About ProRMAS project

Seafood currently supplies approximately 17% of animal protein and about 7% of total protein. Aquaculture will supply 60% of global seafood by 2030. Euryhaline aquatic species, including shrimps, are the most economically important species in worldwide aquaculture. In Europe, the production of Penaeus vannamei in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is a growing industry.

However, the nutrients in the dissolved and solid waste have so far remained unused, representing inefficiency and cost for the system. A possible solution is the development of recirculating multi-trophic aquaponic systems (RMAS) where aquatic species, filter feeders and plants are grown in a fully circular system in saline water.

The goal of ProRMAS is to develop RMAS as an innovative food production system that will close the cycle, produce the highest quality protein, and maximize water and nutrient use efficiency. 

Project duration

A 3-year project, ProRMAS is implemented from March 2024 until March 2027.

Innovative food production system

Shrimp

Cultivated as the high-value food. 

Polychates

Produced as an alternative to fishmeal in feeds, while recovering nutrients and reducing organic wastes via remineralization.

Halophytes

Absorb dissolved nutrients and produce food for human consumption.

Algae

Absorb dissolved nutrients and used as shrimp meal ingredient.

Feed

Polychaetes and ulva spp. used as alternative protein sources in shrimp diets.

Key project activities

  • Produce innovative protein sources in RMAS

  • Optimize the polychaete and macroalgae production with the use of shrimp sludge and water

  • Develop sustainable feeds for shrimp Penaeus vannamei, using polychaete as fishmeal substitute and Ulva as feed additive

  • Evaluate the use of live polychaetes and fresh seaweed as dietary supplements in shrimp feeding

  • Produce alternative bio-fertilizers from the shrimp production that will be tested in the growth of novel vegetable species

  • Design and implement a demo-farm for the integrated production of shrimp, polychaetes, seaweeds and halophytes

  • Evaluate the environmental and economic sustainability of the recirculating multi-trophic aquaculture system