The AQUAVITAE project has the main objective of sustainably increase aquaculture production in and around the Atlantic Ocean by developing new and emerging low trophic species and by optimising production in existing aquaculture value chains under the principles of circular economy.

The Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) is involved in the research question of how aquaculture will help ensuring the global demand for food through the direct production of more sustainable feed. The innovative feeds will include low trophic species, fisheries by-products, and mussel production side-streams. The research aims to promote the concept of modern aquaculture as an environmentally and economically sustainable practice to society.

Expected results

The project’s purpose is to introduce new low trophic species, products and processes in marine aquaculture value chains across the Atlantic. Low trophic species are those organisms low on the food chain as sea urchins or mussels. The five chosen value chains of AquaVitaeinclude macroalgae, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), echinoderm species (e.g. sea urchins), shellfish and finfish. IMTA is a process that farms several species together using waste from one species as feed for another.

One of the main expected results of the project would be the creation of real and meaningful collaborative links between researchers, industry and other aquaculture stakeholders in the Atlantic area.