Spain: Mullet and Salicornia combine well in aquaponics trial

Researchers in Spain claim that growing Salicornia and grey mullet together in an aquaponics system has considerable potential. Salicornia, which is also known as samphire or glasswort, is a fleshy plant that usually grows along the edges of wetlands, marshes, seashores and mudflats, and it is widely distributed across the northern hemisphere. Its high nutritional value makes it a promising candidate in efforts to combat food insecurity. Thanks to its salty flavour, it is currently considered a trendy garnish in gourmet restaurants across Europe. However, in some regions such as Spain’s Ebro Delta, the plant is a protected species, so harvesting it is prohibited. The trial was carried out by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) at its centre in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain, as part of the EU-funded New Technologies, Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative European Aquaculture (NewTechAqua) project. The system was initially tested ...