Rearing red sea cucumber for use in circular aquaculture

This project aims at understanding the physiology behind reproduction, optimal larval rearing conditions, nutritional requirements and stress, health and welfare of our local Scandinavian sea cucumber Parastichopus tremulus, in order to develop a protocol for sustainable rearing of this species.

Integrated multi trophic aquaculture (IMTA) is a form of aquaculture based on ecosystem principles, where species from different trophic levels (primary producers, filter feeders, carnivores, herbivores and detritivores) are farmed together, and waste produced by one species will benefit another. Sea cucumbers are detritivores, feeding on what falls onto the bottom.

This gives them a key function within IMTA by contributing to closing the nutrient loop. But farming of sea cucumbers also provides biomass with an added value in itself.

Sea cucumber is a highly priced product on the Asian market, mainly utilized as a food item but also as a traditional medicine. Its value is determined by species, size and quality.

The global trade in sea cucumbers means an ever-increasing fishing pressure and today several species worldwide are threatened by overfishing and extinction. There is also a growing interest in fishing for local sea cucumber species in Europe.

The overall aim of this project is therefore to create aquaculture systems that promote a more sustainable production of marine protein from lower trophic levels as well as to protect a local marine species from overfishing.