Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture Research Articles

A Comprehensive Review of Quality of Aquaculture Services in Integrated Multi-Trophic Systems

The concept of Quality of Aquaculture Services (QoAS) is inspired by the Quality of Service (QoS) principle, originally developed in the field of networks and telecommunications, where it refers to the ability to guarantee the quality, availability, and priority of service in a communications system. Adapted to the aquaculture context, QoAS is fundamental to maximising the benefits of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). IMTA has emerged as a sustainable approach to meet the growing global demand for aquatic food products by combining species from different trophic levels in a single system, optimising resource use, improving environmental performance, and diversifying production. However, ensuring QoAS in these complex systems requires the implementation of advanced technologies to monitor, manage, and optimise every aspect of the aquaculture process. This article presents a comprehensive review of technologies applied at IMTA, focusing on IoT-based monitoring systems, resource management algorithms, water recirculation technologies, intelligent automation, biosecurity, and data management platforms. Our review finds that IoT and automation-based solutions significantly enhance real-time monitoring, increasing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Key challenges identified include integration complexity, high costs, and technical expertise requirements, but the ongoing development of modular, user-friendly solutions indicates a promising trajectory. This review highlights the transformative role of technological innovation in IMTA, providing a foundation for future research and advancements in QoAS management in aquaculture.

Response of Hard-Bottom Macro-Zoobenthos to the Transition of a Mediterranean Mariculture Fish Plant (Mar Grande of Taranto, Ionian Sea) into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) System

: This study investigates the effects on hard-bottom macro-zoobenthic communities of converting a mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. This study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 in the semi-enclosed Mar Grande basin of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea), on a facility located 600 m off the coastline, with a production capacity of 100 tons per year of seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and seabream (Sparus aurata). The results from seasonal sampling performed in a treatment site, where bioremediators (filter-feeding invertebrates such as sponges, polychaetes, mussels, and macroalgae) were deployed, and a control site without bioremediators were compared. Before the IMTA installation, the hard substrates under the cages were sparsely inhabited, with significant sediment coverage. By 2021, the treatment site exhibited revitalized and more diverse macro-zoobenthic communities, with species richness increasing from 83 taxa in 2018 to 104 taxa, including notable growth in sponges, annelids, mollusks, and bryozoans. In contrast, the control site showed no substantial changes in biodiversity over the same period. Biodiversity indices, including Shannon and Margalef indices, improved significantly at the treatment site, particularly during summer months, highlighting a more resilient and balanced benthic environment. Taxonomic distinctness (delta+) and multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA, PCO) confirmed significant spatial and temporal shifts in community structure at the treatment site, driven by IMTA implementation. SIMPER analysis identified key taxa contributing to these changes, which played a pivotal role in structuring the community. The emergence of filter feeders, predators, and omnivores at the treatment site suggests enhanced nutrient cycling and trophic complexity, while the decline in opportunistic species further supports improved environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate the potential of IMTA to promote recovery and sustainable mariculture practices, also offering a comprehensive understanding of its positive effects on hard-bottom benthic community dynamics.

Integrated multi-trphoic aquaculture

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) is a subject of growing interest in the world of aquaculture, in terms of both research and production. The term "circular" refers to the economy of recycling waste. This concept implies a variety of farming systems, which we will now take stock of. We'll see that the bacteria/algae complementarity is fundamental, depending on the more or less important role played by photosynthesis. This kind of aquaculture is practiced in fresh, marine or brackish water.

THE EFFECT OF UTILIZING ASIAN CLAM (Anodonta woodiana) AS A SUSPENSION FEEDER ON THE WATER QUALITY OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) IN A YUMINA BUMINA SYSTEM WITH MINIMAL LAND USE

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) has limitations in its application due to the requirement for large cultivation areas. To address this issue, the IMTA system has been modified into the yumina bumina system, utilizing freshwater mussels (Anodonta woodiana) as suspension feeders and water spinach (Ipomoea reptans) as nitrogen absorbers. This study employed a completely randomized design with three treatments: (A) Nile tilapia without freshwater mussels, (B) Nile tilapia with 25 freshwater mussels per 15L, and (C) Nile tilapia with 50 freshwater mussels per 15L, over a 30-day period. The results indicated that the addition of freshwater mussels increased nitrite and nitrate levels in treatments B and C, yet supported specific growth rates of Nile tilapia in terms of length and weight, with the highest values observed in treatment C (1.05%/day) and B (3.75%/day), respectively. The system also achieved a survival rate of Nile tilapia above 80% with acceptable water quality parameters, including neutral pH (7.86–8.16) and high dissolved oxygen levels (17.77–18.02 mg/L). This integration demonstrates significant potential for optimizing Nile tilapia production efficiently while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Identification of Aquatic Plant Species Suitable for Growing in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Systems in Southwest Bangladesh

Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming in Bangladesh began in the 1970s and has become a significant export industry. Despite its potential, there are concerns about the environmental sustainability of prawn farming due to its high greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, but implementation of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) may help minimize the GHG emission. A key element in IMTA is using plants to take up inorganic nutrients released by the prawns, producing valuable plant products and cleaning the water. Using a quadrat sampling method, we conducted a field study in combined prawn and shrimp ponds, aquaculture fishponds, and non-aquaculture waters in south- west Bangladesh to characterize plant diversity and identify suitable species for IMTA in prawn farms. A total of 38 plant species were identified with densities ranging from 4.5–6.1 plants/m2 in the aquaculture ponds to 11.6–17.1 plants/m2 in the prawn/shrimp and the non-aquaculture ponds. Free-floating plants were the most abundant, followed by emergent, floating anchored, and submerged plants. Most plants have commercial values as food, fodder, fish feed, fertilizer, or medicines to local people. Our results suggest that species within the Oxalis, Ipomoea, Azolla, and Lemna genera are suitable extractive aquatic plants for the implementation of IMTA in prawn farms and may improve the sustainability of prawn production.

Utilization of Sustainable Aquaculture Technologies to Increase Fisheries Production in Coastal Areas: Review and Recommendations

This study aims to analyze the application of sustainable aquaculture technology in increasing fishery production in coastal areas, with a qualitative approach through literature study and literature research. Sustainable aquaculture technology offers innovative solutions to address fisheries production challenges, such as declining marine catches, environmental degradation, and climate change. This research focuses on the development of environmentally friendly technology, efficient use of resources, and adaptation to local ecosystems. The results of the study show that the use of technologies such as biofloc, aquaponics systems, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is able to increase the productivity and sustainability of the coastal fisheries sector. In addition, government policy support and active participation of coastal communities are key factors in the successful implementation of this technology. The main obstacles identified include lack of access to information technology, limited funding, and low environmental awareness. This study recommends the preparation of a continuous training program, strengthening collaboration between academics, the government, and industry players, as well as providing incentives for the adoption of sustainable technology. This finding is expected to be a reference for the development of an environmentally friendly aquaculture-based fishery production improvement strategy in Indonesia's coastal areas.

Unlocking synergies: Enhancing bioremediation, growth, and physiological responses of Penaeus vannamei co-cultured with seaweed

Seaweeds, an inorganic extractive species in the Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, offer the potential for mitigating coastal pollution and a source of nutrition aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. A co-culture strategy was hypothesized to address rising concerns over intensive shrimp farming, limited suitable seaweed cultivation areas, and production optimization. Initially, locally available seaweeds along the Maharashtra coast were screened, followed by co-culture with P. vannamei with selected seaweed to evaluate production performance and physiological responses in zero-water exchange system. The first four-week study was conducted in shrimp wastewater with six different seaweeds, where Gracilaria foliifera performed best with significant (p < 0.05) improvement in nutrient uptake efficiency (Total ammoniacal nitrogen- 64 %, Phosphate- 99.87 %, Nitrite-32 %, Nitrate-13 %) and yield (4.56 kg m−3), enhanced elemental profile, biochemical composition, and pigments. A further optimization study of G. foliifera in shrimp wastewater for 96 h identified the optimal stocking density of 1–3.5 gL−1, based on nutrient uptake efficiency (TAN- 61 %, PO4–72 %, NO2–48 %, NO3–27 %). In the second experiment, considering the highest uptake, G. foliifera stocking density was maintained at 3.5 gL−1, and different stocking densities of P. vannamei (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 nos. m−2) were assessed with two controls, shrimp monoculture and Gracilaria monoculture. Results showed that co-culturing P. vannamei at 20 nos.m−2 followed by 60 nos.m−2 with G. foliifera at 3.5 gL−1 yielded the highest mean weight gain, specific growth rate, and production with low feed conversion ratio, while also improving water quality. The co-culture system also led to lower stress enzyme levels, reduced serum glucose and cholesterol, and normal histological observations in the hepatopancreas compared to monoculture. This study suggests that the co-culture of P. vannamei at 60 nos.m−2 with G. foliifera at 1–3.5 gL−1 proved superior without compromising productivity and physiological responses over monoculture in a sustainable manner.

Advancing Seaweed Cultivation: Integrating Physics Constraint in Machine Learning for Enhanced Biomass Forecasting in IMTA Systems

Monitoring seaweed growth rates and biomass is crucial for optimizing harvest strategies in aquaculture systems. While such a task can be managed manually on a small farm with a few seaweed tanks, it is not feasible on a commercial farm with 1000s of tanks. To this end, an Internet of Things (IoT) based seaweed growth monitoring system is being developed at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Using the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system at HBOI as the test site, the project aims to develop a solution that allows farm managers to monitor seaweed growth remotely using automated sensors. An important component of this IoT solution is the machine learning-based prediction model. This study introduces an advanced Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based approach for forecasting seaweed growth and biomass. In particular, an algae growth mathematical model driven by readily available environmental and aquaculture conditions has been integrated as a physical constraint in the LSTM model. This design addresses a principal challenge in this study—the lack of continuous ground truth measurements, as the biomass is recorded only at discrete intervals (e.g., initial, weekly partial harvests, and final harvest). The LSTM models are trained and evaluated for their predictive performance using experimental and synthetic data. Compared with the LSTM models with MSE loss function alone, the results showed that the model with a loss function under physics constraint achieved a significantly lower error in predicting seaweed growth. The rationale behind choosing LSTM over other state-of-the-art models is presented in the paper. This study highlights the potential of integrating machine learning with physical models to optimize seaweed cultivation and support sustainable aquaculture practices. The proposed methodology can seamlessly extend to the remote sensing data in other aquaculture settings.

Sustainable land-based IMTA: Holistic management of finfish, mussel, and macroalgae interactions, emphasizing water quality and nutrient dynamics

This research aims to minimize the environmental impact and promote the sustainability of aquaculture by optimizing nutrient dynamics, improving water quality and enhancing species growth performance through a land-based Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. The study focused on Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax), Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), and sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), reared in interconnected tanks using Black Sea water over 90 days. The Black Sea trout more than doubled in size to 333.92 ± 6.60 g and significant improvements were observed in the specific growth rate (SGR) at 0.85% and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 1.38. The fish's proximate composition included 19.19% protein, 2.31% lipid, 70.35% moisture, and 1.34% ash, with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels at 6.06% and 13.50%, respectively. The macroalgae showed substantial growth, with a SGR of 0.34% and a weight gain of 310 ± 3.50 g. Additionally, it increased protein content by 13.41% and demonstrated significant nutrient removal efficiencies: 41.4% for nitrate, 66.7% for nitrite, and 90.8% for ammonia. EPA and DHA levels increased by 45% and 70%, reaching 4.66% and 2.19%, respectively. In contrast, the mussels experienced a weight loss, with a weight gain of −1.20 ± 0.00 g and an SGR of −0.20%. Initially, wild mussels had a composition of 77.56% moisture, 13.79% protein, 1.54% lipid, and 1.77% ash. The presence of mussels and macroalgae significantly improved water quality, notably reducing ammonia by 92.2%, nitrate by 44.6% and nitrite by 75%, benefiting the overall ecosystem. This study concludes that a land-based IMTA system enhances sustainable aquaculture by improving product quality and bioremediation, with macroalgae playing a crucial role in nutrient absorption and growth within the system.

Intensive white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture integrated with green mussel (Perna viridis), seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): impacts on water quality and growth of the shrimp

The production of Litopenaeus vannamei has significantly intensified, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) has emerged as an effective farming technique to sustain the shrimp industry. Integrated aquaculture reduces pollution while increasing aquaculture production. This production system could give both ecological and economic benefits. Its contribution to the reduced amount of nutrients from intensive shrimp farming effluents and to the improvement of water quality conditions and growth of white shrimp are significant. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts on water quality and growth performance of shrimp (L. vannamei) at the same time assess the viability of rearing shrimps integrated with either green mussel, Perna viridis (GM alone), GM+seaweed (Gracilariopsis bailiniae), GM+tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), or GM+seaweed+tilapia. Shrimps were cultured outdoors for 60 days in a recirculating system at an average water exchange rate of 6 L hr-1. Shrimps were stocked at 400 shrimp m-3 in shrimp tank while seaweed (2kg m-2), green mussels (50 individuals per meter line), and tilapia (350 grams m-3) were cultivated separately in plastic baskets inside the biofiltration tank. Shrimp effluents were recirculated from the shrimp tank to the biofiltration tank. After 60 days of culture, results showed that shrimps without integration had the lowest average body weight (ABW), survival, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), biomass gain, and high feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to shrimps with integration. This experiment confirmed that shrimp can be cultured intensively with either green mussel (GM alone), GM+ seaweed, GM+tilapia, or GM+seaweed+tilapia without adversely affecting the water quality and its growth performance and could even result in better yield than the shrimp cultured without integration. This research demonstrated the benefits of integrated aquaculture and could be further verified using large-scale culture.

Leaving the niche: Recommendations for mainstreaming Low Trophic Aquaculture in countries around the Atlantic basin

Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) is the farming of aquatic organisms such as primary producers (e.g., seaweeds) and primary consumers (e.g. bivalves). Despite recognition as a key pathway to the provision of sustainable food from the oceans, many forms of LTA around the Atlantic basin remain in the niche stage of socio-technical evolution. With governance regarded as a limiting factor to LTA development, aquaculture experts and stakeholders were surveyed to find, and interviewed to document, examples of implemented good practice in rules, regulations and processes that were seen as supportive of the sustainable development of LTA and related Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture. A theoretical framework on socio-technical change under polycentric governance informed an analysis of the good practices, according to five core themes: regulation and legislation; resources and infrastructure; human and social capital; financial instruments and economic support; and, the overarching socio-economic environment. Recommendations for action were constructed both inductively (from interview evidence) and deductively (from the theory), and were organised in relation to the three spheres of governance: Government should: provide stable policy and legal frameworks within which developers can operate with commercial confidence; ensure public trust in LTA products; support LTA start-ups; ensure availability of researchers and public officials with LTA relevant skills and knowledge. Market organisations should: allow LTA to better access financial capital and insurance; develop consultancy services; inform the public about LTA. Civil Society organisations, including universities, producer organisations and NGOs, should: in some cases, lead development of LTA with arrangements for local control; help certify appropriate LTA as sustainable, healthy and socially equitable.

Growth, Productivity and Nutrient Uptake Rates of Ulva lactuca and Devaleraea mollis Co-Cultured with Atractoscion nobilis in a Land-Based Seawater Flow-Through Cascade IMTA System

To advance environmentally friendly technologies in the aquaculture of Atractoscion nobilis, and simultaneously to diversify seafood production, a 79-day trial was conducted to assess the performance of Ulva lactuca and Devaleraea mollis cultured in the effluent from A. nobilis in a land-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system in southern California, USA. Water quality and performance of macroalgae were measured weekly. The impacted factors on the growth of macroalgae and nutrient uptake rate of macroalgae were assessed. The specific growth rate of juvenile A. nobilis was 0.47–0.52%/d. Total ammonia nitrogen in effluents of A. nobilis tanks ranged from 0.03 to 0.19 mg/L. Ulva lactuca and D. mollis achieved an average productivity of 24.53 and 14.40 g dry weight (DW)/m2/d. The average nitrogen content was 3.48 and 4.89% DW, and accordingly, the average nitrogen uptake rate was 0.88 and 0.71 g/m2/d, respectively. Temperature and nutrient concentration were key factors impacting macroalgae growth, and light intensity also impacted the growth of D. mollis. The high protein content of U. lactuca and D. mollis would make them good for use as human or animal food, or for use in other industries. Research on the interaction effects between seawater exchange rates and aeration rates on the performance and nutrient uptake rates of macroalgae will be conducted in future studies.

Sea cucumber, Neostichopus grammatus, density and tank cleaning frequency affect abalone, Haliotis midae, growth in integrated multitrophic aquaculture

AbstractThe integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) of sea cucumber and abalone has been proposed as a potential bioremediation tool that stimulates increased abalone growth. This study assessed the role of sea cucumber stocking density and frequency of tank cleaning in IMTA on growth, water, and sludge bioremediation. The study was conducted for 16 weeks and was made of four treatments and four replicates; abalone cocultured with sea cucumber (low density—27: 1 g [abalone (ab): sea cucumber (sc)]) with tanks cleaned once a week (L1); abalone cocultured with sea cucumber (low density) with tanks cleaned twice a week (L2); abalone cocultured with sea cucumber (high density—15:1 g [ab:sc]) with tanks cleaned once a week (H1) and abalone cocultured with sea cucumber (high density) with tanks cleaned twice a week (H2). Rearing water nitrite was significantly lower (p = 0.001) at high stocking density of sea cucumbers, but sludge was unaffected. Tanks cleaned once weekly had higher sludge organic matter (p = 0.015) and sludge sulfur content (p = 0.020) and lower sludge carbon (p = 0.003) and nitrogen content (p = 0.049). At the end of the experiment, the stocking density of sea cucumber and frequency of tank cleaning affected abalone mean weight [p = 0.047; p = 0.011, respectively] without a significant interaction (p = 0.517). Abalone in H1 had a higher mean weight and shell length than abalone in L2 and H2 but was similar to those in L1. The stocking density and frequency of cleaning used in this study had no effect on the growth of sea cucumbers [p = 0.150; p = 0.470, respectively]. This study has shown that in an abalone–sea cucumber IMTA system, the stocking density of sea cucumber and the frequency at which tanks are cleaned influence abalone growth and bioremediation of the rearing water. Our result suggests H1 as the best density (ab:sc) and cleaning frequency. The tank cleaning frequency alone affects the tank sludge quality; tanks need not be washed too frequently as, in addition to causing animal stress, cleaning markedly increased carbon and nitrogen level of tank sludge. Both these effects are likely to negatively impact abalone growth.

Potential of integrated multitrophic aquaculture to make prawn farming sustainable in Bangladesh

Farmed freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) comprise a significant portion of Bangladesh’s seafood exports, raising concerns about their environmental impacts. Freshwater prawn farms, which require a relatively high amount of feed supply, release 1.0 MT CO2-equivalents/year, equating to 18.8 kg CO2e/MT prawn, contributing significantly to global warming and climate change risks. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) offers an alternative farming method to conventional prawn farming systems, as it minimizes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts. Systematically reviewing 112 scientific articles on IMTA, this article offers recommendations for adopting IMTA to promote sustainable freshwater prawn farming in Bangladesh. IMTA is undergoing extensive experimentation and practice in many parts of the world, offering economic benefits, social acceptability, and environmental sustainability. In addition to native prawn species, various indigenous organic extractive freshwater mollusks, and inorganic extractive plants are available which can seamlessly be used to tailor the IMTA system. Extractive organisms, including aquatic mollusks and plants within prawn farms, can capture blue carbon effectively lowering GHG emissions and helping mitigate climate change impacts. Aquatic mollusks offer feed for fish and livestock, while aquatic plants serve as a dual food source and contribute to compost manure production for crop fields. Research on IMTA in Bangladesh was primarily experimented on finfish in freshwater ponds, with the absence of studies on IMTA in prawn farms. This necessitates conducting research at the prawn farmer level to understand the production of extractive aquatic mollusk and plants alongside prawn in the prawn-producing regions of southwestern Bangladesh.

Influence of an innovative IMTA system (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) on environmental and biological parameters: Seasonal analysis

The influence of benthic suspension feeders as bioremediating organisms on water column seston and their ability to mitigate fish farm waste was assessed by monthly analyses for one year. A monthly monitoring from July 2020 to October 2021 of physico-chemical and biochemical variables of the water column and the sediment was performed in an in-shore mariculture plant located in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Italy), comparing two adjacent areas that differ in type of farming. The first (reference site) is a fish monoculture, while the second consists of an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture system (IMTA site). The annual cycle of chlorophyll-a concentration showed values corresponding to mesotrophic/eutrophic conditions, with peak production in early fall (4.64 μg L−1). During the spring and summer sampling times, when the amount of aquaculture waste is greater than during the rest of the year, the reference site showed the highest lipid (151.73 μg L−1) and organic matter (189.00 mg g−1) values with respect to those at the IMTA site. The IMTA bioremediating organisms possibly acted as underwater gardens changing the seston quality and availability and providing protection and food for the zooplankton community, which showed higher abundance of individuals for most sampling times at the IMTA site, peaking during September and October in both 2020 and 2021 (max 232,985.20 ind m−3). Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the considered IMTA system in mitigating the negative impact of organic matter release into the environment due to fish farming activities. The influence of bioremediating organisms on seston composition and concentration opened up mitigation as well as restoration scenarios.

Potensi Budidaya Laut dengan Menggunakan Konsep Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)

Aquaculture is an activity that produces waste in its production. Waste in the aquatic environment is dangerous because it can cause pollution. Source of aquaculture waste come from unetaen feed, feces and excretion products. Preventing this waste can be done by implementing an environmentally friendly aquaculture sistem that is in accordance with blue economy principles in order that aquaculture can be sustainable. One sistem that can be used is implementing Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). IMTA is a aquaculture activity that apllies an integartion sistem between several species that are reared together. The IMTA principle is the use of nutrients in one rearing with the result that does not competition between spescies. The advantages of IMTA can minimize waste and increase profits because it can harvest more than one species.

Biofloc Formation Strategy Effects on Halophyte Integration in IMTA with Marine Shrimp and Tilapia

The incorporation of aquaponics into saline integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems, employing biofloc technology (BFT), relies on the cultivation of halophytes capable of withstanding the physical–chemical conditions created by the unique microbial communities in BFT systems. This study aimed to evaluate the integration of the halophyte Salicornia neei with tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and marine shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in BFT systems dominated by chemoautotrophic (CHE) and heterotrophic (HET) microorganisms over a period of 84 days in southern Brazil. Each BFT treatment had three replicates, composed of IMTA units. The stocking densities were 400 ind. m−3 (17 m3 circular tanks), 44 ind. m−3 (4 m3 circular tanks), and 30 ind. m−2 (4.8 m2 hydroponic benches) for shrimp, fish, and halophyte, respectively. The highest S. neei individual shoot production (up to 31 g per 30 days) was observed in the CHE treatment, along with favorable agronomic characteristics, possibly due to overall elevated nitrate (98.41 mg N−NO3 L−1) and phosphate concentrations (4.62 P−PO4 L−1). Shrimp in the CHE treatment displayed higher average final weight, specific growth rate, productivity, and survival (11.24 g, 2.88% day−1, 3.86 kg m−3, and 90%, respectively) compared to the HET treatment. Results indicated no significant difference in tilapia zootechnical performance between treatments.

In Vitro Potential of Antioxidant Extracts from Gracilaria gracilis Cultivated in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) for Marine Biobased Sector

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of bioactive compounds extracted from Gracilaria gracilis cultivated in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system by different extraction solvents and to investigate the potential capacity of the extracts in cellular systems against environmental pollutants. The global yields, total polyphenol contents, and antioxidant activity were assessed on G. gracilis by DPPH radical scavenging activity, comparing the antioxidant extraction efficiency of the different solvents (ethanol 80%, acetone 70%, N-hexane, and water). Ethanol extract, granted by the highest extractive yield and antioxidant capacity, was tested in vitro in the Sparus aurata fibroblast (SAF-1) cell line to evaluate its protective role against oxidative stress induced by the chemical flame retardant 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47). The results demonstrate that the cells pretreated with G. gracilis extract were protected against oxidative stress and had improved cell viability, cellular antioxidant defense system, and cell cycle control, as demonstrated by the gene expression on some biomarkers related to the cell cycle (p53) and oxidative stress (nrf2, sod, and cat). These results confirm that bioactive compounds obtained from seaweeds cultivated in IMTAs could contribute to producing high-value ingredients that are able to counteract environmental stressors, for the growth of the marine biobased industrial sector and the expansion of new value chains.

Aquaculture and climate change: a data-driven analysis

Abstract As climate change increasingly impacts the aquaculture industry, it poses challenges to production quality, management, and sustainability. This study provides a scientometric analysis of 47 years of research on aquaculture and climate change, analysing 4,785 articles and 224,895 references through CiteSpace software. The study highlights enduring themes such as “ocean acidification” and “global warming,” alongside emerging concerns like “deforestation” and “nutrient runoff,” reflecting new research directions. Notably, “seasonal variations” persist as a key focus due to their significant impact on aquaculture practices. Fourteen research clusters were identified, revealing a diverse array of topics from environmental performance to the effects of blue food systems and ocean acidification on marine life. Clusters related to “carbon sequestration,” “seaweed farming,” and “integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)” emphasise the shift toward innovative practices aimed at mitigating climate impacts and enhancing sustainability. The analysis shows a need for more collaborative research, particularly from leading contributors such as the USA, Europe and Australia with underrepresented regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, to develop resilient aquaculture systems capable of adapting to climatic challenges. It advocates for the integration of new technologies and the exploration of sustainable aquaculture practices that minimise environmental impacts while enhancing global food security. This approach sets a direction for future research to promote adaptive strategies and technological innovations in aquaculture.

Analysing Consequences of Aquaculture in Coastal Water Bodies of Ba Ria– Vung Tau, Vietnam on Sustainable Development Goals for Environmental Management

Aquaculture is vital for global food security and economic growth, particularly in coastal regions like Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam. This province has seen significant aquaculture growth, with production rising from 10,687 tons in 2010 to 20,486 tons in 2022. Key species farmed include brackish water shrimp, marine finfish, and mollusks, using methods such as cage culture, pond farming, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). However, aquaculture poses environmental challenges, including conflicts over coastal space, waste management, and habitat degradation. Species like oysters and mussels help improve water quality and support balanced ecosystems, while marine finfish farming can cause nutrient overload and eutrophication. Sustainable practices like IMTA, waste management, and sustainable feed use are essential to mitigate these impacts. Aligning aquaculture with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), is crucial for sustainable coastal management. This requires robust regulations, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of scientific research into policy. By ensuring aquaculture practices support SDGs, Ba Ria – Vung Tau can enhance environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and the sustainable coexistence of human activities with marine ecosystems.