ATTITUDE: Assisting Transformation Through Improved practice: Targeting Urgent Sustainable Development needs by Enabling restorative aquaculture

Biodiversa +

Our food system is one of the main factors contributing to biodiversity loss. The concept of ‘restorative aquaculture’ refers to a form of food production that also brings ecological benefits, which could translate into clearly positive environmental results. In this sense, a key sector in Europe is bivalve aquaculture. Implementing restorative aquaculture practices for bivalves including flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) and mussels (Mytilus spp.) offers many opportunities to address coastal restoration needs (e.g., restore lost biogenic reefs, mitigate eutrophication).

Today, the sector is struggling, despite its growth ambitions. Barriers include low social acceptance, regulatory restrictions and low profitability, with varying conditions across Europe. Taking into account the current challenges and opportunities, as well as the various commitments and ambitions related to the blue economy and biodiversity, a transformative change in the governance of bivalve aquaculture is justified as a means to meet both biodiversity and food systems objectives.

Project

Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Execution date:

2026

End date:

2029

Project web page:

https://www.biodiversa.eu/2026/04/03/attitude/

Objectives

ATTITUDE will support both ecosystem restoration and biodiversity such as food security, generating the key knowledge needed to implement restoring aquaculture practices for bivalves throughout Europe and, with To enable transformative changes in the governance of the bivalve aquaculture. Through transdisciplinary activities in case studies across Europe and interdisciplinary research, we will generate the knowledge needed to solve key barriers and seize opportunities for restorative bivalve aquaculture.

The IEO-CSIC will carry out a case study in Galicia to analyse the effect of aquaculture of two species of oysters in ponds on biodiversity and the contribution of oyster farming to recruitment in the wild. It will also contribute to the socio-economic and governance studies, as well as to the synthesis and dissemination activities of the project

Actions

Analyze the current and projected socioeconomic conditions of bivalve breeding to determine their performance.
To identify the socially accepted factors for viable and restorative bivalve aquaculture.
Characterize baseline data, restoration needs, planned changes, and other uses of study areas.
Identify what the effects of restorative aquaculture are on biodiversity and how it should be monitored.
Analysis of the stakeholder landscape and governance.
Co-creation to identify solutions and transformation pathways.
Dissemination activities for the effective dissemination and implementation of results.
Identify what is needed to maximise positive interactions between restoration and sustainable use in different European basins and beyond.
Synthesize the results in appropriate formats for their effective use.
Preparation of a project management manual that includes a risk management plan.
Drafting of a digital data and results management (DMP) plan.
Preparation of a communication and dissemination plan.

ATTITUDE: Assisting Transformation Through Improved practice: Targeting Urgent Sustainable Development needs by Enabling restorative aquaculture

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