@misc{10481/72782,
year = {2021},
month = {12},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/72782},
abstract = {Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) is a versatile technology emerging as an
ecological and sustainable solution for traditional monoculture aquacultures in terms of effluent
treatment. Nevertheless, IMTA is still poorly applied in aquaculture industry due to, among other
reasons, the lack of effective, low-investment and low-maintenance solutions. In this study, one
has developed a practical and low maintenance IMTA-pilot system, settled in a semi-intensive
coastal aquaculture. The optimisation and performance of the system was validated using Ulva
spp., a macroalgae that naturally grows in the fishponds of the local aquaculture. Several cultivation
experiments were performed at lab-scale and in the IMTA-pilot system, in static mode. The specific
growth rate (SGR), yield, nutrient removal, N and C enrichment, protein and pigment content were
monitored. Ulva spp. successfully thrived in effluent from the fish species sea bream (Sparus aurata)
and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) production tanks and significantly reduced inorganic nutrient
load in the effluent, particularly, NH4
+
, PO4
3− and NO3
−. The enrichment of nitrogen in Ulva
spp.’s tissues indicated nitrogen assimilation by the algae, though, the cultivated Ulva spp. showed
lower amounts of protein and pigments in comparison to the wild type. This study indicates that
the designed IMTA-pilot system is an efficient solution for fish effluent treatment and Ulva spp., a
suitable effluent remediator.},
organization = {Ana Margarida Bóia},
organization = {Comérico de Peixe},
organization = {IFAP},
organization = {MAR2020},
organization = {European Regional Development Fund


MAR-04.03.01-FEAMP-0007},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Estuary},
keywords = {Macroalgae},
keywords = {Effluent},
keywords = {Bioremediation},
keywords = {Aquaculture},
keywords = {Sustainability},
keywords = {Stable isotopes},
title = {Effective and Low-Maintenance IMTA System as Effluent Treatment Unit for Promoting Sustainability in Coastal Aquaculture},
doi = {10.3390/app12010398},
author = {Silva Rocha, Ana Cristina and Flores, Juan},
}