Meet the partners: CIIMAR
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research
How the work developed at CIIMAR impacts the environment?
CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, is a leading research and advanced training institution of the University of Porto, at the forefront of Ocean Knowledge and Innovation.
CIIMAR strives to address real economic and societal challenges and contribute to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. The centre develops fundamental knowledge, explores the resources of the Ocean, and pioneers new aquaculture species, products, and innovative cultivation methods. CIIMAR is organized into three main research lines: Marine Biotechnology, Global Changes and Ecosystem Services, Biology, Aquaculture, and Seafood Quality.
In 2022, CIIMAR received 125 competitive funding for ongoing R&D projects. A dedicated team of 557 members (including 206 PhD holders) contributed to the publication of 736 research outputs, including 561 research papers, and the submission of 23 patents over the past 7 years. Furthermore, CIIMAR outreach activities have successfully engaged with a broad audience, reaching over 150,000 individuals through 374 events in 2022.
What is CIIMAR's primary responsibility in the project OPTIRAS?
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are crucial in promoting environmental sustainability by significantly reducing water consumption compared to traditional open-rearing systems. Such open systems also need to discharge organic matter into natural ecosystems. Additionally, RAS allows for optimal control of rearing conditions and helps prevent the introduction of environmental contaminants and other factors that can affect aquaculture production, such as viruses or bacteria. Therefore, CIIMAR is leading the study of the impacts of water quality on fish welfare in OPTIRAS. We are conducting tests on promising selected water treatment methods in demo-scale RAS using a sole, an important flatfish species in the Mediterranean diet. The health condition of the fish is closely monitored under realistic rearing conditions for periods ranging from 2 to 6 months. Our research team studies relevant biological parameters by analyzing distinct fish samples, such as the liver, gills, or blood. Omics and biochemical analyses allow us to evaluate the efficiency of water treatment methods and assess their potential effects on fish at the molecular level. Through these analyses, CIIMAR will conclude the benefits or risks associated with ozone and other innovative water treatments used in RAS for sole cultures.
What does CIIMAR expect to achieve within the deliverables of the project?
The outcomes of OptiRAS encompass various aspects:
1. From a more "strict" scientific point of view, we will be advancing the understanding of how the water quality affects fish by studying the biological functional networks, providing valuable insights into the specific mechanisms involved and helping optimize water treatment methods. To this, CIIMAR will investigate the molecular pathways associated with fish exposure to different water treatment methods, including ozonated water.
2. Since there is an increasing demand for quality protein worldwide, it is important to improve the sustainability of protein production practices. Land-based aquaculture is indeed one of the activities where animal protein production is more efficient. OPTIRAS will help to improve the environmental sustainability of this sector further by identifying effective water treatment techniques, minimizing the environmental impacts of the sector, and maximizing production yields while reducing the use of resources by aquaculture operations. At the same time, it will optimize fish health in farming conditions which are also important for increasing numbers of consumers with ethical concerns.
3. OPTIRAS also has an important multidisciplinary component and will also increase industry collaboration with academia, promote knowledge transfer, and foster closer ties between research and practical applications.
Mário Araújo, Researcher at Blue Biotechnology, environment and health, CIIMAR