Final Report Summary - RESURCH (Research & technological development to improve economic profitability and environmental Sustainability of sea Urchin farming) Executive Summary:Sea urchin roe (gonad) is consumed worldwide, and is considered a luxury product which sells for lucrative prices in a number of markets. Because the demand for sea urchin roe - called “uni” in sushi bars - has grown dramatically over the past decade, many traditional fisheries have been heavily overfished and subsequently virtually depleted of sea urchins. Because of its great commercial value and its limited supply due to overfishing, there has been much interest in the production of sea urchins through aquaculture. For these reason there is a general perception within the sector for a need to innovate in order to meet the increasing demand for sea urchin roe suitable for European and international markets, to reduce harvesting pressure on wild populations, making sea urchin aquaculture profitable.The technology for maintaining urchin broodstocks, spawning, larval rearing and the production of high quality roe product has been well established. However, practical knowledge regarding the grow out phase (from juvenile to market size) which is the most expensive and time consuming production activity, is lagging behind. In fact, sea urchin producers have identified the costs of grow out period as a major expense and a constraint on the development of the aquaculture of sea urchin. Sea urchin producers have also identified significant cost savings if sea urchin on-growing can be moved from land to sea. However, such practice requires significant development of caging and feed technologies. Reducing the time required to on-grow urchins from hatchery to market size and to reduce the stocking density to move juvenile sea urchins at sea, represent major bottlenecks of sea urchin industry.Creating and testing an effective and economic sea urchin husbandry, both at sea and land-based sites, represent the main purposes of ResUrch, addressing industry identified bottlenecks in the adoption of echinoculture by the European aquaculture industry.For these reasons, ResUrch, a 24 months project, is proposed to further develop the technology required to make commercial sea urchin production a reality across Europe. The project will use cutting edge research from leaders in the field to address industry defined bottlenecks in sea urchin aquaculture. ResUrch consortium includes SME and RTD partners from 6 countries. SME participants are Thorisholmi ehf and Sæbýli ehf from Iceland; Dunmanus Seafood Limited and Abalone Connemara Teoranta from Ireland; Cedimar Srl and Gigante Srl from Italy; Ardag Cooperative Agricultural Society Ltd from Isarel.RTD performers are the University of Genoa, the University of Cagliari and the National Research Centre from Italy; Nofima AS from Norway; the Scottish Association for Marine Science from the United Kingdom; Matis ohf from Iceland; Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research from Israel.ResUrch focused on five key areas in order to take on these challenges and to ensure that methodologies are sustainable and economically viable.1. Reducing the time required to on-grow sea urchins from hatchery to market size2. Creating and testing effective and economic sea urchin husbandry and production at sea and land-based sites3. Controlling the gametogenic cycle and optimizing diets in order to improve product quality, increasing the value of the final product4. Validating on a commercial scale the results and evaluating technical and economic feasibility of the innovations5. Creating tools for the expansion of the European sea urchin farming industry through the rapid and effective dissemination of the technologies developed within the projectAn additional benefit of the enhancement of sea urchin aquaculture will be the possibility to reduce the harvesting pressure on wild stocks (presently occurring in a number of European countries as well as other countries around the world) to cope with increasing market demand.Project Context and Objectives:ResUrch main objective was to develop feed, gametogenesis manipulation and culture system technologies that will aid in reducing the cultivation time from metamorphosis to marketable size (avg. 40-50 mm, depending on the species), improving the production of high quality roe for the market in a cost effective way, thereby enabling the profitable culture of different sea urchin species (Paracentrotus lividus and Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in different conditions (on land and at sea) along a wide latitudinal gradient in environmental variables.ResUrch directly addressed an industry indentified bottleneck in the adoption of echinoculture by the European aquaculture industry. The European aquaculture industry is worth over 3.5 €Bn and directly employs in excess of 65,000 people. However, the European industry is currently stagnating showing only 0.5% growth per annum compared to a global figure of 7.9%. ResUrch represents an attempt by European and AC SMEs, currently involved in fish and mollusc aquaculture in both the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic coasts, to alleviate this stagnation by diversifying their activities through the inclusion of sea urchin culture as an adjunct to their present production activities.Sea urchin roe (gonad) comprises up to 10-25% of the total body weight. In edible species such as the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis), red sea urchin (S. franciscanus) and the purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) the roe is considered a luxury product and a source for protein and healthy fat, which sells for lucrative prices in worldwide markets including Japan, New Zealand, many European regions, and increasingly in South and North America. Indigenous peoples in countries like Chile, New Zealand and Canada have always eaten sea urchins because of the large amounts of protein and healthy fat the roe contains. Because the demand for sea urchin roe - called “uni” in sushi bars - has grown dramatically over the past decade, many traditional fisheries have been heavily overfished and subsequently virtually depleted of sea urchins. Because of its great commercial value and the limited supply of wild stocks, there has been much interest in the production of sea urchins through a self-sustained aquaculture. For these reasons there is a general perception within the sector for a need to innovate to meet the following drivers:1) Meeting the increasing demand for sea urchin roe in European and international markets.2) Reducing the harvesting pressure on wild populations.3) Increasing sea urchin aquaculture profitability and enhancing the competitiveness of involved SMEsResUrch addressed these issues to further develop the technology required to make commercial sea urchin production a reality across Europe. Seven European SMEs with many years of experience in mariculture and invertebrate cultivation covering the whole production and trading chain of sea urchins, with mariculture cage growers, producers, dispatch centers operating at European level were involved in the project. These SMEs have identified the SME Co-operative Research Programme (FP7) as their preferred route to deal with this issue. Because of the many diverse technical, biological, and economic aspects involved in the project, groups of experts from RTD institutes specialised in various aspects of sea urchins biology, ecology and aquaculture combined efforts in this consortium. The partnership includes countries with both cold and warm climates so as to make the results as applicable as possible in any of Europe’s various latitudes. The information acquired on the culture of each organism will be shared with the other SMEs for possible implementation at their sites in the future. The Consortium is made up of SMEs covering the whole production and trading chain of sea urchins, with aquaculture cage designers, for adult and juvenile invertebrates (DUNMA, SAEBYLI), producers with many years of experience in sea urchin cultivation (DUNMA, THORIS, ARDAG), dispatch centers operating at European level (DUNMA, THORIS, GIGAS, CEDIMAR), as well as RTDPs with extensive experience on optimizing: (i) larval and juvenile development, and (ii) diet and feeding management for increased somatic and gonadal growth leading to improved roe quality in sea urchins.ResUrch aimed to:1- improve competitiveness in the SME operated aquaculture industry2- contribute directly to ensuring the sustainability of sea urchin aquaculture from established broodstocks3- contribute to conservation of the wild edible sea urchins such as the purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, which are endangered due to overfishing and poaching in some countries 4- contribute to increased export volume through production of a high quality roe to high consumer countries (notably Asia). 5- contribute to the technological upgrading of urchin aquaculture practices6- contribute to increased employment through expansion of the sea urchin aquaculture industry.The project main tasks were:1) developing feeds that speed up growth to commercial size and perform well across different cage features, culturing systems (sea-based and land-based), environmental conditions and urchin species;2) testing and, possibly, ameliorating presently used and, in some cases, patented cage designs for sea urchin farming both for land-based and sea-based systems, with special concern for the juveniles (4 to 15-20 mm);3) producing gametogenic control tools retarding/inhibiting steroidogenesis and yolk protein degradation, enhancing somatic growth and extending the period during which high quality roe is being preserved;4) providing the involved SMEs possibility to extend their patenting potential of technologies;5) providing the involved SMEs potential for networking inside and outside the consortium, enlarging their productivity and possibly opening new markets.Project Results:WP2:Task 2.1: Optimising macro-and micronutrientsTwo partners presented diets (the SABS and NOFIMA diets) experimentally proven to meet the nutritional needs of either Paracentrotus lividus or Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis respectively. SAMS additionally produced diets with additional micronutrients / palatability enhancers (adding a range of dried powdered seaweed to the SABS formulation) and partner ABALONE also produced a novel diet designed primarily for cost effectiveness. For Task 2.1 a standardised diet trial was designed and SAMS supplied a detailed experimental protocol to the partners February 2014, completing Task 2.1. Following the standardised diet trial planned by SAMS, 5 participating WP partners trialled a total of 8 different sea urchin (P. lividus) diets in identical experimental (tanks/pots/plumbing) systems. Seawater temperature, seawater quality, photoperiod regime, source of urchins varied with location. The objective was to find the best diet for further work on pellet style and stability. SAMS re-formulated (increased percentage of binder) for the SABS diet for better warm-water stability for the Mediterranean partners and packs of SABS, NOFIMA and ABALONE diets were supplied to UNICA, UNIGE and CNR. All partners conducted 16 week trials in the purpose build systems described in the protocol. At all Institutes (apart from UNICA where the mortality rate of SABS was too high) both the NOFIMA and SABS diets allowed a significant increase in total WW and test diameter. The increase in these parameters on these diets was significant compared to the sea-weed only diet (COLIN) and the other diets tested. The somatic growth rates at SAMS were highest (but the growth conditions at other partners may have been comprised as indicated by the higher mortality rate). Sea urchins found the COLIN diet highly palatable but it was very unstable in seawater and rapidly disintegrated.While the WP focus on increasing somatic growth rates in sub-adults, gonad growth was recorded and was positive for urchins fed SABS and NOFIMA.All Partners agreed that SABS and NOFIMA were the best performing diets at a quite large range of temperatures, from 17 to 25°C. NOFIMA, a diet designed and successfully trialled for cold water sea urchin Stronglyocentrotus droebachiensis was included in this trial as a bench mark of diet performance, its formulation is IP protected and not available to the project partners for further development so the SABS diet is selected for further development to improve its stability in seawater.As far as additives in urchin diets, experiments run at IOLR showed no significant differences in weight, length, GSI and test weight after around 5 months between diets with and without collagen for adult sea urchins. Activities under Task 2.1 were completed and results delivered in D2.1.Task 2.2: Developing binders of palatable diets for use at sea and novel flakes or strips.Task 2.2 aimed at testing a selection of binder types and diet formulations to come up with a test diet to be supplied to SMEs for Task 2.3.SAMS worked on improving the stability of the SABS diet in seawater, with the aim of finding a formulation that was stable enough to allow its use in sea-cages and not just aquaria. SAMS attacked the problem in two ways by a) intending to have the existing diet formulation extruded (under heat and pressure) by a commercial diet manufacturer and b) using an entirely different approach by moving away from supplying feeds to slow moving, grazing sea urchins in pellet form entirely and experimenting with novel binders such as Plaster of Paris (as used in slow release ‘holiday’ feeds for ornamental fish) and a completely novel approach using and edible (Carnuba) wax binder.Contact was made with SPAROS, a Portuguese feed manufacturer, who agreed to produce around 50kg of extruded diet for the final commercial trials. One set of adapted SABS diet with a mix of Ca, macroalgae and zeolites appeared to offer the best stability.The stability of the Carnuba-SABS diet might be improved by the addition of a small amount of another lower melting point wax to reduce its brittlenessActivities under Task 2.2 were completed and results delivered in D2.2.The preliminary results on the pelleted feed produced by Sparos were quite promising and was selected for being produced and delivered to SMEs (and RTDs) for trials under Task 2.3 Task 2.3: Providing SMEs with diets optimized for production-scale trials Following on from Tasks 2.1 & 2.2 where the new sea urchin diet (SPAROS) was designed, trialled and then produced in bulk quantity, Task 2.3 aimed to trial the finished feed in a commercial environment, through the SMEs. At the completion of Task 2.2 newly manufactured SPAROS diet (strip-like) was dispatched to the commercial partners, and a series of trials began to examine the effect of the new diet on growth characteristics.After receiving the SPAROS diet, SAMS undertook a set of land and sea trials examining the performance of the new SPAROS diet vs. that of SABS. Trials in Task 2.1 had determined that SABS was still, overall, the most stable and beneficial diet for the development and growth of P. lividus, and nutritionally it was the basis for the SPAROS formula. The SPAROS diet was manufactured specifically to improve the stability of the diet pellets in seawater. With that in mind we tested the implications for reducing the feeding frequency rate from weekly to fortnightly and even to monthly feeds. To be able to reduce feeding frequency would represent a significant saving in labour to a commercial operator.The experiments run by the various ResUrch partners provided a wide range of conditions, both in aquaria and at sea, to examine the stability and effects of the SPAROS feed. In addition, the wide range of temperatures from the different sites tested the practical durability of SPAROS well. Main results can be summarized as follows:• Generally the SPAROS feed proved durable, edible and initiated both gonadal and somatic growth in the experimental urchins it was fed to, thereby achieving the desired goal of the ResUrch project.• In terms of durability, SPAROS feed was noted to have a long shelf-life, if kept in dry conditions. When immersed in water as feed, it lasted at least 3 days in warm to v. warm water conditions (> 20°C) and between 5 and 7 days in lower temperatures (<20°C). Even at the highest temperatures present in the trial (IOLR, >30°C), the feed remained stable and proved attractive to the urchins present. When the feed started to physically break down on action of the urchins, it was noted that it still retained some structure as smaller pieces, until the point where it began to degrade due to bacterial growth.• Urchins were attracted to the feed, and seemed to feed happily on it. Some issues were noted in side-walled tank systems that urchins present on the side of tanks couldn’t access the feed in the same way as macroalgae, and therefore may be at a disadvantage when it came to feeding. This issue could be resolved by alterations to the design of the strip to allow it to hang at the side of tanks, or an alternate tank design. • It was also noted by some partners that the faecal matter produced by the urchins fed SPAROS feed was heavier and more ‘sticky’ than for other diets, and made cleaning of tanks more difficult and time consuming. This, combined with the effect of temperature, is an issue that could be examined more closely.• The growth results from feeding provided some variability, but generally the SPAROS diet showed positive gonadal and somatic growth in most circumstances. The results from UNIGE and CNR showed SPAROS to have a mixed effect on growth, whereas that observed by IOLR, SAMS - the reason for this is not certain, and may be related to more frequent spawning due to the higher summer temperatures in the Mediterranean trials in comparison to those further North.Overall results were delivered in D2.3.WP3:Task 3.1: Test the efficacy of growing systems for juveniles and define critical parametersTask 3.2: Test the efficacy of growing systems for on-growing sea urchins and define critical parametersThe two tasks were strictly connected and were run in parallel for testing growing system effects on juveniles (4-10 mm) and on-growing urchins (10-15 mm) in on-land and in sea-based systems.The critical parameters and the distribution of systems and set-up was completed during the first reporting period and reported in D3.1. The distribution of systems and set-up of the land-based and sea-based on-growing holding system trials has been completed with significant delays with the distribution of the conical and plate holding systems. This was due to severe weather events and general logistical considerations. The land-based trials at IOLR (Israel) started on time in month 3. Results from the different trials have been reported in D3.2. The Deliverable is divided into Land and Sea-based systems and the results from IOLR, UNIGE and CNR in the land-based section and Nofima and SAMS in the sea-based section are included. IOLR in Israel ran a number of land-based trials including a comparison of circular versus conical tanks using very small post settled Paracentrotus lividus (1-15mm TD). They also ran a density trial on similar sized urchins as well as a second density trial on 15-25mm TD urchins.UNIGE in Italy conducted a land-based trial comparing growth in 14mm TD (start size) P. lividus. CNR, also in Italy, conducted land-based trials comparing three holding systems on 12-27mm TD P. lividus. The holding systems tested included conical tanks, an adapted ‘Irish plates’ tank and a ‘tipper’ system which has been used extensively in New Zealand and Norway previously. Nofima in Norway conducted a series of sea-based trials on Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. These included density trials on two size classes of urchins, the first had a start size of 5mm TD and the second trial a start size of 12mm TD. Nofima also ran a holding system trial on 12mm TD urchins comparing the growth of S. droebachiensis in round crates (used previously in Italy and Spain), a version of the ‘Irish Plate’ system and the SeaNest holding system developed in Norway and adapted to hold small juvenile urchins. An additional holding system was included in the trial which was the SEAPA oyster holding system developed in France.SAMS in Scotland ran a sea-based trial also using the round crates used previously in Italy and Spain to compare growth and survival of two size classes (5-10mm and 10-20mm TD) P. lividus in sea versus land based holding systems.The overall conclusion from the WP3 trials was that the specific type of holding system is not as important as other generic design factors, particularly the density that the urchins are held at. The results of the trials clearly showed that regardless of the species of urchin and the holding system the starting density that urchins are held at has a significant impact on both growth and survival of the urchins. This effect was greater the smaller the urchins were at the beginning of the trial and the conclusion is that post settled urchins are particularly susceptible to densities higher than 20-30% coverage of the horizontal internal surface of the holding system. Even for larger urchins densities of greater than 30% coverage of the horizontal internal surface of the holding system have significant impacts on growth and mortality which is an extremely important factor to take into consideration when planning maintenance of urchins in both land and sea-based ongrowing systems. Both need to have the ability to quickly and cost effectively reduce the density of the urchins every 2-3 months for smaller urchins and every 3-4 months for larger urchins as their size increases and densities change accordingly. Therefore, holding systems must be designed to suit the capacities, aims, resources and facilities of each individual commercial venture. The specifics of cage size, material and shape should fit these criteria but the generic formula for density based on the coverage of the internal horizontal surface area described in WP3 should be used to keep densities to acceptable levels over the entire period that the urchins spend in the holding systems. WP4:Task 4.1: Photoperiod manipulations.Task 4.4: Optimization of rearing conditions (e.g. photoperiod and dietary supplements) giving rise to retarded/inhibited gametogenesis.These two tasks were strictly interconnected and while Task 4.1 started during first reporting period, task 4.4 was totally performed during the second reporting period.Previous studies on P. lividus at IOLR, National Center for Mariculture (NCM) have established that sea urchin gametogenesis is affected by photoperiod. The experiments were carried out at NCM starting in April 2014 after one moth of acclimation. The first phase of the experiment was carried out for six months. The sea urchins were exposed to four different light regimes: 46 hours darkness and 2 hours light; 46 hours light and 2 hours darkness; alternating 24 hours light with 24 hours darkness and ambient light. P. lividus was stocked in 12 rectangular, 160 liter tanks, 50 individuals in each. The tanks were supplied with aeration and unfiltered running seawater. The water flow was kept at 0.5 l/min. The sea urchins were fed twice a week to satiation. Uneaten food and faeces were removed daily by siphoning. Each month the survival, growth (weight, length), gonad’s histology and GSI has been measured. No significant differences have been found in growth rate, biochemical composition, roe color and FCR. Gametogenesis rate of sea urchins exposed to 46h light and 2 hours dark was significant slower compared to the rest of the treatment. In this case we were able to delay the gametogenesis by 1-1.5 months.In the second phase the effect of unpredictable interrupted light regime on gametogenesis was tested. Using Interrupted light regime (UP dark), we were able to delay gametogenesis by 2–2.5 months. In this study, we were not able to stop gametogenesis by photoperiod manipulation.In the wild, the window for harvesting sea urchins is generally once a year and is relatively narrow. By photoperiod manipulation, we are able to extend the harvesting time up to two months and to do it in Eilat throughout the year. In both experimental phases, FCR and GSI levels were significantly higher in the long day exposures (2 h dark in the first phase, 24 hours darkness with unpredicted light flash and 24 h light regimes in the second phase). It is suggested that foraging activity of P. lividus occurs mainly during the day. Overall results were reported in D4.1Task 4.2: Inhibition of steroidogenesis.Task 4.3: Inhibition of cathepsins activity.These two tasks similarly strictly interconnected.Natural sea urchin stocks exhibit short annual window of time (2-3 months) when gonad quality is maximal (i.e. high GSI, firm texture, high sensory scores, bright yellow or orange color). As successful mariculture of sea urchins necessitates a constant production of high quality roe. Sex steroids, i.e. testosterone and estradiol, are being accumulated and reach their maximal levels inthe gonads during the spent and recovery stages, implicating their key role during the renewal of P. lividus reproductive cycle.However, manipulation of gametogenesis in order to produce commercially marketable roe with excellent taste and firmness (= containing few or no gametes) has not been previously addressed for most commercial sea urchin species. In light of the above, the aim of Tasks 4.2 and 4.3 was to develop methods for dietary-manipulations of gametogenesis in Paracentrotus lividus with the aim to retard/inhibit steroidogenesis and consequently hold back the onset of gametogenesis.Based on our previous results, two strategies were put to the test. The first strategy relied on the assumption that high testosterone levels facilitate the progression of gametogenesis, hence to disrupt the steroid's production diets enriched with either arachidonic acid (ArA) or soy isoflavones (Iso) were tested (Task 4.2). The second strategy relied on the assumption that catabolism of the major yolk protein (MYP) supports the progression of gamete formation, thus to restrain the MYP's degradation diets containing plant seed cystatins that are known to inhibit cysteine proteases (=cathepsins) and are safe for food, were tested (Task 4.3).In an Initial step, several in vitro experiments were conducted to determine the effects of: (1) arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n–6), and soy extract (Isoflavones). One-year old P. lividus derived from the same artificially induced spawning event (mean test diameter = 21.66 ± 0.29 mm; mean wet body weight = 5.57 ± 0.2 g) were randomly split into 4 groups in aquaria system (60 urchins per container). Tested sea urchins were fed in excess with formulated pelleted (P) diet as in Shpigel et al. 2004 supplemented with either: Isoflavone (Iso), archidonic acid at two doses (ArAI and ArAII, respectively), or the vehicle only (control). The experiment was carried out in two replicates and persisted 14 weeks. Four animals per replicate were sampled on a weekly basis spanning the entire trial. Morphometric parameters (test diameter, wet BW and gonad mass) were recorded, and gonad samples were frozen immediately on dry ice, and kept at -80°C for further analyses. Additional gonadal sample was placed in 4% buffered neutral formalin for histological analysis.Results of this study indicate that ArA supplemented diets adversely affect the GSI values compared with Iso-supplemented and control diets. The ArA- diets induced gametogenesis in the P. lividus groups, contrary to the Iso-containing diets that attenuated the gametogenic cycle in the respective groups. Furthermore, dietary exposure to Iso at a relatively low dose (100 mg/ kg food) yielded high frequency (≥75%) of specimens with edible gonads throughout the experiment (5 months). Also, significantly lower gonadal testosterone levels were detected in groups fed with Iso-enriched diets compared with the control. Altogether, these findings further attest the regulatory role of testosterone during gametogenesis in P. lividus.As far as Task 4.3 two recombinant plant seed cystatins (i.e. r-sugarcane and r-oriza cystatins) were produced utilizing the E. coli recombinant DNA expression system. A series of in vitro trials indicated that both recombinant cystatins partially inhibit cathepsin L activity in the P. lividus gonads, but have no significant effect on cathepsin B activity. The r-sugarcane cystatin was found to be more potent than the r-oriza cystatin. Nonetheless, a two-month feeding trial, evaluating the effects of r -sugarcane cystatin (10-4 , 10-5 ,10-7 M) enriched diets revealed no significant effect on cathepsin L activity or on the gametogenic cycle, as compared with the controls. The lack of an in vivo effect could be due to degradation of the recombinant cystatine in the urchins' digestive tract, which may necessitate the protein's encapsulation within an appropriate delivery system, however this should be the subject of a future study.In light of the above, the low dose Iso-supplemented diet that gave rise to optimal roe material was chosen for the scale-up study.Overall results are reported in D4.3.Task 4.5: Biochemical composition and colour of sea urchin gonadsAim of this task, developed almost entirely during the second reporting period, was to perform quality evaluation of sea urchin gonads produced in some of the experimental trials, both land-based and sea-based. For some trials, quality assessment was also implemented testing sensory quality by expert panellists.Land-based feeding experiments: effect of the diet on gonad quality enhancement in a 12-week trials in CNR, 16-week in UNIGE, 3-week experiment in UNICA and 12-week experiment in IOLR. Six diets were overall tested: SPAROS, SABS, Nofima, Colin, Mangimar, and natural Ulva diet.Sea-based feeding experiment: 5 month experiment carried out at CNR/GIGAS. Sea urchins were collected by SCUBA diver from a wild population in Mar Grande of Taranto. Groups of about 250 sea urchins were randomly assigned to each feeding treatment: SPAROS, Ulva, SPAROS + UlvaA number of gonad attributes were quantified at the beginning and end of the experiment including: test diameter, wet weight, ash, wet gonad weight, water, colour, texture, firmness, proximate composition, total carotenoids, total phenols, lipids classes, fatty acid, and aminoacid composition. Results from experimental sea urchins were compared with an initial group of wild specimens collected from the same source population. The experimental diets did not determine an increase on somatic variables (test diameter and total wet weight) while were very effective in increasing gonad wet weight. A very effective increase of Gonad Somatic Index (GSI) and Gonad Weight Gain (GWG) were observed in SABS diet followed by Nofima, Mangimar and SPAROS. Experiments at sea showed SPAROS providing best results.Gonad colour ranged from bright red-orange and pale yellow. Only few gonads were brown or grey. At the end of the experiment the gonads' colour of CNR urchins improved significantly in the prepared diet compared those wild, especially SABS and Nofima diets. The best firmness was showed by sea urchin fed Mangimar diet while sea urchins fed SABS and Nofima diets showed the best texture. The artificial diets significantly increased proteins, carbohydrates and lipids contents. Total carotenoids were significantly reduced in all treatments. The lipid classes were dominated by phospholipids in all dietary treatments. The fatty acids profile significantly changed among sea urchins fed different diets. In particular, sea urchins fed SABS diet assimilated higher amount of PUFAs, such as the linoleic acid and linolenic acid, precursors of DHA, EPA and ARA. In UNICA trials Wild and SPAROS + ULVA showed the supposed colour best rate. Texture and firmness showed similar values for all diets probably signifying a similar gonadic period. Gonad flavour displayed different aromatic characteristics of urchin from the different diets. Wild and SPAROS + ULVA gonads being sweeter than NOFIMA and SPAROS.Considering the data comprehensive of all sensory attributes the main part of gonads from all diets showed a good structure with flavour ranging from sweet to bitter and with differences mainly in the colour from pale yellow to bright red, which on the whole did not affected the panel acceptance. Moreover it was stated that artificial diets significantly affect proteins, carbohydrates and lipids contents and profile.The urchins cultured at IOLR, evaluating the combined effects of interrupted lighting regime and the functional feed supplemented with soy extract isoflavones (Iso), showed that the two effectors and their combination appear to retard the progression of gametogenesis, yet have no significant effect on growth, GSI or gonad color.Trials were also performed at SAEBYLI/THORIS/MATIS and sensory characteristics of roe from wild and farmed sea urchins S. droebachiensis were compared by 8 panellists, all trained according to international standards (ISO 8586, 2008); including detection and recognition of tastes and odours, trained in the use of scales and in the development and use of descriptors participated in the sensory evaluation.The sea urchin roe had in general a characteristic sea odour and a rather strong sweet flavour, sea flavour and egg yolk flavour. The texture was rather soft. Difference was seen between groups for colour strength and bitter flavour. Difference for sweet flavour was marginally significant. The farmed urchin roe had a rather strong bitter flavour but bitter flavour of wild urchin roe was rather weak. The wild urchin roe had a rather light colour but farmed urchin roe had a rather dark colour. The wild urchin roe had a slightly stronger sweet flavour than the farmed roe. Overall results on gonad quality of farmed urchins were delivered in D4.3.WP5:Activities under WP5 were fundamentally all carried out during the second reporting period, on basis of results from RTD WPs.Task 5.1: Run and comparative analysis of experimental trialsActivities started with a re-analysis of data from RTD WPs and from the production of culture practices spreadsheets for individual SMEs according to the trials that were planned to be performed. These spreadsheets represent the basis of the best practice manuals expected from Task 5.2.Results fromWP5 trials have bee delivered in D5.1 that represents an evaluation of research carried out at SME sites, integrating and comparing production data derived from semi-commercial trials performed on different farming systems (land and sea-based), with different technologies (diets and farming systems) and in different areas along a latitudinal gradient of production spanning from Norway to Israel. This deliverable describes the technical feasibility of the different farming systems at each of the production sites. An evaluation of each system is given based on the production site and the needs of the producer, and an evaluation of the feed design and formulation to maximize somatic growth with the aim of increased longevity were conducted.Task 5.2: Best management practices for individual SMEs were produced and will be deliverd in D5.2 WP6:Task 6.1: Economic profitability of innovative practices and products.Activities under WP6, as well as for WP5, were performed only during the second reporting period. Cost-benefit information data collection has been included in the spreadsheets produced with WP5, requiring information on economic data collected during the experimental processing stages, taking into account all fixed and variable costs (e.g. quantity of feed, feeding rate, processing time) and potential income (e.g. local selling prices, revenues).Results have been delivered in D6.1 that provides the economic evaluation conducted for earlier work packages, or as part of information collated in work package 5. Results collected relate to preliminary cost of production of experimental diets, and those for on-growing juvenile sea urchins processes by different systems. The information on these activities were collected both from SME partners and from RTD performers within the RESURCH consortium, and from external animal feed producers. In summary:- The cost of setting up an operational hatchery is a viable option for farm operators and can utilise existing hatchery facilities if they exist on site - Once wage structures are excluded, direct cost can be applied to the different growing regions- There is a difference in time and cost between formulated artificial feeds and macroalgae when used as part of the farm operators feeding regime- The Nofima diet is about to be commercially produced in Japan and Nofima is currently looking for a manufacturer to license production in Europe. Once the licensing and production is finalised the diet cost can be confirmed.- Sparos diet at this current time is not financially viable as feed for sea urchin production until commercial quantities can be produced and test on a larger to commercial scale. - Integrating a sea urchin farm as a module in an existing land based facility can reduce one-off cost as well as the operational costs thus improving the profitability of the sea urchin module and the integrated system.- Further analysis and data collection are needed to identify costs of production of sea urchins reared in sea based systems. Task 6.2: IPR Protection and ExploitationIPR aspects have been addressed in D6.2 that outlines IPR and newly developed technologies inside the ResUrch consortium during the project duration. The aim of the deliverable was to outline technologies and products developed during the ResUrch project for use by the projects SME participants. Detailed in this section are the exploitable developments and possible routes to markets for the stakeholders. Listed in this deliverable is also the preparatory knowledge formed out side of the ResUrch consortium currently commercially available. Deliverable 6.2 uses information developed in previous work packages and lists newly developed technologies.In summary:- Holding system technology existed prior to commencement of the ResUrch Project, although during the project their performance was tested and compared for different species and in different environmental conditions. There is no specific holding system technology that can be exploited for SME purposes. However methods and protocols included for best practices are included in D5.2 which can give further insight into their application under large scale production which is relevant information for industry needs.- Although no specific holding systems tested during the project implementation resulted in new specific designs, a valuable knowledge has been achieved in the sense that all available holding systems, both for sea-based and land-based urchin culture, provided comparable results across temperature regimes and some time also species. - Factors other than holding system design were shown to be the most relevant limiting factor to achieve best performance in terms of both survival and growth rate and this represents a key result in developing best practice manuals for both sea-based and land-based systems. In addition it clearly defines the best practise for holding system design with regard to optimising growth through good management.- As a consequence of the two above points, systems that can adjust density of urchins during growth are an essential design parameter for sea urchin farming systems.- The SPAROS diet was developed during the ResUrch project for the needs of the SMEs in the project and the further European industry. This feed can be exploited for commercial needs of the SMEs involved in the consortium as this feeds was developed with these companies in mind.WP7:Task 7.1: TrainingThe transfer of knowledge from RTD partners to SMEs took take place through two training workshops. First training was held on 30th of July -1st August in Galway, Ireland and the second on 1-2 September 2015, Reykjavik, Iceland. The workshops covered the theoretical and practical aspects of the innovations on feed technology as well as aspects of sea-cage and on land systems and product quality with emphasis on gametogenesis controls. The meeting were documented and overhead documents uploaded in the http://resurchproject.com website.Task 7.2: DisseminationDiffusion of research outcomes and innovations developed by the Partnership has been pursued through several activities carried out on appropriate dissemination channels in order to reach: potential users at a commercial level (producers, farmers, traders) through the participation to specialized trade fairs; academic audience through scientific papers and/or presentations at conferences as well as wider public through the dissemination with a website. Project web site and flyer were made available in 2014, while project video and brochure were produced in 2015. The project activities have already been presented, as posters and oral presentations at several national and international conferences (Table is provided in attached material). Task 7.3: NetworkingThe ultimate goal of WP7 is to lay the foundations for the Establishment of a "European network". Networking and sharing of knowledge on innovations in sea urchin farming among the members of the Network can take place through the ResUrch web-site and social networks (Facebook site of ResUrch and Linked-in page of ResUrch). These web sites (www.resurchproject.com https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8516656 https://www.facebook.com/groups/resurch/) provide important tools for networking. The web-page promotes the exchange of useful experiences among the innovators in the region; provides detailed information on the programme, as well as a directory of experts in the region and a forum. Through its activities, the Network can raise awareness among public officials of existing innovations in governance.The Network aims to:• promote applied research and encourage economic studies in urchin farming • establish research working groups based on common research interests amongst experts and practitioners in sea urchin farming in countries of the European economic area on specific issues of interest to its members• help to organize discussions and online meetings on specific themes related to urchin farming at regional, sub-regional, as well as EU levels.Potential Impact:ImpactA number of key documents have underpinned the strategy used to develop the proposal ResUrch. Amongst these is “Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth: COM (2010), 2020”. This document spells out flagship initiatives which RESURCH directly addresses: 1 "Innovation Union" to improve framework conditions and access to finance for research and innovation so as to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and jobs”The concept behind the project RESURCH is to transfer innovative echinoculture from the academic to the industrial sector providing economically and ecologically sustainable products, utilising and commercialising novel technology from participating SME’s, reducing environmental impacts, creating and securing jobs throughout Europe and growing the European economy. 2 "Resource efficient Europe" to help decouple economic growth from the use of resources”ResUrch directly addressed the issue of getting greater production from fewer resources, by:• developing a sea urchin aquaculture industry based on captive reared urchins from broodstock, making sea urchin aquaculture independent from wild urchin fisheries• addressing the present bottlenecks to adoption of sea urchin aquaculture by SMEs, primarily, on-growing post settled juveniles and overcoming the slow growth to market size• promoting the adoption of echinoculture in Countries where it is not yet performed, and enhancing productiveness (in terms of sea urchin growth rate and gonad quality) in those Countries where echinoculture is in the development phase• Improving and diversifying the productivity of the European aquaculture industry without any destructive impact on wild fish stocks and so improving Europe’s food security.3 "An industrial policy for the globalisation era" to improve the business environment, notably for SMEs, and to support the development of a strong and sustainable industrial base able to compete globally”The European aquaculture industry is already threatened by the competiveness of the import of aquaculture products from Asia. ResUrch aimed to facilitate the adoption of echinoculture by European SMEs and so create a sustainable basis for this potentially extremely lucrative European industry. The development of echinoculture would place Europe in a commanding worldwide position in terms of SME driven innovation in farming technology, diet development and farming practices for echinoculture. The project would develop novel SME driven technology for echinoculture that provides a platform for immediate growth in the participating SME’s. ResUrch would facilitate the expansion of SMEs into both European and overseas markets for both sea urchin products as well as for echinoculture technology and expertise.Another source of inspiration for the Environment Work Programme for 2011 was the “Political guidelines for the next Commission, J.M. Barroso (3 September 2009)” In this the future direction of the European Union is described and amongst it’s goals are: 4 “Developing new sources of sustainable growth and social cohesion”The main objective of ResUrch was to develop new sources of sustainable growth through the production of high quality food through ecologically and economically sustainable echinoculture. This in turn would relieve pressure on heavily fished wild urchin stocks in many European countries and allow the development of echinoculture independently of sea urchin fishing. 5 “(We) need a fresh approach to industrial policy, supporting industry, putting the emphasis on sustainability, innovation and the human skills needed to keep EU industry competitive in world markets”The goals and outcomes of ResUrch are SME driven and are based on the ability of the SME to compete in a global setting, utilising the innovation and human skills present in the wide variety of SME’s present within the project. 6 “Sustainable growth: promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy”This fresh approach to EU policy depends on new innovative solutions that are capable of creating market advantages and growth in industrial production at the same time as increasing environmental performance and reducing resource use. This is precisely the objective of ResUrch, which will significant increase productivity in a new aquaculture industry with no impact on current wild sea urchin populations across the entire spectrum of European environments from the Mediterranean to the north Atlantic. RESURCH will facilitate Europe’s involvement in the new ‘green aquaculture’ movement which is being implemented in many countries around the world. An example is the shift in Canada towards ‘green’ marine farming which utilises integrated multi trophic aquaculture (IMTA), the use of multiple species from different trophic levels on the same farming license. Sea urchins are seen as an ideal candidate for IMTA and the RESURCH project will place European SME’s at the forefront of this global movement.National and European PolicyResUrch was fully in line with the spirit of the Lisbon Agenda which aims “to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy by 2020”. “Investing in research” and “boosting innovation” are key areas to the strategy. These objectives are directly in line with the objectives of the ResUrch project. The long-term aim is to create wealth and employment in this new industry and a more sustainable future for the EU’s marine sector as it will move away from the traditional view as one primarily associated with harvesting food, towards a wide variety of market-led opportunities such as sustainable energy and aquaculture as well as conservation of biodiversity. In keeping with the Lisbon Agenda the project will involve the broad dissemination of the acquired knowledge to industry and investors within the EU. The outcome of this project will act as a platform for other subsequent research, for example on promising new co-cultivar species. Through the Lisbon Strategy the EU aims to improve its competitiveness and to become the world’s leading knowledge-based economy. The subsequent Gothenburg Agenda stressed that this development path should be sustainable - a key priority for this project as it will tackle some crucial Gothenburg priorities such as: managing natural resources.The EU Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research (2008) identified blue biotechnology as an emerging sector with predicted growth of 10% per year and a global market of € 2.4 billion. It called for development of capacity-building in this area. RESURCH specifically answers the identified need for specialised pan-European research infrastructures through the formation of the Consortium and the knowledge exchange therein (emphasising the need for a coupled approach driven by SMEs). The Consortium will also meet the call for enhancing integration. By working across national and disciplinary boundaries RESURCH will facilitate closer integration of knowledge and research teams through cross-fertilisation, networking and information exchange, in order to reinforce excellence in science.ResUrch addressed the identified need in the Aberdeen agreement (2007) for the development of cross-sectoral, multinational and interdisciplinary research Partnerships and to strengthen the links between research and industry, turning knowledge (the product of research) into value added products and services and creating income and jobs. RESURCH is an international research effort that combines industry and research with the express purpose of turning our scientific knowledge into value-added products with a direct benefit to society through increase food security and improved economic and ecological sustainability. Furthermore, the ResUrch programme spans the national and geographical range of Europe with a wide spectrum of SME participants from a range of countries.The Draft Report “A new impetus for the strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture” (2009/2107(INI)) recognises that the 2002 Commission communication has proved clearly inadequate in encouraging Member States to give a significant boost to the development of the EU aquaculture sector, while the past decade has seen a substantial growth of the sector worldwide, in addition to that in the demand for fishery products, from both farmed and wild fish, with a sharp increase in imports of such products from non-EU countries and makes the following assertions that are directly relevant to RESURCH: the considerable research and technological innovation required to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of aquaculture and enable operators to be successful in the sector is beyond the possibilities of many companies in the sector, in particular SMEs, and in order to be effective, a sustainable aquaculture policy will need to be structured in such a way as to benefit from the multidisciplinary involvement of all stakeholders in the sector. In addition, the Report emphasises the need to ensure increased financial contributions for scientific research, innovation and technology transfers in the field of sustainable...aquaculture and calls on the Commission and Member States to support the experimental farming of native species in the interests of diversifying Community aquaculture production, so that it can offer high-quality and high added-value products, by encouraging research and exchanges of best practices on those species and on the production methods concerned, in order to enable aquaculture products better to compete with other innovative food products.Additionally, this project is targeted to a species, already listed within species whose exploitation is regulated in specially protected areas (MAP Phase II, Monaco 24/11/1996), and has been included among the protected fauna species (Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 3/1998, Appendix III).Main dissemination activities and exploitation of resultsDiffusion of research outcomes and innovations developed by the Partnership has been pursued through several activities carried out on appropriate dissemination channels in order to reach: potential users at a commercial level (producers, farmers, traders) through the participation to specialized trade fairs; academic audience through scientific papers and/or presentations at conferences as well as wider public through the dissemination with a website. Project web site and flyer were made available in 2014, while project video and brochure were produced in 2015. The project activities have already been presented, as posters and oral presentations at several national and international conferences. Present list of project presentations:1) James P., 2014. Sea urchin aquaculture in Norway and Europe, moving from research to commercialization. World Aquaculture Society Conference, Adelaide (Australia), 7-11 June 2014. 2) Chiantore M., Shpigel M., Rosenfeld H., Kelly M., James P., Fanelli G., Basile G., Chamberlain J., Addis P., Angioni A., Jóhannsson R., Asmundsson O., Tamponi G., Hannon C., Gudnason A., Tarrab K., Pecorino D., Asnaghi V, 2014. Research & technological development to improve economic profitability and environmental sustainability of sea urchin farming. XXIV Congresso della Società Italiana di Ecologia S.It.E. Ferrara (Italy), 15-17 September 2014.3) Chiantore M., Shpigel M., Rosenfeld H., Kelly M., James P., Fanelli G., Basile G., Chamberlain J., Addis P., Angioni A., Jóhannsson R., Asmundsson O., Tamponi G., Hannon C., Gudnason A., Tarrab K., Pecorino D., Asnaghi V, 2014. Research & technological development to improve economic profitability and environmental sustainability of sea urchin farming. Aquaculture Europe, San Sebastian (Spain), 14-17 October 2014.4) Chiantore M., Shpigel M., Rosenfeld H., Kelly M., James P., Fanelli G., Basile G., Chamberlain J., Addis P., Angioni A., Jóhannsson R., Asmundsson O., Tamponi G., Hannon C., Gudnason A., Tarrab K., Pecorino D., Asnaghi V, 2014. Research & technological development to improve economic profitability and environmental sustainability of sea urchin farming. Regional Aquaculture Conference, Bari (Italy), 9-11 December 2014.5) James P., Siikavuopio S., 2015. Sea urchin aquaculture in Norway and Europe, moving from research to commercialisation and possible impacts on Asian markets. World Aquaculture Society Conference, Jeju (Korea), 26-30 May 2015. 6) Siikavuopio S., James P., 2015. Long-term growth study of green sea urchin under constant light and temperature regime. National Shellfish Association annual conference, Monterey, USA, March 2015.7) Ferranti M.P. de la Fuente Mancebo G., Pecorino D., Asnaghi V., Cannella L., Sicurelli D., Chiantore M., 2015. Echinoculture of Paracentrotus lividus: effect of diet on somatic and gonadic growth. 46° Congresso della Società Italiana di Biologia Marina, Roma (Italy), 10-12 June 2015.8) Ferranti M.P. Cannella L., Pecorino D., de la Fuente Mancebo G., Asnaghi V., Sicurelli D., Chiantore M., 2015. Innovative feeds and systems for sea urchin farming. Ecology at the Interface: science-based solutions for human well being, Roma (Italy), 21-25 September 2015.9) Chiantore M., 2015. Il riccio di mare in acquacoltura. Convegno “Messa a punto di tecnologie e processi atti a valorizzare ed estendere la shelf life di trasformati ittici ad elevata valenza nutraceutica”. Cagliari (Italy), 25 September 2015.10) Prato E., Biandolino F., Parlapiano I., Papa L., Sicuro B., Fanelli G., 2015. Gonad colour and yield in the European sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus fed different diets. Aquaculture Europe, Rotterdam (Netherlands), 20-23 October 2015The ultimate goal of WP7 was to lay the foundations for the Establishment of a "European network". Networking and sharing of knowledge on innovations in sea urchin farming among the members of the Network can take place through the ResUrch web-site and social networks (Facebook site of ResUrch and Linked-in page of ResUrch). These web sites (www.resurchproject.com https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8516656 https://www.facebook.com/groups/resurch/) provide important tools for networking. The web-page promotes the exchange of useful experiences among the innovators in the region; provides detailed information on the programme, as well as a directory of experts in the region and a forum. Through its activities, the Network can raise awareness among public officials of existing innovations in governance.The Network aims to:• promote applied research and encourage economic studies in urchin farming • establish research working groups based on common research interests amongst experts and practitioners in sea urchin farming in countries of the European economic area on specific issues of interest to its members• help to organize discussions and online meetings on specific themes related to urchin farming at regional, sub-regional, as well as EU levels.List of Websites:http://resurchproject.comNational Contacts - SMEsArdag, Israel:Koby Tarrab (koby@ardag.co.il)Cedimar, Italy:Giacomo Tamponi (info@cedimar.com)Connemara Abalone, Ireland:Colin Hannon (hannon.colin@gmail.com)Dunmanus, Ireland:John Chamberlain (seaurchins@eircom.net)Gigante, Italy:Graziana Basile (mitilus@inwind.it)Sæbyli, Iceland:Asgeir Eirikur Gudnason (asgeir@saebyli.is)Thorisholmi, Iceland: Olafur Orn Asmundsson (thorisholmi@simnet.is)National Contacts - RTD PerformersCNR-IAMC, Italy:Giovanni Fanelli (fanelli@iamc.cnr.it)IOLR, Israel:Muki Shpigel (mshpigel@ocean.org.il)MATIS, Iceland:Ragnar Jóhannsson (ragnar@matis.is)Nofima, Norway:Philip James (philip.james@nofima.no)SAMS, UK:Lars Brunner (Lars.Brunner@sams.ac.uk)University of Cagliari, Italy:Piero Addis (addisp@unica.it)University of Genoa, Italy:Mariachiara Chiantore (chiantor@dipteris.unige.it)
