Project: Advanced biotechnology for intensive - freshwater aquaculture wastewater reuse

Acronym	ABAWARE (Reference Number: WaterJPI-JC-2016_01)
Duration	01/01/2017
Project Topic	Aquaculture is currently estimated to be the fatest-growing area of food production in the world. Althought development of aquaculture promote food security, this industry must be developed in a responsible and sustainable way. Tradictional aquaculture approaches rely on direct discharge (DD) of the waste effluents into environment and thus have negative environmetal impacts. DD result in the extensive eutrophication of the aquatic environments. Release of biogenic elements (P and N) as well as various organic matters promote development of various fast growing unicelluolar algae (UA). Likely the most dangerous group of UA are cyanobactgeria. Metabolites of cyanobacteria have hepatotoxic, neurotoxic and dermatotoxic effects in human and aquatic species and thus are designated as cyanotoxins. Rapidly dividing cyanobacteria form harmful algal blooms (HABs). The displacement of the natural communities of primary producers by opportunistic HABs species shorten the food chains and thus reduce growth and reproductive rates of the fish species. HABs influence human recreation activities and surface sources of drinking water. Cyanotoxins accumulate in the aquatic organisms and thus poses danger to human consuming contaminated hydrobionts. When an ecosystem bocomes too compromised, the fish farm is simply moved elsewhere and the environmental problems remains. In addition to negative impacts of aquaculture on ecoysstems members of our consortium have identified the role of aquaculture as reservoirs of specific antibiotic resistance directly possessing risks to human health. In this context, the ABAWARE's main objectives are to develop and implement innovative technologies for monitoring of surface and groundwater bodies as well as technologies for effective and integrated water and waste management in freshwater aquaculture sectors. Consortium members will develop and implement advanced research based technical solutions for intensive recirculated aquaculture systems with minimum costs and footprint. In order to measure the effects of our innovative system we will assess and compare the nitrate and phosphorus loads from traditional freshwater aquaculture, evaluate the risks associated with human consumption of contaminated drinking water and aquaculture products produced by traditional means. Obtained data will be used for further optimization and improvement of our innovative technology reducing the risks of eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems, negative impacts on biodiversity and economic sectors. Consortium members will implement a multi-channel communication with the stakeholders, researchers, economcic agents in the aquacultrue field, academics, including students, doctoral students, public and private research institutions, local authorities, government departments and the general public.
Network	WaterWorks2015
Call	2016 JOINT CALL: Sustainable management of water resources in agriculture, forestry and freshwater aquaculture sectors

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	National University of Ireland	Partner	Ireland
1	Norwegian University of Life Sciences	Coordinator	Norway
2	ES Aquaterrra	Partner	Romania
2	Technical University Dresden	Partner	Germany
3	DFR system	Partner	Romania
3	University of Helsinki	Partner	Finland
4	Romanian Academy	Partner	Romania
5	Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences	Partner	Sweden