Researchers eye sea cucumbers as potential fish farming impact solution in Europe

A team of aquaculture researchers is exploring how sea cucumbers might be used to help reduce the environmental impact of fish farming, using techniques already being used in agriculture.Having secured a funding package from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund, and additional support from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), Blue Remediation is conducting a feasibility study that will assess the efficiency of sea cucumbers in absorbing aquaculture biomass.Bioremediation – the process of using living organisms to remove pollutants and toxins – is a method commonly used in agriculture to restore polluted soil. By introducing sea cucumbers, which will feed on fish faeces and excess food, to seafood farms it is hoped they could help to minimize the impact of waste on the seabed.While the approach has already been proven in Asia and Chile, the role of sea cucumbers in Scottish and European aquaculture is yet to be fully tested. As part of the project, the researchers will ...