FITOGEL – Phytogels and salinized soils: innovation for the sustainability of clam farming on the Mediterranean coast
Pleamar program
Description
The initiative of this proposal arises within the framework of the Acuiplus cluster in which the aquaculture sector expressed its concern in relation to the fact that clam crops that until a few years ago were viable, in recent years are no longer so due to predation by the blue crab. The invasion by the blue crab has made clam farming unviable in coastal waters, decimated clam farming fields in the bays of the Ebro delta and also natural banks. Natural coquina banks are in regression.
Being able to carry out this culture in sustainable conditions, which allow the fight against the blue crab, could reduce the pressure on natural banks. The project will evaluate the results of the use of phytoplankton gel in seed production and the finishing phase using different quality parameters, from larval morphology to gene expression. It will also evaluate the results of performing clam fattening on land in an experimental field. The results obtained will be presented to the aquaculture and fisheries sector in the form of a guide to good practices with the design of how to carry out the installation and an economic valuation.
In this project, new strains of microalgae will also be obtained, from which those of greatest interest for bivalve aquaculture will be selected and made available to the general public through their deposit in a collection.
Line of action:
Marine ecosystemsStatus:
FinalizadoExecution date:
2019General:
Improvement of the yield in clam farming on the Mediterranean coast by using phytogels in larval culture and converting salinized land into culture ponds.
Specific:
1. To evaluate the feasibility of using gel phytoplankton in the larval (80 microns-230 microns), post-larval (pediveliggerous larvae 230 microns-1000 microns) and Japanese clam seed (> 1000 microns) culture stages.
2. To evaluate the viability of Japanese clam cultivation on land (old rice fields bordering the sea on the edge of the bay of Alfacs) thus limiting predation.
3. Isolation and cultivation of new microalgae clones for use in clam farming, evaluation of their usefulness in aquaculture.
4. To evaluate the usefulness of gel phytoplankton for the finishing phase in clam farming.
5. To evaluate the usefulness of gel phytoplankton for the finishing phase in clam farming.
A1-Maturation of Japanese clam broodstock and larval culture using phytoplankton gel
A2-Post-larval culture and seed using phytoplankton gel
A3-Adaptation actions of a part (20 m x 5 m) of a rice field to a clam cultivation pond.
A4-Japanese clam cultivation in the prepared field on the A3
A5-Japanese Clam Finishing Phase Cultivation
A6-Isolation and culture of new strains of microalgae
A7-Measurement of the growth rates of the 20 strains of microalgae
A8-Analysis of the biochemical composition of microalgae cultures
A9-Analysis of the biochemical composition of clams in the final phase of cultivation, before and after the finishing phase
A10-Physiological effect of the gel diet.
A11-Design of how to adapt a rice field for clam cultivation
A12-Economic feasibility study of the production system proposed in this project
A13-Communication actions: Publication of informative materials
A14-Transfer of project conclusions
An evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of clam farming in an adapted pond in rice fields has been carried out, laying the foundations for the cultivation and economic conditions, as well as an isolation and culture of microalgae strains for use in clam farming.
In this project, a feasibility analysis of the use of gel phytoplankton in the larval stages or in the finishing phases of clam farming has also been carried out, where it has been possible to test the two main brands on the market, using different dosage systems. The results have been very low survival and under both phases, requiring more research in the design of new products in phytogel format specific to bivalves, which may be of great interest and usefulness for the sector and for the development of future projects.
FITOGEL – Phytogels and salinized soils: innovation for the sustainability of clam farming on the Mediterranean coast
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