Fish and plant research in Spain-Greece for future food security

Spain

Greece

Published Nov 9, 2021

Tridge summary

The field of aquaponics has recently yielded a new plant-fish combination. For the first time, a salinity-tolerant plant commonly known as glasswort, or sea asparagus, has been grown together with flathead gray mullet (Mugil cephalus), an important food fish species found in coastal waters worldwide. The experiment was carried out by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) at its center in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain, as part of the EU-funded NewTechAqua project.

Original content

The system was initially tested with lettuce instead of Salicornia, as the glasswort is also known. "In January 2021, in less than three months, we harvested 90 kg of lettuce. After ensuring the system's smooth operation, in the second phase, we have already grown Salicornia, of which we harvested 250 kg on 18 m2," observed IRTA aquaculture program head Dr. Enric Gisbert in an article posted on "FreshPlaza." "This proves that mullet is a good choice of fish to have an efficient aquaponics model."Salicornia 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 flavor, 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 ...

Source: Phys