An IMTA in Greece: Co-Culture of Fish, Bivalves, and Holothurians

Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) is an innovative mariculture methodology that reduces the environmental footprint and increases profitability of farm. It combines cultivation species belonging to different trophic levels, simulating a natural food web. In this study, five Mediterranean were co-cultured in three operating fish farms Aegean (E. Mediterranean) Sea with conditions. The co-cultivated sea bream (Sparus aurata), European bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), rayed pearl oyster (Pinctada imbricata radiata), cucumber (Holothuria polii). Bream, bass, mussels cultivated according traditional on-growing methods (fish cages longlines), whereas oysters cucumbers baskets designed specifically for farms. To estimate growth species, indicators calculated using length weight measurements. Furthermore, measurements from compared respective ones populations. All showed high survival rates integrated Pearl had positive concentrations nutrients. Mussel condition index (CI) was 42% Aquaculture 1 (Aq1) 33% 2 (Aq2), 35% typical CI Aq1 53%, Aq2 56%, 3 (Aq3) 19%, populations ranging 30% 45%. contrast, holothurians did not gain under cage regime despite rate. Their final total 17.3 g Ag1, 8.3 Aq2, 18.3 Aq3, but population, mean 80 g.