Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ASTRAL (All Atlantic Ocean Sustainable, Profitable and Resilient Aquaculture)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-03-01 al 2023-08-31
Aquaculture has been identified as the most promising source of animal proteins worldwide, however, the industry is dominated by species that need to be actively fed, creating a growing need for feed resources, concerns about environmental impacts of uneaten feed and waste and food safety of the products with the possible development of pathogens. In Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) production, multiple aquatic species from different trophic levels are farmed together, and waste(s) from one species are used as fertilisers and food for other species, as in the natural ecosystems.
ASTRAL main goal is to increase value and sustainability for IMTA production by developing new, resilient, and profitable value chains, using four IMTA ‘labs’: open costal/offshore in Ireland and Scotland, flow-through inshore in South Africa and recirculation inshore in Brazil. These sites grow several species combinations such as fish, scallops, lobsters, oysters, urchins and seaweed. A prospective IMTA lab is also being assessed in Argentina. ASTRAL also aim to increase circularity to achieve zero-waste aquaculture systems, developing business models to increasing profitability. Risk posed by potential climate changes and emerging pollutant (microplastics, harmful algae blooms, pathogens) are assessed, together with the development of innovative technology to monitor the production and the interactions from/to the surrounding environment (specific sensors and biosensors, IoT and AI data analytics). Sharing knowledge and capacity development are ASTRAL priorities, to build a collaborative ecosystem along the Atlantic Ocean with industrial partners, SMEs, scientists, policy makers, social representatives and other relevant stakeholders.
ASTRAL main goal is to increase value and sustainability for IMTA production by developing new, resilient, and profitable value chains, using four IMTA ‘labs’: open costal/offshore in Ireland and Scotland, flow-through inshore in South Africa and recirculation inshore in Brazil. These sites grow several species combinations such as fish, scallops, lobsters, oysters, urchins and seaweed. A prospective IMTA lab is also being assessed in Argentina. ASTRAL also aim to increase circularity to achieve zero-waste aquaculture systems, developing business models to increasing profitability. Risk posed by potential climate changes and emerging pollutant (microplastics, harmful algae blooms, pathogens) are assessed, together with the development of innovative technology to monitor the production and the interactions from/to the surrounding environment (specific sensors and biosensors, IoT and AI data analytics). Sharing knowledge and capacity development are ASTRAL priorities, to build a collaborative ecosystem along the Atlantic Ocean with industrial partners, SMEs, scientists, policy makers, social representatives and other relevant stakeholders.
ASTRAL work Is implementing and assessing IMTA value chains. IMTA lab Ireland has designed and installed a new Low Trophic Grid (LTG) to support the production of additional seaweeds and invertebrate species. A new sea urchin-Ulva IMTA is designed and constructed at the South African IMTA Lab with the addition of the tropical sea urchin. A new shrimp-tilapia-plants in biofloc IMTA system has been designed and installed at IMTA lab Brazil, also introducing oysters shrub. A combined Low-Trophic Species (LTS) cultivation approach which supports variable depth designs has been deployed at IMTA lab Scotland, introducing new species in the system: seaweed, dulse, king scallops, and edible sea urchins. In the prospective IMTA lab Argentina, the potential IMTA specie selection has considered distribution, life cycle, biology, state of fisheries, market value and aquaculture experiences.
The concept of circularity is embedded in the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. In addition, ASTRAL has a goal to increase circularity by 50-60% compared to monoculture baseline and contribute to the objective of achieving zero waste. The zero-waste approach has been studied in detail in close and semi-close systems and relevant results have been obtained in relation to the best combination of species, improvements on food-conversion-ratio (FCR) and ingredients in IMTA Lab Brazil. Different recirculation rates, waste streams from urchin production, bioremediation capacity of Ulva and new feed sources from urchin faeces have been studied in IMTA Lab South-Africa. The circularity assessment is defining a common framework assessing circularity of nutrients, circularity in production parameters (recirculation), feeding regimes and infrastructure materials. The assessment will be complemented by LCA studies that have recently been concluded.
Circular business models, revenue diversification for aquaculture producers and assessment for increased profitability by at least 30% is an additional ASTRAL goal. A regional assessment and the corresponding socio-economic analysis have started by data collected from aquaculture producers through an online survey, complemented with a state-of-the-art-analysis of characteristics and economic performance features of the aquaculture industry. Identifying best practices, interesting business models, and promising value chains, will provide the baseline for the development of business cases/models and future investments.
A precise control of production parameters to implement better routines and efficient practices, as well as monitoring the environmental challenges, will promote aquaculture sustainability and profitability. Five sensor prototypes have been developed and deployed at the IMTA labs: bivalve sensors to monitor water quality; UV-IS fluoremeter-spectometer for physic-chemical measurements; real-time monitoring low-cost IoT kits for water quality parameters integrated any sensor, communication system or power suppling on the market; artificial intelligence-based vision sensors for biomass estimation and HAB monitoring. An AI data analytics platform has been developed, to visualise farms sensors information, running the AI algorithms and store/visualise predictions.
Potential environmental and climatic risks for Northern and Southern Atlantic regions are addressed, delivering a monitoring programme(s) and recommendations for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), pathogens and microplastics. Climate trends were analysed to identify vulnerable regions along the Atlantic coasts.
Marine aquaculture can potentially generate social conflicts between activities in the use of the ocean space and concerns from the public and the consumers about the environmental impacts and the food safety of the products. To address these concerns, ASTRAL has conducted a series of participatory workshops to address the societal needs of the key stakeholders, aiming to improve social license for IMTA technologies across the Atlantic (Scotland, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa).
ASTRAL is also delivering an ambitious and gender-sensitive human capital development plan (HUCAP) which will improve professional skills and create a highly trained workforce: several capacity development activities and apprenticeships have already been conducted, as well as empowerment of women in aquaculture activities. Mapping and engagement of stakeholders along the Atlantic is performed through the virtual platform Aquaculture Helix.
ASTRAL aims and activities have largely been communicated to a variety of stakeholders using the project social media: webpage, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and ASTRAL’s YouTube channel which features several videos showcasing activities carried out in the project. Preliminary results have been disseminated in international meetings and conferences.
The concept of circularity is embedded in the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. In addition, ASTRAL has a goal to increase circularity by 50-60% compared to monoculture baseline and contribute to the objective of achieving zero waste. The zero-waste approach has been studied in detail in close and semi-close systems and relevant results have been obtained in relation to the best combination of species, improvements on food-conversion-ratio (FCR) and ingredients in IMTA Lab Brazil. Different recirculation rates, waste streams from urchin production, bioremediation capacity of Ulva and new feed sources from urchin faeces have been studied in IMTA Lab South-Africa. The circularity assessment is defining a common framework assessing circularity of nutrients, circularity in production parameters (recirculation), feeding regimes and infrastructure materials. The assessment will be complemented by LCA studies that have recently been concluded.
Circular business models, revenue diversification for aquaculture producers and assessment for increased profitability by at least 30% is an additional ASTRAL goal. A regional assessment and the corresponding socio-economic analysis have started by data collected from aquaculture producers through an online survey, complemented with a state-of-the-art-analysis of characteristics and economic performance features of the aquaculture industry. Identifying best practices, interesting business models, and promising value chains, will provide the baseline for the development of business cases/models and future investments.
A precise control of production parameters to implement better routines and efficient practices, as well as monitoring the environmental challenges, will promote aquaculture sustainability and profitability. Five sensor prototypes have been developed and deployed at the IMTA labs: bivalve sensors to monitor water quality; UV-IS fluoremeter-spectometer for physic-chemical measurements; real-time monitoring low-cost IoT kits for water quality parameters integrated any sensor, communication system or power suppling on the market; artificial intelligence-based vision sensors for biomass estimation and HAB monitoring. An AI data analytics platform has been developed, to visualise farms sensors information, running the AI algorithms and store/visualise predictions.
Potential environmental and climatic risks for Northern and Southern Atlantic regions are addressed, delivering a monitoring programme(s) and recommendations for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), pathogens and microplastics. Climate trends were analysed to identify vulnerable regions along the Atlantic coasts.
Marine aquaculture can potentially generate social conflicts between activities in the use of the ocean space and concerns from the public and the consumers about the environmental impacts and the food safety of the products. To address these concerns, ASTRAL has conducted a series of participatory workshops to address the societal needs of the key stakeholders, aiming to improve social license for IMTA technologies across the Atlantic (Scotland, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa).
ASTRAL is also delivering an ambitious and gender-sensitive human capital development plan (HUCAP) which will improve professional skills and create a highly trained workforce: several capacity development activities and apprenticeships have already been conducted, as well as empowerment of women in aquaculture activities. Mapping and engagement of stakeholders along the Atlantic is performed through the virtual platform Aquaculture Helix.
ASTRAL aims and activities have largely been communicated to a variety of stakeholders using the project social media: webpage, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and ASTRAL’s YouTube channel which features several videos showcasing activities carried out in the project. Preliminary results have been disseminated in international meetings and conferences.
IMTA labs have implemented better practices through improved infrastructure and systems design, new species, new combinations, and the development of welfare indexes. The IMTA labs Brazil and South Africa have successfully completed experiments on water recirculation, increased nutrient uptake and characterisation of the microbiome, pathogens and microplastics in the system.
The five types of sensor prototypes have been developed and are tested several times at the IMTA sites, to monitor water quality parameters, biomass and HABs occurrence, microplastic presence.
The life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed in all IMTA labs.
The cost and benefit analysis (CBA) has been concluded and serves as basis for the development of business models for the IMTA production. The social perceptions and acceptability have been thoroughly studied in all case sites.
The five types of sensor prototypes have been developed and are tested several times at the IMTA sites, to monitor water quality parameters, biomass and HABs occurrence, microplastic presence.
The life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed in all IMTA labs.
The cost and benefit analysis (CBA) has been concluded and serves as basis for the development of business models for the IMTA production. The social perceptions and acceptability have been thoroughly studied in all case sites.