Acronym BenefitS
Category
Aquaculture
Title Benefits of the production of Seaweeds in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture Programme Nat. Programme (supported by ESIF)
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National-European Coordinator Isabel Maria Trigueiros Sousa Pinto Coordinator email ispinto@ciimar.up.pt
Coordinator institution
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (Portugal)
Institutions involved
CIMA-Ualg - University of Algarve; Research Center of Marine and Environment (Portugal) ,
UTAD - University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (Portugal) ,
Start year 2010 End year 2013 Funding (€) € 170,948 Website NA Summary The main objective of the BenefitS project was to test the use of seaweeds in an Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system and find if this could improve aquaculture sustainability: by improving water quality, producing biomass usable to replace fish protein in fish feed, while maintaining or even improving farmed fish quality. The main activities of the project started with the selection of seaweed capable of being produced in IMTA systems and to be used as ingredients in fish feed. So several seaweed species were tested for their growth, their nutrient removal capacity and anti-bacterial properties in IMTA. During the second phase of the project, the ADC of several seaweed species was tested in rainbow trout and tilapia, to determine if the seaweeds tested were good ingredients for fish feed. During phase three, the effects of a seaweed-containing diet on the fish growth, meat quality and organ morphology were tested in fish growth trials and the organoleptic properties of fish fillets were tested by a panel specialised in evaluating marine food products. Phase four of the project tested for anti-bacterial properties of seaweed extracts. The dissemination of the potential benefits of IMTA systems for aquaculture and the potential for improvement of the quality of its products, using results from this project, was done through a workshop with practitioners from Portugal and Spain, co-organized by Ciimar and CETMAR (Galicia) and by a brochure that was distributed in meetings and to practitioners.
The general objective of the BenefitS project was to demonstrate that seaweed production in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture can be used to improve aquaculture sustainability: replacing fish protein in fish feed, improve water quality, while maintaining or even improving fish quality. The specific aims were to select seaweed species and cultivation conditions that improve the productivity and nutritional value of the seaweeds, while improving water quality of the system. Then test the inclusion of those seaweeds in the fish-diet, replacing other sources of protein, and determine which are good to produce feeds that promote good growth and fish health while maintaining or improving fish taste and appearance.
Keywords
Open sea aquaculture;
Trout;
Sustainability;
Diets;
Fish meal replacement;
Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA);
Fish;
Fish health;
Environmental impact;
Water quality;
Feed composition;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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