August 29, 2018

EU-backed project aims for sustainable European aquaculture through species diversification

An EU-funded project, known as DIVERSIFY, is seeking for sustainability in the expansion of Europe's aquaculture industry through the promotion of species diversification and product development.

The project is developed to explore the biological and socio-economic potential of new/emerging candidate fish species for the expansion of European aquaculture. To achieve its objectives, DIVERSIFY is revolutionising scientific techniques and methodologies that will optimise the rearing and production of finfish species, along with the setup of a range of marketing initiatives aimed at attracting consumers.

The project identified six new or emerging finfish species: meagre, greater amberjack, wreckfish, Atlantic halibut, grey mullet and pikeperch.

"Because these species are either large or fast-growing, they are ideal candidates for processing into a range of products, providing consumers with both a greater diversity of choice and new value-added products," Dr. Constantinos C. Mylonas, the project's coordinator, explained.

However, before these new products could be launched, researchers first had to resolve production bottlenecks like reproduction control, larval rearing methods, optimisation of recirculation aquaculture system rearing, feeding methods and the identification of major pathogens.

For example, in the case of greater amberjack, researchers had to develop innovative methods for controlling their reproduction in captivity, the on-demand production of fertilised eggs, and the production of large numbers of juvenile fish.

"We are finally at the stage that, after decades of interest and scattered efforts for commercialising this species in Europe, we can now proceed with industrial production and marketisation," said Dr. Mylonas.

Another example can be seen in the project's success in taking the meagre from being an emerging species to a viable market option for the aquaculture sector. Having confirmed that the available captive broodstocks are adequate for breeding selection programmes, researchers developed the husbandry and molecular tools required to implement this selection at farm level.

In addition to its species-specific research, the project also includes a socioeconomic component. Here, researchers are looking at market opportunities for the new species and developing business models based on consumer studies and online marketing tests, among other tools.

So far, insights have been generated to identify the most promising ideas for new fish products from the project species for the European market.

In the last year of the project, DIVERSIFY has produced an array of important scientific knowledge that is helping European aquaculture diversify its production and increase its market share.

"The DIVERSIFY project has already achieved almost all that it has promised and has demonstrated that diversification is not only possible, but a necessity for European aquaculture," Dr. Mylonas added.

Despite the success, work remains for the diversification of EU aquaculture.

The consortium is now turning its attention towards the future, identifying the research needed to address additional production bottlenecks and study other new and emerging species.

- CORDIS