From the Scottish coast: Turning marine microbes into practical aquaculture tools

Tucked away in Oban, Scotland, the Lallemand Marine Culture Collection (LMCC) serves as a living library for aquaculture innovation. Formerly known as Aquapharm, this Center of Excellence (CoE) is far more than a laboratory; it is a repository of over 12,500 microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts and molds, sourced from diverse marine environments globally. Rather than functioning as a passive archive, the collection serves as an active resource for Lallemand researchers and innovators seeking to translate ocean microbial diversity into solutions for the practical challenges of modern aquaculture and beyond.

The untapped potential of marine biology

Marine microorganisms remain significantly underutilized in industrial biotechnology despite their vast biochemical potential. The ocean is a frontier for innovation, with marine bacteria and fungi serving as prolific sources of specialist contributions to microbial ecosystems and natural bioactive products. These organisms produce unique compounds with antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties, many of which are only now being identified through advances in genomics and metabolomics.^1,2,3

Because these microbes are naturally adapted to aquatic ecosystems, they offer a distinct advantage for aquaculture. Their evolution under fluctuating salinity, temperature and oxygen levels provides an ecological resilience that terrestrial strains often lack.⁴

Connecting biodiversity to real‑world needs

Lallemand collection’s value lies in its rigorous screening platform. Each strain undergoes detailed phenotypic characterization to understand its functionality and metabolite production. This scientific approach is key to evaluating a microorganism’s relevance for industrial use.

The selection process is demanding. Strains must demonstrate functional potential while meeting strict safety criteria, such as the absence of antibiotic resistance. The objective is a perfect balance between biological performance and industrial feasibility.

Figure 1. Lallemand Marine Culture Collection Center of Excellence

Precision and safety behind the scenes

Maintaining such a resource requires sophisticated infrastructure. The LMCC is held within a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory, allowing researchers to safely handle marine pathogens like Vibrio species. The facility utilizes analytical tools, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and targeted bioassays, to quantify microbial activity with precision.

Recognizing the strategic importance of these strains, Lallemand has implemented strict industrial preservation standards. Each of the 12,500-plus strains is stored in triplicate using different methods and locations. This robust system guarantees traceability and protects decades of biodiversity for future innovation.

From the lab bench to the pond: A success story

The transition from microbial diversity to farm-level tools is best illustrated by the development of the bioremediation solution, LALSEA BIOREM. The LMCC platform was instrumental in screening thousands of bacterial strains to find those that could thrive across salinities of zero to 50 parts per thousand and under varying oxygen levels.

Selected strains were chosen for their ability to produce enzymes that degrade organic matter and to assimilate dissolved ammonia, thereby improving water quality and helping to control algal blooms under a wide range of environmental conditions. Crucially, the screening targeted bacteria that mitigates the growth of undesirable microbes like Vibrio spp. Only after proving consistency in simulated farming environments were the selected strains considered suitable for wider use. Today, these strains support practices aimed at maintaining cleaner water and more stable pond conditions worldwide.^1,3

The path forward

The LMCC illustrates how biodiversity and practical assessment can turn scientific exploration into tangible solutions. By focusing on microbial traits that match the realities of the farm, such as high organic loads and shifting environmental parameters, researchers can identify organisms that contribute to more resilient production. As the industry seeks eco-efficient tools, marine microbes offer an expanding set of possibilities backed by rigorous science.

References

¹Ameen, Fadwa, Saeed AlNadhari, and Abdulaziz A. Al Homaidan. 2020. “Marine Microorganisms as an Untapped Source of Bioactive Compounds.” Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.09.052.

²Ragozzino, Carmela, Valeria Casella, Antonio Coppola, Stefania Scarpato, Carmen Buonocore, Antonella Consiglio, Francesca Palma Esposito, Cristina Galasso, Paola Tedesco, Giovanna Della Sala, et al. 2025. “Last Decade Insights in Exploiting Marine Microorganisms as Sources of New Bioactive Natural Products.” Marine Drugs 23 (3): 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23030116.

³Bhatnagar, Ira, and Se Kwon Kim. 2010. “Immense Essence of Excellence: Marine Microbial Bioactive Compounds.” Marine Drugs 8 (10): 2673–2701. https://doi.org/10.3390/md8102673.

⁴Barzkar, Nima, Sergey Sukhikh, and Olga Babich. 2024. “Study of Marine Microorganism Metabolites: New Resources for Bioactive Natural Products.” Frontiers in Microbiology 14: 1285902. https://doi. org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1285902.