DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-BASED ROPE PROTOTYPES FOR USE IN MUSSEL AND SEAWEED CULTURE IN AN INTEGRATED MULTI-THROPHIC AQUACULTURE APPROACH

TECHNOLOGY

Aquaculture


Plastic pollution reduction

PREVENTION
Solution Scope:Development of bio-based and/or biodegradable material
Target Contaminant: Plastics
Solution Provider or Contact Point: ITSASKORDA & AZTI
Project: BIOGEARS – Biobased gears as solutions for the creation of an eco-friendly offshore aquaculture sector, in a multitrophic approach, and new biobased value chains
ITS Description: The solution providers have developed prototypes of bio-based ropes that are durable, marketable, fit-for-purpose, and biodegradable in a shorter time compared to traditional non-biodegradable plastic ropes. These were made by using bio-based plastic materials of natural origins, such as plant-produced sugars. They have been produced using current industrial processes and compounds available from commercially available bio-based polymers. These were selected due to durability and functionality. The innovation of the ropes thus comes from their capacity to be both bio-based and capable to be seeded with both mussel juveniles and seaweed (Codim spp) for aquaculture growth. The ITS was therefore developed under an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) approach by integrating seaweed with mussel production. This IMTA approach aims to increase aquaculture marketable products and improve the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Thanks to the sponsoring BIOGEARS project, these prototypes have been tested (since 2022) in the Atlantic Sea basin and under different environmental conditions. Preliminary results already displayed up to a 34% reduction in carbon footprint. The next steps of the solution now include the need for industrial scale-up of the solution.
Correspondence with BMM OIR (sectoral priorities, R&I activities, gaps, needs): The ITS responds to a R&I challenge in developing alternative, bio-degradable materials for prevention of plastic pollution. As suggested by the nature of the sponsoring EU project, the solution addresses multiple technological challenges of the BMM OIR for the Aquaculture sector. Most prominently, it promotes circular aquaculture methods deployed through the use of the IMTA approach including low environmental impact aquaculture practices and the production of low trophic species for alternative, feeding, water reuse and bioremediation. At the same time, the ITS proposes to solve this R&I need by also tackling the minimization of plastic waste by developing sustainable gears.
Source of pictures: https://biogears.eu/; thefishsite.com
Further information: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/featured-projects/biogears_en ; https://biogears.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Deliverable-3.3_Design-and-Development-of-Prototype-1.pdf; https://www.azti.es/en/proyectos/biobased-ropes-mussels-aquaculture/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q2qdLvzD9s
