Presentations at the conference covered a wide spectrum of topics representing a number of the 20 different research subprojects under SEAFOODplus. These ranged from the effect of seafood on human health to ethically defensible aquaculture. Other research is being done on muscle fibre, which could reduce problems with fillet texture, while one of the subprojects is trying to understand the genetic basis of quality traits such as high muscle fibre density.
In another presentation Fabienne Guerard from the University of West Britanny in France reported on substances derived from marine by-products that had potential benefits among others as blood pressure regulators and antioxidants. The latter are believed to mop up free radicals, which are associated with aging as well as with diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Her work can result in components for functional foods or nutraceuticals that target these illnesses.