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CAMBIA: Cultivation and Use of Marine Invertebrates in Aquaculture Systems with Low Environmental Impact

Pleamar program

The CAMBIA project aimed to contribute to aquaculture diversification towards promising species, with a low trophic level and a lower environmental footprint. To this end, it was planned to increase the knowledge of marine invertebrates potentially exploitable in IMTA-RAS systems, such as amphipods and polychaetes, and their potential use in the production of new species such as the Mediterranean shrimp.

The initiative included sampling, analysis and culture activities of the different marine invertebrates, as well as ex situ experiments to determine the bioremediation capacity of these organisms in order to improve the environmental footprint of marine aquaculture facilities. In addition, it was planned to make visible the role of women in science and in the aquaculture sector, carrying out specific activities on the occasion of the Day of Women and Girls in Science and the Day of Aquaculture. It was also committed to transmitting the knowledge generated through didactic materials, workshops, congresses and conferences.

Univaersidad de Alicante

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2024

End date:

2026

Project web page:

https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/cambia-cultivo-y-aprovechamiento-de-invertebrados-marinos-en-sistemas-acuicolas-de-bajo

The general objective of the CAMBIA project is to advance in the development of new opportunities for cultivation and diversification of aquaculture production within low environmental impact aquaculture systems (IMTA-RAS).

These are some of the conclusions reached within the framework of the project:

1. Marine amphipods and polychaetes can be efficiently harvested from aquaculture infrastructures in the open ocean. The total production obtained of 11.8 g of biomass per month per collector is in line with the experiences previously carried out on the coasts of Andalusia and the Spanish Levante.

2. The polychaete Platynereis dumerilii has been taxonomically and genetically identified in open-ocean aquaculture fouling communities and emerges as a potentially exploitable species.

3. The daily feed intake by amphipods of the genus Elasmopus has been estimated at 141.22 ± 0.07 mg per g of amphipod. These results allow us to assess the bioremediation capacity of amphipods in aquaculture waste and their application in integrated multitrophic cultures.

4. The Mediterranean shrimp Penaeus (Melicertus) kerathurus has been successfully maintained in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), with a survival rate of close to 80%. In addition, a diet based on polychaetes has been shown to improve the growth of captive prawns, mainly in females.

5. The visibility of the work of researchers and workers of aquaculture companies is still necessary. For this reason, the publication of materials such as the dossier Women and aquaculture contributes to promoting equality in science and in the aquaculture sector, mainly among young audiences.

 

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CAMBIA: Cultivation and Use of Marine Invertebrates in Aquaculture Systems with Low Environmental Impact