Circular Low Trophic Aquaculture in Offshore Wind Farms
The new project ULTFARMS aims to revolutionize the application of Low-Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) systems through the integration of novel engineering, technical, ecological, and biological processes to optimize production in harsh offshore conditions, low-salinity environments, and within Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs). This will be achieved through the development of six Low-Trophic Aquaculture Pilots located in offshore wind farms across the North and Baltic Seas. The pilots will cover the entire value chain expertise for LTA production in OWFs and are to be situated in Belwind (Belgium), Borssele (the Netherlands), FINO2, FINO3 (Germany), Anholt and Samsø (Denmark).
Within ULTFARMS, the Marine Ecology and Management team (MARECO) of RBINS leads WP7 ‘Environmental Sustainability Assessment’ and participates in several other tasks, offering its expertise in marine ecology, advisory services about environmental licensing and cumulative effect assessments and management. RBINS will also substantially contribute to the Belgian pilot.
Integrated monitoring and management
ULTFARMS will bring together stakeholders from across the value chains of OWF and LTA to ensure that environmentally sound, low-carbon, and safe LTA products are produced from design to commercialization. New cultivation structures, grow-out systems, and eco-friendly design measures will be advanced through the project. Through integrated monitoring and management platforms such as the HiSea service platform and by drawing on existing open databases and operational forecasting systems such as CMEMS (Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service) and SeaDATANET, the planning and operation of LTAs will be effectively supported through an enhanced technical service.
As such, ULTFARMS will offer scientifically sound services to aquaculture producers for monitoring and minimizing diseases and alien species, managing inputs, optimizing sustainable production, and demand management including risk analysis.
Legacy
The legacy of ULTFARMS will be a profitable, sustainable, and ecological production chain of low-trophic level species, such as seaweed and molluscs, in offshore wind farms located in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the project will share lessons learned and innovations developed through comprehensive communication and dissemination activities, which will be underpinned by the active involvement of five Associate Regions throughout the project.
ULTFARMS is a 42 month project that started on January 1st, 2023, and ends on June 30th, 2026. It is led by Deltares, an independent institute for water and subsurface research based in the Netherlands. The project consortium consists of 25 partners from 9 different countries. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101093888.