Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture faces a critical gap: current welfare assessments detect problems only after economic losses accumulate. Previous research pursued universal indicators, but aquaculture contexts vary fundamentally. Small family farms differ from industrial operations, and water quality issues present differently than social stress. This project validates three complementary, non-invasive indicators that farms can select based on operational capacity and stressor profiles. We will develop quantified scoring systems for skin darkening, mucus quality, and behavioural synchronization through controlled experiments exposing rainbow trout to graded stressors including progressive crowding, repeated handling, and combined protocols. These indicators respond across different timescales: mucus within hours, behaviour over days, darkening over weeks, enabling early detection before traditional metrics signal welfare compromise. Critically, all require no specialized equipment and integrate into routine farm operations. Deliverables include photographic reference guides, waterproof field scoring cards, and behavioural monitoring protocols with validated thresholds and demonstrated inter-observer reliability. By providing flexible, scientifically rigorous tools accessible to diverse operation scales, the project directly addresses MARINNONET priorities for sustainable, resilient aquaculture while anticipating increasingly stringent European Union (EU) welfare regulations. Protocols will be validated in controlled laboratory conditions with industry stakeholder engagement ensuring practical applicability for immediate post-project farm adoption.
Biotechnology Platform 1: Innovations for an efficient, sustainable, and resilient aquaculture.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: Universidade de Vigo – Marine Research Center (UVigo-CIM) – Functional Biology And Health Sciences PhysToFish Group
Secondary investigator: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) – Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU)
External Innovator: Bio1OneHealth
Our project investigates how the marine dinoflagellate Lepidodinium can affect mussels and the quality of canned mussel products. Although this microalga is non-toxic, it produces large amounts of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), suspected to harm marine fauna. In Galicia, an exceptional bloom in September 2024 was linked to altered organoleptic properties in canned mussels, suggesting that Lepidodinium poses a biological risk with economic implications for the seafood industry. Current monitoring programs target only toxic algae, overlooking harmful non-toxic species like this one.
To address this gap, we will conduct controlled laboratory experiments feeding mussels with Lepidodinium to analyze their ecophysiological, histopathological, and chemical responses. Afterward, the mussels will be canned, and the final products evaluated for sensory quality. By connecting biological changes in mussels to alterations in product characteristics, the project aims to confirm the hypothesis that exposure to this dinoflagellate can modify the sensory attributes of canned mussels and highlight the importance of including non-toxic species in monitoring programs. Scientifically, this study will provide the first evidence that a non-toxic dinoflagellate can compromise seafood quality. Economically and socially, it will help protect the Galician mussel canning industry—processing around 62,500 tons annually—and preserve consumer confidence in high-quality seafood.
Biotechnology Platform 1: Innovations for an efficient, sustainable, and resilient aquaculture.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: Centro Nacional Instituto Español de Oceanografía (CNIEO-CSIC) – Harmful Microalgae and Plankton Ecology (VGOHAB)
Secondary investigator: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) – Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU)
External Innovator: JealsaFoods S.A.U
Teahan Shellfish Ltd, along with other oyster and mussel farmers in Castlemaine Harbour around Cromane, is facing a growing environmental and economic dilemma: continuous buildup of shell waste—estimated at roughly 15 tonnes—accumulating onshore or along foreshore areas. This shell waste, predominantly calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), is currently unused, creating visual blight, potential pollution from decomposing organic residues, and lost value. Without intervention, it imposes costs (handling, removal, regulation) and ecological risk.
Given that Ireland hosts circa 130 oyster farms nationwide producing nearly 9,800 tonnes of marketable oysters annually, shell waste is a systemic issue in Irish aquaculture. In the Cromane / Castlemaine area specifically, licensed shellfish operators include Teahan Partners (AQ 667), Michael Scannell, Castlemaine Harbour Co-operative Society, and Dingle Bay Shellfish Ltd. This cluster of operators presents a critical mass for a locally anchored valorisation intervention.
A funded project would aim to: Characterise and process shell waste for high-value applications (e.g. agricultural lime, soil amendment, calcium supplements, construction aggregate, biopolymers), develop local infrastructure (crushing, cleaning, milling, logistics) to turn “waste” into a continuous feedstock, create regional value chains, job opportunities, and cost savings in waste management and enhance environmental health by removing deposits, reducing odour, preventing shell leachate impacts, and reclaiming coastal aesthetics .
Past projects such as SYMBIOMA have explored oyster shell valorisation in north-west Europe, showing that shells can be converted into value-added products rather than being landfilled, while generating additional income streams. In sum, a funded shell waste valorisation initiative in Cromane would deliver triple benefits: environmental remediation, economic innovation, and community / industry resilience. It transforms an inherited liability into a circular economy asset, securing long-term sustainability for local aquaculture and coastal ecosystem health.
Biotechnology Platform 1: Innovations for an efficient, sustainable, and resilient aquaculture.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: University of Galway – School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Secondary investigator: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) – Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU)
External Innovator: Teahan Shellfish Ltd
AI-BIOdiv aims to evaluate an innovative, low-cost imaging tool, the PlanktoScope, for automated analysis of marine phytoplankton diversity using monthly samples collected in 2026 from two coastal sites. The project builds on existing long-term ecological observations conducted in two contrasting environments: the western English Channel (Roscoff, France) and the Atlantic coast of Galicia (Ría de Vigo, Spain). AI-BIOdiv proposes to assess the potential of automated imaging and AI-assisted classification (via the Ecotaxa platform) as complementary tools to the traditional Utermöhl optical microscopy method, which provides specific abundance data but requires taxonomic expertise. Natural samples (both fresh and fixed) from both sites will be analyzed using the PlanktoScope and calibrated against well-characterized reference cultures. Results will be compared with traditional optical microscopy and automated imaging flow cytometry to validate the new method. To improve method comparability, the technological development of the PlanktoScope is also being considered. The goal of the AI-Biodiv project is to test and validate PlanktoScope’s potential for phytoplankton monitoring. The project combines field and laboratory expertise from the Station Biologique de Roscoff, the CNIEO-CSIC (Vigo), and external innovator FairScope (Brittany, France), the developer of the PlanktoScope.
Biotechnology Platform 2: Omic and observation technologies for preserving marine biodiversity and restore ocean health.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: Sorbonne University – Roscoff Biological Station/ Roscoff Culture Collection
Secondary investigator: Centro Nacional Instituto Español de Oceanografía (CNIEO-CSIC) – Harmful Microalgae and Plankton Ecology (VGOHAB)
External Innovator: FairScope
The ALGAEMAT project harnesses two brown algae, Rugulopteryx okamurae and Bifurcaria bifurcata, to produce sustainable functional materials using a solvent-free, scalable biorefinery. Pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) will recover polysaccharides and associated biomolecules; membrane separations will generate size-defined fractions; and the remaining solid fraction will be used in composites, ensuring full biomass use. Selected extracts will be evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and used to formulate hydrogels, while the solid fraction will be integrated into polymer matrices to create composite materials for other applications. ALGAEMAT addresses the growing demand for bio-based materials that reduce reliance on fossil-derived inputs and supports circular-economy goals through water-based processing and minimal waste. The project will establish operating conditions for PHWE, link composition with bioactivity and material properties, and demonstrate hydrogel and composite specimens derived from brown algae. Outcomes include validated extraction parameters, fractionation routes, and materials-design guidelines that can be transferred to other macroalgae. By advancing sustainable processing and demonstrating multiproduct valorization, ALGAEMAT contributes to Europe’s Blue Bioeconomy and showcases how marine biomass can deliver environmental and economic benefits.
Biotechnology Platform 3: Marine-derived products for industrial applications.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: Universidade de Minho – Biomaterials , Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group
Secondary investigator: Universidade de Vigo
External Innovator: Portomuiños and seaExpert
This transregional collaborative project, linking the Spanish Bank of Algae (BEA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) with the I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics (University of Minho) and an External Innovator company (Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias – ITC), aims to advance the discovery, characterization, and valorization of microalgae- and cyanobacteria-derived exopolysaccharides (EPS). Over a nine-month period, the project will integrate strain selection, optimized cultivation, innovative extraction (including Supercritical Fluid Extraction), purification, and comprehensive biochemical characterization to identify high-value EPS fractions. The bioactivity of these fractions will be evaluated through in vitro assays, while their potential as sustainable biomaterials and biomedical components will be explored through preliminary formulation and material testing. The collaboration leverages BEA’s biodiversity resources and cultivation expertise, I3Bs’ analytical and biomaterials capabilities, and industrial-grade biochemical analysis, ensuring high-quality, reproducible outcomes. The expected impact includes the development of eco-friendly biomaterials, bioactive compounds for healthcare and aquaculture, and a scalable EPS pipeline supporting the circular bioeconomy. By combining complementary expertise across regions, the project demonstrates a timely, innovative, and sustainable approach to unlocking the full potential of microalgae EPS for industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications.
Biotechnology Platform 3: Marine-derived products for industrial applications.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Spanish Bank of Algae (BEA-ULPGC)
Secondary investigator: Universidade de Minho – Biomaterials , Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group
External Innovator: Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias
This project aims to enhance and characterise Palmaria palmata (Maa) to unlock its potential as a sustainable source of natural UV filtering compounds for cosmetics, skincare, and related industries. Using advanced analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry and NMR, we will map Maa’s metabolic pathways, identify key photoprotective metabolites, and develop strategies to optimize their production under controlled cultivation conditions. Understanding these compounds is crucial for producing effective, safe, and eco-friendly UV protective ingredients that reduce reliance on synthetic filters. Our approach integrates chemical ecology with biotechnological innovation, generating insights that are both scientifically significant and industrially relevant for sustainable marine biotechnology
Biotechnology Platform 3: Marine-derived products for industrial applications.
Partners of the consortium
Principal investigator: University of Galway – School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Secondary investigator: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) – Plentzia Marine Station (PiE-UPV/EHU)
External Innovator: Sea & Believe
