01
Diversify
Produce higher-value species from the same system, beyond sea bream.
Project · Coordinated by Pescalgarve
Aquadiversify
Fish, macroalgae and sea cucumber in the same system. An integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) project, coordinated by us and tested in our tidal ponds.
Project coordinated by Pescalgarve
Aquadiversify
Diversification and sustainable production in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture.
Fish, macroalgae and sea cucumbers grow in the same system: what one level releases, the next one uses. A model that does not yet exist on a commercial scale in Portugal, tested here, in our tidal ponds.
In consortium
- Piscicultura do Vale da LamaCoordinator
- CCMARUniversity of the Algarve
- GreenCoLabCollaborative laboratory
- MAREPolitécnico de Leiria
May 2025April 2028
StartCompletion
- Period
- May 2025 to April 2028
- Total investment
- €1,488,354
- Coordination
- Piscicultura do Vale da Lama
- Programmes
- COMPETE 2030, Centro 2030 and Algarve 2030
How it works
Multi-trophic aquaculture, explained.
Multi-trophic means several levels of the food chain in the same system. Instead of producing a single species, we bring together species that complement each other: what one leaves in the water, another makes use of.
- 01
Fish Sparus aurata
Sea bream is still raised in the tidal ponds, as it always has been. What it releases into the water, dissolved nutrients and organic matter, is no longer waste and instead feeds the next levels.
- 02
Macroalgae Ulva
Sea lettuce grows on the nutrients dissolved in the water. By taking them up, it helps keep the water in the tidal ponds in better condition.
- 03
Sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis
A native species that lives on the bottom and feeds on the organic matter that settles there. It makes use of what was once lost and has high economic value.
Aquadiversify objectives
What we aim to demonstrate.
Early work by MARE in our tidal ponds indicates that, in a multi-trophic system, sea cucumber can grow up to three times faster than in monoculture.
02
Better water quality
Use algae and sea cucumbers to make use of nutrients and organic matter.
03
Protect the habitat
Help reduce acidification in the environment where the fish grow.
04
Economic viability
Prove that the model works on a commercial scale, in a real business.
In the tidal ponds and in the lab
Research, up close.
Trial tanks, seaweed and sea cucumbers: the project’s work happens here, alongside production. Drag to see more.
Who is behind the project
A consortium between the Ria and science.
Four organisations, each with its own role. Production provides the real-world setting, science provides the method.
- Coordination
Piscicultura do Vale da Lama
Coordinates the project and provides the tidal ponds, where the system is tested under real production conditions.
- CCMAR
University of the Algarve
The Centre of Marine Sciences of the Algarve takes part through its Marine Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology group.
- MARE
Politécnico de Leiria
Researches the growth and production potential of sea cucumber in the tidal ponds.
- GreenCoLab
Collaborative laboratory
Dedicated to algae and blue biotechnology.
Transparency
Project documents.
Aquadiversify is co-funded by European funds. Here you will find the operation sheets and the published deliverables.
Another project
Partnerships and research
Would you like to know more about our projects?
Get in touch. We’d be delighted to share what we are learning in the tidal ponds.
Call to a Portuguese mobile number