Technical and economic feasibility in the production of red macroalgae in integrated systems with ornamental fish in urban areas

• Grant number: 19/09269-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal researcher: Estela Maria Plastino
• Grantee: Felipe Pereira de Almeida Cohen
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

To develop smart and more sustainable cities, it is essential to make urban centers more productive. Marine aquaculture systems can be adapted to the reality of a metropolis to produce animals and algae to various markets. The possibility of adding value to these products to meet these markets can make urban aquaculture economically feasible, even on small scales. In addition, the proximity to the final consumer reduces the costs and the ecological footprint of transport, increasing the sustainability of the activity. Nonetheless, for a more sustainable production, it is necessary to reduce the use of natural resources and the pollution. One option is to use integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems that are more resource efficient. For example, the culture of ornamental fish integrated with macroalgae. The culture of marine ornamental species is a reality in some metropolis. Nonetheless, there are no studies on integrated systems with marine ornamental fish. Macroalgae can promote the cycling of nutrients excreted by fish, reducing water changes. In addition, many macroalgae have economic value, which would increase the profit of the activity. Among these, the red algae, which are exploited to produce agar and for human food, stand out. Thus, this project aims to test the technical and economic feasibility of the integrated culture of three red macroalgae (Gracilariopsis tenuifrons, Gracilaria caudata and G. domingensis) on the grow out of clownfish (Amphiprion percula), as well as to select strains to optimize the production of macroalgae.