Advances in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

Dear Colleagues,

In the next 30 years, global aquatic food demand is expected to grow by 30% and meet nearly all increased global demand. To successfully expand aquaculture production, farmers must continually try to meet high sustainability standards expected by the public. In monoculture systems, waste produced from feed species (e.g., fish, shrimp, crabs, abalone, and sea urchins) can also be removed by a combination of assimilatory and dissimilatory processes, mediated by phototrophic and heterotrophic organisms. This modern form of polyculture is called integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), in which phototrophic organisms (e.g., microalgae and macroalgae) and heterotrophic organisms (e.g., filter feeders, detritivores, and bacteria) are intentionally used to remove waste from the system, while concurrently diversifying production. IMTAs can be simple systems that only integrate two organisms or they can be complex systems that integrate three or more multi-trophic-level species including filter feeders and detritivores, in addition to fed species and phototrophic organisms. Sea-based and land-based studies demonstrated that IMTA systems can have great efficiencies in waste reuse and diversified production. Interest in this topic is growing rapidly, and more research publications should be forthcoming.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality research on innovative IMTAs developed in marine or inland waters, including IMTA engineering and modeling, recirculating IMTA systems, the performance (e.g., growth and productivity) of all trophic levels in IMTA systems, the production and remediation efficiencies of IMTA systems, and the biology and farming of low-trophic species suitable for incorporation into IMTA systems (e.g., seaweed, shellfish, and echinoderms). We welcome the submission of original research articles or short communications and reviews.

Dr. Yuanzi Huo
Dr. Michael Chambers
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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