- 34 professionals from 8 countries took part in a workshop presenting concepts and current research results on low-impact aquaculture production systems
- The workshop was jointly organized by CIHEAM Zaragoza, the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology of Catalonia (IRTA), and the EU H2020-funded project NewTechAqua
The training workshop “Low Impact Aquaculture Production Systems” was organized at IRTA La Rapita, Tarragona (Spain), from 27 to 29 June 2023. The workshop was jointly organized by CIHEAM Zaragoza, the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology of Catalonia (IRTA), and the EU H2020-funded project NewTechAqua (New Technologies Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative European Aquaculture), whose main goal is to expand and diversify European aquaculture production of finfish, molluscs and microalgae by developing and validating technologically-advanced, resilient and sustainable applications.
In recent decades, aquaculture production systems have evolved and incorporated new technologies (i.e. offshore cage farming, RAS) which have facilitated the growth of fish farming, moving away from natural sensitive locations. In parallel, there have been significant research efforts to develop more sustainable aquaculture production systems, such as IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture) or aquaponics, aiming to improve circularity and efficiency, reduce waste, and provide ecosystem services.
The workshop was designed with the objective of discussing recent advances in the development of low-impact aquaculture production systems, and disseminating selected results and recommendations from the work carried out by NewTechAqua, as well as other similar existing projects and industry initiatives in this field. The programme presented concepts and current research results on the development of more sustainable aquaculture production systems and technologies such as aquaponics, IMTA or bioflocs, aiming to improve circularity and efficiency, reduce waste, and provide ecosystem services.
The workshop was attended by a total of 34 professionals from 8 countries (Chile, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia), including researchers, aquaponics and agriculture entrepreneurs, civil servants and research technicians.
Sustainable practices and case studies from Mediterranean, Atlantic and Black Sea aquaculture
The workshop began with a welcome address from Sergi Tudela (DG for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheriesof the Catalonian Regional Government, Spain) and Georgios Paximadis (Aquaculture Officer at FAO's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean), both stressing the importance of promoting the development of sustainable aquaculture and the need to develop low-impact production technologies.
On the first day of the workshop, results were presented from the NewTechAqua project. Guest speakers shared insights on the state of the art of different systems (types, main designs, species, technical and financial feasibility), and participants shared latest advances, sustainable practices and cases studies from Mediterranean, Atlantic and Black Sea aquaculture
NewTechAqua has worked on the assessment of the relationships between different, new, on-growing inland systems,their environmental impact, and economic performance. For this purpose, the project has tested and compared four inland farming systems differing in their level of technological development. Enric Gisbert (IRTA) summarized the main results of NewTechAqua’s assessment of proper inland farming systems based on biological, economic and ecological footprint indexes; and Roberto Pastres (UNIVE) summarized the results on the improvement of operating systems: eco-intensification of land-based seabass and seabream farms.
German Merino (UCN, Chile) provided a conceptual introduction to aquaponics, focusing on the need to make better use of natural resources (i.e water), promoting biointegrated aquaculture production systems, and the main components, advantages and disadvantages of aquaponic systems. Regarding the latter point, he stressed the importance of providing personnel with good managerial knowledge and skills in both aquaculture and plant production.
Shirra Freeman (Univ. Haifa, Israel) made a presentation about IMTA, discussing the drivers and potential benefits of managing aquaculture and IMTA at basin scale, and spoke of the scientific advances in applying concepts and principles of aquaculture carrying capacity as a precondition to basin-scale management, for which the engagement of policy and regulatory stakeholders is needed.
David Sánchez Peñaranda (UPV, Spain) made a presentation about biofloc applications in aquaculture. Biofloc is a protein-rich macro aggregate of organic matter with micro-organisms and invertebrates attached, associated with the following main advantages: provision of natural feed; saving on feed administration; reduction in eutrophication; and provision of extra biosecurity as there is less growth of pathogenic bacteria. On the contrary, there are still several weaknesses as bioflocs are complex, highly biodiverse systems, and therefore difficult to manage and scale up.
Current regulation, technical and economic viability of low-impact aquaculture
The second day of the workshop involved guest speakers sharing recent research work from several European, PRIMA and national projects: results, case studies and examples from different countries followed by open discussions. They presented experiences and real examples of companies and discussed the technical and economic viability of low-impact production systems, as well as the need to improve current regulation and administrative management.
German Merino (UCN, Chile) gave a second lecture on aquaponics, presenting various case studies from Latin America at different scales (research, small scale and commercial), with the objective of reviewing the main aquaponics components (fish tanks, clarifiers, sump pumps, alkalinity addition tanks, filters, degassing, hydroponic raceways, etc.), systems models, and aquaponics in America. He compared tilapia and rainbow trout aquaponics.
Mariano Vidal (Tilamur, Spain) made a presentation about the Tilamur Company and their research and spoke about innovation projects in which the company has been involved. Tilamur is a company based in Murcia, producing tomato (9000 Kg/year), tilapia (6000 Kg/year) and dry spirulina (500 Kg/year). He presented some of the main constraints currently faced by aquaponics, i.e.: how a large production is necessary to compete with the high costs such as energy, feed, fingerlings, etc.; different interest and demand in European countries; as well as the need for a better regulatory framework.
Victoria Fernández (Uni. Murcia) discussed new farming opportunities and aquaculture diversification within IMTA systems in the Mediterranean Sea. Results from two research project (AMPHIS) were also introduced. Recommendations were made for IMTA to be based on species that grow naturally in aquaculture facilities, for which research on the species identification and selection for IMTA systems in off-coast areas is an initial step. She shared results on IMTA associated to marine fish cages using amphipods as a new farming opportunity.
Carlo Bibbiani (Uni. Pisa, Italy) presented a summary of the EU Prima Project SIMTAP (Self-sufficient integrated multi-trophic aquaponic systems for improving food). The main goals of SIMTAP were to assess the performance of four SIMTAP prototypes built in four countries (France, Italy, Türkiye, and Malta); to identify the main drawbacks and obstacles to the application of the SIMTAP concept to saltwater aquaponics; and to assess the sustainability of SIMTAP through LCA, LCC, EA, etc. SIMTAP has also worked on a simulator tool (Excel-based) for IMTA systems for fish, vegetable, and polychaete production using saline water; and on the development of an Integrated Smart Monitoring and Control System (ISMaCS), to guide farmers in applying new IMTA and aquaponics approaches and practices.
Subsequent discussions addressed issues such as the technical difficulties found for scaling up aquaponics, or how to improve marketing strategies, and the difficulties in recognizing aquaponics as a production technique based on organic aquaculture certification schemes. Some participants suggested that aquaponics should seek alternative marketing channels and marketing strategies, such as those used for sustainable agriculture productions, low FCA, proximity agriculture products or on the development of a specific aquaponics certification scheme.
NewTechAqua small-scale aquaponics systems
The workshop included practical exercises and organized a technical visit to IRTA's aquaponics and aquaculture facilities. The exercises covered topics such as calculation of the ammonia assimilation rate, the control of alkalinity (how much chemical should be poured into the system). The technical visit to IRTA's aquaponics facilities offered participants first-hand knowledge of the NewTechAqua small scale freshwater and salt water aquaponics systems designed by IRTA.
The third day consisted of practical exercises on the design of small-scale aquaponics to teach participants how to theoretically scale an aquaponic system, taking into consideration the annual production of fish and their feed requirements, the area requirement for the plant cultivation and the water flow, among other things.
Two laboratory practicals were organized on the production of nutrients in remineralization, with the aim of recognizing that suspended solids are an important source of nutrients for aquaponics; and on the comparison of water quality measurement methods, with the objective of determining the percentage difference between the use of scientific equipment versus field equipment. Water samples were taken from the IRTA aquaponic system, and comparative measurements of pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were performed.
The workshop ended with a hands-on exercise to assemble the NewTechAqua-IRTA Aquaponic Kit.