Low trophic species, such as molluscs and macroalgae have virtually no input requirements during the grow-out phase and can provide significant environmental and economic benefits. The expansion of low trophic species culture would increase resilience and adaptive capacity, biodiversity and robustness of the European and Atlantic aquaculture industries.
Many of the species studied by AquaVitae have been the focus of previous studies, but have not yet reached their commercial potential. Other species are new and require more research and innovation (e.g. new macroalgae species and sea cucumbers). The project will also integrate these species in multi-trophic aquaculture systems as well as biofloc technology.