BIOKERAS. Welfare and sustainable production of a new species, Penaeus kerathurus, in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).

Pleamar program

The BIOKERAS project has been designed with a special emphasis on the well-being and health of Penaeus kerathurus in captive conditions. The project will use RAS aquaculture systems, which are closed water recirculation systems that are much more sustainable than the open systems used in traditional aquaculture, because they do not require continuous water supply and allow greater control of waste.

BIOKERAS will work with two wild populations of shrimp: one from the Castellón area and the other from the Mar Menor (Region of Murcia). The project will analyse how different environmental factors (lighting, temperature and feeding) influence the reproductive capacity of captive shrimp. These factors are not only essential to master the reproduction of a species in captivity, but can also have a great impact on the welfare and health of the animals, which will also be analysed in the project.

The following entities act as a collaborating entity: San Pedro Fishermen’s Guild (Peñíscola, Castellón).

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Location

Valencian Community and Region of Murcia

Research line

Axis 6. Environmental Research Aquaculture

Execution date:

2026

End date:

2028

Project web page:

https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/biokeras-bienestar-y-produccion-sostenible-de-una-nueva-especie-penaeus-kerathurus-en

Objectives

The BIOKERAS project seeks to diversify aquaculture production through the introduction of a new species, the native shrimp Penaeus (Melicertus) kerathurus, with a low trophic level, which would be a more sustainable type of aquaculture than the traditional European one of carnivorous species with a high trophic level.

Achieving captive production of shrimp would entail several advantages from an economic and environmental point of view. On the one hand, it would allow in the future to obtain Penaeus kerathurus fingerlings for restocking of the natural environment, as well as the establishment of aquaculture companies that could supply the market with this species, taking pressure off the fishing of their natural populations.

Specific objectives:

OE1. To disseminate the results of the project and increase the general public’s knowledge of Penaeus kerathurus shrimp aquaculture as a sustainable activity.
OE2. To obtain two populations of Penaeus kerathurus, from two areas of the Mediterranean (Valencian Community and Mar Menor, Murcia) and acclimatize them to captivity conditions in RAS systems.
OE3. To identify the optimal lighting and temperature conditions for the ideal maintenance of Penaeus kerathurus in captivity.
OE4. To analyze the effect of different diets and feeding strategies on the good condition and gonadal maturation of Penaeus kerathurus in captivity.
OE5. To study the effect on well-being and health (behaviour, growth and immune system) of Penaeus kerathurus under different maintenance conditions (light, temperature and feeding).
OE6. Communicate the results and conclusions of the project to the different stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.