Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in a zero-exchange recirculation aquaculture system for marine fish and hydroponic halophyte production

authored by: Uwe Waller, Anne K. Buhmann, Anneliese Ernst, Verena Hanke, Andreas Kulakowski, Bert Wecker, Jaime Orellana, Jutta Papenbrock
Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of nutrient recycling from a marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for fish (European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L.) through three salt-tolerant, halophyte plant species, Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz., Plantago coronopus L., and Salicornia dolichostachya (Moss.). Halophytes, illuminated by sunlight and supplemented with artificial light, were maintained in hydroponic cultures integrated in a RAS water treatment system operating at 16 psu salinity. During a 35-day experiment, 248 fishes gained 5.6 kg of weight. Total plant biomass production reached 23 kg in 14 m² hydroponic culture area. Gain of shoot biomass was 27, 18, and 60 g m⁻² day⁻¹ for T. pannonicum, P. coronopus, and S. dolichostachya, respectively. The plants retained 7 g phosphorus and 46 g nitrogen under the experimental conditions. This was equivalent to 9 % of the N and 10 % of the P introduced with the fish feed. The edible part of the harvested plant material was microbially safe and approved for human consumption. The coupling of production in a RAS–IMTA was tested as a feasible cascading production technology for sustainable aquaculture.
Organisation(s): Institute of Botany
External Organisation(s): Saarland University of Applied Sciences
Neomar GmbH
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
Type: Article
Journal: Aquaculture international
Volume: 23
Pages: 1473-1489
No. of pages: 17
ISSN: 0967-6120
Publication date: 08.03.2015
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Aquatic Science, Agronomy and Crop Science
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-015-9898-3 (Access: Closed)