Technology and system component innovations
IMARES is involved in technological innovations for the aquaculture industry. The increasing pressure on the mussel spat harvest in natural waters has stimulated a research program of IMARES focusing on so called MZI’s (mussel spat collection facilities) in estuarine waters and semi-open sea. Other technological advances in the area of shellfish culture are the development of land based hatcheries, the production of inexpensive algae as diets for the grow-out of shellfish on land, and the development of triploid shellfish without genetic modification. The technologies are developed in close collaboration with (inter)national partners
In finfish culture technological advances were achieved in the area of energy consumption (blue label project) and in the culture and reproduction of sole and pikeperch. Other focus areas are the improvement of husbandry systems for aquatic species, such as worms, sea urchins and others.
In the field of system development the momentarily explored extensive culture of marine organisms (fish, worms, shellfish and algae) on-land in earthen ponds in the Dutch climate zone are of great importance.
The technology and system research at IMARES focuses on sustainability improvements of the culture itself, its surrounding system and interactions. Research in technology and system components is therefore closely related with research focusing on welfare, nutrition, bioenergetics, bioeconomics and the other disciplines of IMARES. In several areas, such as the advance of open sea aquaculture IMARES works together with other expertise groups among them TNO, DELTARES, Wageningen University and other national and international partner institutes.