IMTA

Integrate Multitrophic Aquaculture

(Acquacoltura Multitrofica Integrata)

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.

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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 ….

life

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

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UNIVERSITY OF BARI “ALDO MORO”
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

BARI

Scientific Responsible of the project REMEDIA LIFE: Caterina Longo
E-mail: caterina.longo@uniba.it

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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

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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….

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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

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.

Actions

ANALYSIS
analysis of the state of the art at European level and of the specific environmental and socio-economic context of reference.
DESIGN
and implementation of an innovative IMTA system in a pilot plant in a confined environment.
MONITORING
system performance through environmental analysis.
COMPARISON
at international level, with the establishment of a specific International Scientific Committee for the validation of the method.

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

DEVELOPMENT
of biotechnological innovative products from biomass (edible and non) produced, to be placed on the market, according to the “BLUE GROWTH” view.
FINDING
managerial strategies and transferability-repeatability and use of project results.
EDITORIAL BOARD
sharing and dissemination of methodological guidelines at European scale.
ACTIONS OF
awareness-raising – communication and networking.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Reduction of the environmental impact of the plant: improvement of the environmental quality of the marine site.
Bioremediation of the waters surrounding the plant leading to an improvement of the chemical-physical quality of water with reduction of faecal contamination, compared to the ex-ante environmental situation; improvement of the ecological health status of ecosystems.
Increases of profits for the company:
marketing of new products obtained from biomass, improved breeding performances and reduction of the risk of bacterial contamination of fish products.
Development of a Managerial Plan of the pilot company for the sustainability of its business activities.
Conventions between stakeholders at the international level for the replicability and transfer of design experience.
Drafting of methodological guidelines validated and applicable on a European scale:
Definition of an After Life Plan.
Communication and awareness at national and European level:
“REMEDIA life on the beach” festival organization, realization of several informative workshops; realization of the website, logo and production of informative material.

The main application

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOREMEDIATION

A clean sea

it is the effect of our bioremediation method in Mariculture

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.