Spain: Mullet and Salicornia combine well in aquaponics trial

Frozen Mullet

Spain

Published Nov 11, 2021

Tridge summary

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.

Original content

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 with lettuce instead of Salicornia. “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 programme head Dr Enric Gisbert. “This proves that mullet is a good choice of fish to have an efficient aquaponics model.” “Aquaponics could be an alternative to ...

Source: Thefishsite