

    Researcher specialising in marine cultures, specifically in the field of animal health and welfare.

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    antonio.serradell101@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Paula Sarmiento Mendoza

    Degree in Marine Sciences, has a master in Aquaculture from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Her research focuses on sustainable nutrition and final product quality in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).

    Academic position: PhD student of the ULPGC.

    Corporate email:
    paula.sarmiento102@alu.ulpgc.es


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  • Christian Monzón RIvero

    Graduated in Marine Sciences specialized in aquaculture through the Master’s Degree in Marine Cultures at the ULPGC, continues the doctoral program led by IU-ECOAQUA in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems in 2022, specializing in the consolidation of Seriola (S. dumerili) farming in Spain through innovation in larval rearing and nutrition processes.

    His employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2022 associated with the PLANASER 2.0 project. Now he develops his work at the pilot plant for the production of fry (Mesoscosmos).

    Academic position: Predoctoral researcher / Project technician

    Corporate email:
    christian.monzon101@alu.ulpgc.es


  • Isabel Florido Martel

    Degree in Industrial Organisation Engineering from the ULPGC, she also has a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2021 associated with the Rebeca project. Now she is working at the Process Pilot Plant (FPCT).

    Academic position: Researcher contracted as technical staff.

    Corporate email:
    isabel.martel@ulpgc.es


  • Nuria Esther Marrero Sánchez

    Degree in Marine Sciences from the ULPGC, she also has a Master's degree in Aquaculture from the same university. Her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2021. Now she is working at the Haliotis and Mesocosmos facilities.

    Academic position: Project technician. 

    Corporate email:
    nuria.marrero@fpct.ulpgc.es


  • Judith Santana Peña

    Degree in Chemical Engineering from the ULPGC, enviromental technician from ICSE, also estudied an especialization in marine desalination (DESAL) from  ITC/SPEGC.
    Her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2022 associated with the Islandap Advanced project.
    Now she is working at the Process Pilot Plant (FPCT-ULPGC), and also at the aquaponic cultivation room.

    Academic position: Project technician.

    Corporate email:
    judith.santana@ulpgc.es


  • Carmen Quintana

    Higher technician in analysis and quality control from the IES Politécnico Las Palmas, her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2001. Now she is working in the Biochemistry and Chromatography laboratory of the Aquaculture Research Group of the IU-ECOAQUA.

    Academic position: Coordinator of Biochemistry and Cromatography Laboratory.

    Corporate email:
    cquintana@proyinves.ulpgc.es


  • Rubén Rodríguez Padrón

    Higher technician in aquaculture from the IES Profesor Antonio Cabrera Pérez and Vocational education and training technician in aquaculture from the IES Casas Nuevas. His employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2002. Now he is working at the pilot plant for the production of fry (Mesoscosmos).

    Academic position: Technician responsible for the pilot plant for the production of fingerlings.

    Corporate email:
    ruben.rodriguez@ulpgc.es


  • Guacimara Alejandro Hernández

    Higher technician in environmental chemistry from the IES Politécnico de Las Palma, her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2009. Now she is working in the molecular biology laboratory of the Aquaculture and Highly Specialised Biotechnology Service (SABE) of the institute.

    Academic position: Technician in Environmental Chemistry.

    Corporate email:
    galejandro@proyinves.ulpgc.es


  • Andrea Minguella Alfaro

    Higher technician in anatomical pathology and cytology from the IES Sant Cugat del Vallès (el pinar de nuestra señora school),Her employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2012. Now she is working at SABE, Taliarte.

    Academic position: Histology technician.

    Corporate email:
    andrea.minguella@ulpgc.es


  • Rayco David Cruz Pérez

    Higher technician in aquaculture from the IES Profesor Antonio Cabrera Perez, his employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2013. Now he is working at the Selection Station and MBS (Marine Biosecurity Station).

    Academic position: Responsible of the Marine Biosecurity Station and MBS (Marine Biosecurity Station).

    Corporate email:
    d2jsporg@hotmail.es


  • Nabil Oubramy Reyes

    Higher technician in aquaculture from the the IES Profesor Antonio Cabrera Pérez, his employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2013. Now he is working in the Selection, Breeding and Bioassay facilities, as well as in the culture building of the Aquaculture Research Group.

    Academic position: Project technician, responsible for the Cultivation facilities.

    Corporate email:
    nabiloub@hotmail.com


  • Marco Antonio Hernández Marichal

    Vocational education and training technician in aquaculture from the IES Profesor Antonio Cabrera, his employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2015. Now he is working at the pilot plant for the production of fry (Mesocosmo).

    Academic position: Project technician 

    Corporate email:
    marcohrm@hotmail.com


  • Antonio Luis Viera Toledo

    Vocational education and training technician in aquaculture from the IES Casa Nuevas, his employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins began in 2020. Now he is working in the Haliotis and Mesocosmos facilities.

    Academic position: Project technician.

    Corporate email:
    antonio.viera@fpct.ulpgc.es


  • Javier Estevez Delgado

    Technical draughtsman from the IES Mesa y López in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, his employment relationship with IU-ECOAQUA begins in 2020. Now he is working at the pilot plant for the production of animal feed, in the aquaponic cultivation room and in the tilapia room in the cultivation area.

    Academic position: Aquaponics project technician.

    Corporate email:
    javier.estevez@fpct.ulpgc.es


News

11/04/2023
The research, supported by the world’s leading aquaculture company, will make it possible to feed this key species...
05/04/2023
Fishermen from Gran Canaria collaborate with the IU-ECOAQUA of the ULPGC to increase genetic diversity of amberjack...
01/04/2023
Ferosekhan Shajahan, a former student of the University Institute for Research in Aquaculture and Sustainable Marine...

Events

28/03/2023 

Time: 12:00h

Researcher: Javier Roo

Presentation: Aquawind Project

Place of celebration: Sala Abanca, Feria Internacional de Galicia Abanca, Galicia

Organiser: Aquafuture Spain

Research group: GIA

PROGRAMME

21/03/2023

Time: Tuesday, March 21th: 16.00-17:30 (UTC-1)

Place of celebration: Institute for Research in Marine Sciences (OKEANOS) of the University of the Azores (UAc)

Organiser: AQUAINVERT project

Research Group: GIA

ONLINE ACCESS

PROGRAMME

08/03/2023

Researcher: Lidia Esther Robaina 

Place of celebration: CEIP La Garita, Las Palmas

Organiser: CEIP La Garita, Las Palmas

Research group: GIA

The researcher Lidia Robaina participated on the 08/03/2023 in an interesting interview at the CEIP La Garita with Julia Martel for 8M

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The IU ECOAQUA is a research centre that belongs to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a public institution that offers a wide range of degrees in all the major areas of knowledge, with the aim of providing comprehensive training to those who come to it, in a commitment based on innovation, quality and internationalisation.

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