Aquaculture of microalgae in New-Caledonia. AMICAL

AMICAL is a partnership program of research and innovation between ADECAL TECHNOPOLE (New Caledonia innovation and technology park) and IFREMER to initiate the development of a microalgae industry in New Caledonia, based on selected local strains. This French oversea territory, located in south Pacific, features many competitive advantages for the development of a blue economy industry (climate, biodiversity hotspot, well developed aquaculture sector...). The project relies on two laboratories (Figure 1) owned and managed by ADECAL TECHNOPOLE with the scientific support of IFREMER: • the Laboratory for MicroAlgae study (LEMA), whose scientific direction is provided by the laboratory of Physiology and Biotechnology of Algae (PBA, IFREMER, Nantes), dedicated to microalgae applied studies at laboratory scale. The LEMA is set up in Nouméa and has been in operation since May 2013 • The Laboratory for MicroAlgae Technology (LTMA) with pilot scale production facilities.. The LTMA, located at Koné, started indoor large culture in 2015 and outdoor culture in 2016. The AMICAL R & D program is structured into 6 axes: Axe 1 - Bioprospection and selection of caledonian microalgae for aquaculture. Axe 2 - Nutrition and health of aquatic animals. In this framework we will study the applications of microalgae in nutrition of L. stylirostris shrimp and local fishes at different stages of their development (larvae, juveniles and broodstock). Axe 3 – Research of bioactive metabolites: Microalgae contain potentially interesting metabolites with antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial ... properties. Axe 4 – Carbon nutrition and lipid metabolism. Axe 5 - Production at pilot scale: technical and economic studies. Axe 6 - Technological development for research and production. Since May 2013, thirty (30) local strains have already been selected for their high growth rate. These strains once identified and characterized for their physiological and biochemical properties are sent to LTMA to be cultured in large indoor volumes and outdoor raceways. Among them, 4 species seems promising; works are to confirm that they could be sources of valued nutrients as pigments, proteins or lipids rich in omega 3 etc. These results provide a first look optimistic for the future of AMICAL R&D program with the selection of high value local species of microalgae and the establishment of a new aquaculture sector in New Caledonia.