NEW TRAINING RESOURCE LAUNCHED FOR UK AQUACULTURE

New Training Resource Launched for UK Aquaculture. A unique, online training resource was unveiled at Aquaculture UK. Aquacare 365® has been launched to better support the training and education of present, and future, professionals in UK aquaculture.
The tool has been developed by MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, to provide the sector with advice and guidance on how to continue to improve fish health and welfare.
Jimmy Turnbull, Professor of Aquatic Animal Health and Welfare at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, was heavily involved with the development of the content within this e-learning tool and explains the reasoning behind its creation.
“Aquacare 365® contains training modules which help users understand the science which underpins fish health and welfare,” he says. “The platform allows those working in the sector to bolster their knowledge by completing a series of online sessions on fish husbandry and welfare.”
Video footage with accompanying audio, documents and self-assessments are all features of the platform and certificates are available on completion of each module. Employers can track employee progress and allocate specific modules to users.
“The platform is also a tool for students and young professionals who are pursuing a career in aquaculture. The video footage is really unique and will offer students a visual representation of something which would otherwise be difficult to understand through verbal description.”
Professor Turnbull acknowledges that providing up-to-date, comprehensive training is an important factor behind job retention:
“People working in the aquaculture sector want to exercise the best care of the fish,” he says. “However, they need to be given the correct tools to do so, and adequate training is at the forefront of achieving this.”
MSD Animal Health UK Business Unit Director for integrated livestock, Rebecca Rivara, adds:
“We’ve worked closely with stakeholders to identify the key training needs of the sector and also completed peer reviews to ensure the content is beneficial for the end user.
“The ability to mix and match the learning modules allows employers to provide bespoke training to their staff as well as offer refresher training where required.”
For more information on the Aquacare 365® e-learning tool, contact your MSD Animal Health UK account manager.