FIRST OBJECTIVE
Mitigation of negative environmental impacts from mariculture, even in confined marine environment through IMTA – Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture system, using a new set of bioremediator organisms.
THE PROBLEM
Mitigate pollution caused by intensive cage farming in aquaculture facilities
Intensive maricolture
in floating cages
At the European level, the aquaculture sector, and in particular mariculture, is growing strongly and more than 50% of the products of aquatic origin consumed by the world population are estimated to derive from aquaculture. According to the World Bank’s forecast scenarios based on projections of consumption data and population growth, a request for 261 million tons of aquatic products is expected in 2030, of which over 62% will have to be secured with aquaculture products. To meet the demand, aquaculture will have to triple its production.
THE SOLUTION
a strategic alliance
among the resources of the EU (Life), the world of applied research, and the business world.
EUROPE
Investments for environmental protection
LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental protection, nature conservation and climate change projects across the EU. Since 1992, LIFE has co-funded over 4500 projects. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately 3.4 billion euros to environmental and climate protection ….
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
engaged in the project
UNIVERSITY OF SALENTO – DiSTeBA
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies
LECCE
Scientific Responsible of the project REMEDIALIFE : Adriana Giangrande
E-mail: adriana.giangrande@unisalento.it
UNIVERSITY OF BARI “ALDO MORO”
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
BARI
Scientific Responsible of the project REMEDIA LIFE: Caterina Longo
E-mail: caterina.longo@uniba.it
CNR – IAMC
Institute for the Coastal Marine Environment
TARANTO
Scientific Responsible of the project REMEDIA LIFE: Loredana Stabili
E-mail: loredana.stabili@iamc.cnr.it
THE COMPANY
The Company is located in the Municipality of Taranto, in a quite confined area where wind and storms are mitigated by the position allowing the work in any season. The Company carries out commercial activities of aquaculture in sea water, brackish or lagoon and related services. MMG currently has 20 floating offshore cages breeding fishes of different sizes. The fish species bred are the sea bream (Sparus aurata) and the sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax). MMG carries out aquaculture activities in a fish facility….
Geographical location
OUR NATURAL ALLIES
the bioremediators
BIOREMEDIATORS
“Naturally present” organisms that are placed in the water under the fish cages.
They are marine invertebrates that commonly live attached to the hard substrate (sessile) and macroalgae. The invertebrates live by passing huge quantities of water through their filtering structures. All invertebrates are part of what we call “fouling”. To increase their biomass it is only necessary to increase the surface of the substrate on which they can fix. Invertebrates are animals and therefore feed on small organisms (Phytoplancton and bacteria) and organic matter. Macroalgae, on the other hand, are plants and therefore feed on inorganic substances.
THE PROJECT
Actions and Strategies
Actions
SECOND OBJECTIVE
Development of a virtuous circle that promotes sustainable mariculture at European level through the entry of the new IMTA – Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture system – into the European market.
Actions
EXPECTED RESULTS
A CLEAN SEA – ENVIRONMENTAL BIOREMEDIATION
The system we propose can reduce the impact of intensive mariculture. It consists of modules arranged around the breeding cages of fish containing the bioremediators. The macroalgae are arranged on the surface, molluscs, worms and sponges are placed in alternating rows with worms placed in the deepest area, in this way they are able to act also the wastes from molluscs Sponges, molluscs and polychaetes can extract the organic matter preventing its deposition on the sediment, while the macroalgae remove the nitrogen that can cause eutrophication. The system has been planned to be applied to intensive mariculture in confined waters.
A VIRTUOUS
CIRCLE
A “natural” purification system that is able to generate exploitable biomass.
operating scheme
USE OF BIOMASS
APPLICATIVE ASPECTS the produced biomass can be used for new sources of income in different sectors.
Follow a manual added link
BIOACTIVE COMPOUND
extracted from the biomass that can be used in Pharmaceutical nutraceutical and cosmetic industries
LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental protection, nature conservation and climate change projects across the EU. Since 1992, LIFE has co-funded over 4500 projects. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately 3.4 billion euros to environmental and climate protection ….
Remediation of Marine Environment and Development of Innovative Aquacolture
exploitation of Edible/not Edible biomass
LIFE16 ENV/IT/000343
