Title:
Increasing Aquaculture Sustainability Using Sponges (IASUS)
Duration:
1 year and 9 months (February 2025 – October 2026)
Project Partners:
Seawave Fisheries Ltd.,
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Funded by:
Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF)
Project Description:
Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest-growing food production systems. While captured fisheries have stagnated, marine aquaculture (mariculture), provides a promising source of food security, with some estimates predicting that mariculture could replace current fisheries output using only 0.015% of the ocean’s surface. Even though Cypriot aquaculture has been growing by 5-6% annually over the past few decades, its mariculture sector remains relatively small and undiversified within the EU. Aquaculture practices raise important sustainability concerns and can have adverse environmental impacts, such as habitat degradation, water pollution, and resource depletion. However, several innovations have been developed to address these challenges, including the use of eco-friendly feeds, advanced waste management techniques, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems.
IMTA systems are widely used in Asia but have only recently gained significant traction in Europe. In the Mediterranean, a range of species have been tested in IMTA, such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sponges, molluscs, algae, and other invertebrates with various levels of success. Currently, IMTA commercial applications exist mainly in Western and Northern European marine waters while IMTA in eastern Europe is limited.
Building on our prior knowledge and addressing gaps identified in previous EU projects, IASUS aims to advance Cypriot aquaculture by incorporating sponges into IMTA systems with European seabass and gilthead seabream. Various designs will be tested to investigate the growth potential of sponge species near fish farms, their natural biofiltration capabilities that improve water quality, and their ability to produce valuable bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical applications. To achieve this the project will focus on increasing collaboration between academia and industry and building the capacity of the Cypriot aquaculture sector to adopt sustainable long-term practises, by providing the knowledge and laying the groundwork for their integration in Cyprus.
Specifically, we aim to:
- Bridge knowledge gaps and develop the infrastructure and tools for IMTA adoption while promoting scientific excellence;
- Address national and EU challenges for sustainable development while providing the basis for ensuring their long-term success;
- Increase collaboration between Cypriot and EU entities and lead an EU Horizon Proposal on aquaculture sustainability; and
- Strengthen the capacity of Cypriot R&I entities in leading future collaborative projects with European stakeholders.
The project will prepare Cyprus to lead future collaborative European projects and contributes to the EU’s strategic objectives, including the Blue Growth strategy. IASUS will develop a scalable, sponge-based IMTA model, demonstrating a practical and effective approach to sustainable marine resource management. This model aims to be replicable across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond, creating the foundations for a sustainable aquaculture strategy that promotes economic and environmental sustainability. By the conclusion of IASUS, a validated and effective model for sponge-based IMTA will be established, capable of enhancing marine resource management and serving as a benchmark for future research and sustainable practices within and outside Europe.
