The University of Alicante (UA) has taken a step forward in the farming of Mediterranean prawns thanks to the work carried out within the framework of the CAMBIA project. For 18 months, under the leadership of biologist Victoria Fernández, researchers from the UA's Departments of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology; Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science; and Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology have advanced in the search for new low-trophic-level species that can coexist with existing ones.

The main species they have worked with is the Mediterranean prawn (Penaeus kerathurus), a crustacean that has garnered significant economic interest in recent years. They have also conducted experiments with marine invertebrates that can be used in aquaculture, either as an auxiliary culture or as feed for other species.

To this end, they have presented more sustainable production models by integrating low trophic level species (algae, mollusks, and other marine organisms) into integrated multi-trophic recirculating aquaculture systems (IMTA-RAS). This system allows the waste of one species to be transformed into a food source for others, optimizing resources and minimizing environmental impact.

Specifically, during the CAMBIA project, the team analyzed the experimental rearing of amphipods (small crustaceans) and polychaetes, a diverse group of marine invertebrate worms, optimizing maintenance conditions, densities, and management protocols in controlled environments. Furthermore, their valorization within the aquaculture production chain makes their use as a resource in shrimp farming possible.

On the other hand, researchers at the University of Alicante (UA) have evaluated the bioremediation capacity of amphipod species such as Elasmopus rapax and the polychaete Platynereis dumerilii, confirming their potential to contribute to the reduction of organic matter, which improves certain water quality parameters in marine facilities.

“The results obtained have allowed us to demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrating extractive organisms into low-environmental-impact aquaculture systems, generating a solid scientific basis for moving towards more efficient and circular production models,” explains the UA biologist.

New Project

Building on the results of the CAMBIA project, the University of Alicante continues its work in this area through the BIOKERAS project, which has just begun and will run until 2028. Together with the University of Murcia, the project leader, and the Murcian Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA) in San Pedro del Pinatar, researchers aim to further advance the cultivation of Mediterranean prawns, with a particular focus on their well-being and health in captivity.

Among the most important aspects of this initiative is achieving successful reproduction by creating optimal lighting, temperature, and feeding conditions. This is crucial for the fishing and aquaculture sector, as "achieving captive production of prawns would offer several advantages from both an economic and environmental perspective," explains the UA researcher.

“In the future, we could obtain Penaeus kerathurus fry for restocking the wild and establish aquaculture companies to supply the market, reducing fishing pressure on wild populations,” Fernández adds. Both the CAMBIA and BIOKERAS projects have the collaboration of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, through the Pleamar Program, and are co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF) of the European Union.