ProRMAS

Global fishery yield has not increased in three decades, thus aquaculture continues to fill the gap - ensuring food security. One Solution is land-based aquaculture systems for marine species. In Germany and Lithuania, the aquaculture of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in RAS is a growing industry. However, the nutrients present in the water and the waste have so far remained unused in these cultures. A polyculture approach with polychaetes and plants can unlock this unused potential, making shrimp production more efficient and sustainable, while also bringing new products to market.

The ProRMAS project is investigating the potential uses of the resulting residues. To this end, the production of polychaetes (Alitta virens) and halophytes (salt-tolerant plants such as glasswort (Salicornia)) and algae (Ulva) with shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) waste will be tested in a recirculating multitrophic aquaponics system. The polychaetes will be used as a fishmeal substitute in the shrimp feed. The halophytes and algae can be used for human consumption.

At the University of Padua in Italy, various processes are being developed for the production of organic and mineral fertilisers from the waste materials. This will make it possible to use the waste from the shrimp farms more efficiently and to produce additional products for the local market, thereby increasing the profitability of the shrimp farms.

ProRMAS project is carried out under the Green ERA-Hub, a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation (R&I) programme under Grant Agreement No. 101056828. More about Green ERA-Hub: https://www.greenerahub.eu/