Regional Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (RIMTA): Spatially separated, ecologically linked

Sanz-Lázaro, Carlos; Sanchez-Jerez, Pablo; Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ecología; Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada; Universidad de Alicante. Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio "Ramón Margalef"; Biología Marina

Regional Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (RIMTA): Spatially separated, ecologically linked

2020

Sanz-Lázaro, Carlos | Sanchez-Jerez, Pablo | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ecología | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada | Universidad de Alicante. Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio "Ramón Margalef" | Biología Marina

Aquaculture sustainability is restricted by environmental drawbacks such as the pollution derived from the released organic waste. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) aims to lower the input of this waste by culturing other species of low trophic level which feed on them. Despite the appealing idea of IMTA, its implementation is very limited in marine ecosystems. Focusing on marine fish farming, in general terms, fish farm waste is not expected to constitute a relevant food source for low-trophic level organisms cultured in the water column. We propose Regional Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (RIMTA) as a shift of paradigm in the way IMTA is used to sequester the dissolved exported waste and derived primary production generated by high trophic level cultures. RIMTA advocates for independent allocation of cultures of low and high trophic level species within the same water body. RIMTA implementation should be economically supported through tax benefits or nutrient quota trading schemes. Moving from IMTA to RIMTA should not only foster aquaculture sustainability but also the circular economy and the ecosystem services that the low trophic level cultures provide.

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C. S. was funded by the contract ‘Juan de la Cierva’ (ref. JCI-2012–12413) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and by the University of Alicante (Ref. UATALENTO 17–11). This work was funded by the project CGL 2015- 70136-R from the MINECO and the EU ERDF funding programme.

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