- The programme examined three key systems at the forefront of low-impact production: Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), and aquaponics
- The advanced course on low-impact aquaculture production systems was held at IRTA from 25 to 28 May 2026
Twenty-three aquaculture professionals from ten countries gathered at IRTA La Ràpita (Tarragona, Spain) from 25 to 28 May 2026 for an advanced course on low-impact aquaculture production systems. Participants from Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye attended the four-day programme, jointly organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA).
The course received support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Mexico's Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), the FAO's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), through the Local Action Group Terres de l'Ebre's Aquaponics Demonstration Unit project.
Sustainable systems under the spotlight
Aquaculture products — including marine and inland finfish, bivalves, and shrimps — rank among the most sustainable food sources owing to their low feed conversion ratios, modest carbon footprint, and limited water use. However, sustainability performance varies significantly across production systems and scales, from small family-run farms to large multinational operations.
The programme examined three key systems at the forefront of low-impact production: Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), and aquaponics. Whilst RAS enables expansion away from environmentally sensitive areas, IMTA and aquaponics prioritise circularity and resource efficiency. Each approach carries distinct technical, economic, and regulatory challenges that the course addressed through a combination of expert-led sessions and practical case studies.
Practical learning and regional exchange
Lectures were delivered by specialists from research institutions (IRTA La Ràpita, CIBNOR, NACER) and companies (BOFISH, Green in Blue, Ingesom). Sessions covered water quality management, feed optimisation, environmental performance assessment, and decision-making tools for adopting low-impact technologies at both farm and territorial level.
Two technical visits to local aquaculture facilities complemented the programme, alongside presentations in which participants shared insights from their own national contexts and production systems.
Pathways to greater sustainability
Participants left the course equipped with practical frameworks for designing more sustainable, competitive aquaculture operations. Key takeaways included strategies for species and system diversification, improved post-harvest practices, value addition, and shorter supply chains. Discussions also addressed inclusive and circular production models, resource efficiency, and governance mechanisms at local, national, and regional levels.
The course strengthened ties between participants, lecturers and partner institutions, laying the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives in sustainable aquaculture development across the Mediterranean and beyond.