Feasibility Study on the Use of a Land-Based Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (LB-IMTA) System
Feasibility Study on the Use of a Land-Based Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (LB-IMTA) System in the Treatment of Wastewater Released From a Marine Re-circulated aquaculture SYStem (RAS)
This project aims to improve the operations of the marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). A land-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (LB-IMTA) system capable of treating nutrient-rich water exuded from the shrimp (Penaeus vannamei )culture tanks within the marine RAS was installed in an attempt to reuse water. The purpose of introducing this infrastructure is not only to improve the economic viability for this marine shrimp species, but also attempt to create a stand-alone marine production model capable of being situated irrespective of location to the coast. Macroalgae (Gracilaria sp) and oysters (Crassotrea virginica) were introduced to help clean the wastewater which would then be recirculated into the system. Various key traits of the LB-IMTA system will be noted i.e. feeding efficiency, survival, growth rates of all organisms used in the bio-treatment process.