New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 28985

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Interests: Porifera taxonomy and biology; biodiversity; macrobenthos; marine alien species; filter-feeder invertebrates; marine bioremediation; sponge rearing and translocation; restocking techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Interests: marine alien species; structural and functional marine biodiversity; conservation biology; marine biocostructions; marine fouling; marine invertebrate rearing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The recent, rapid spread of mariculture requires the development of new approaches aimed at measuring, controlling, and reducing the impact of this activity in the marine environment.

Mariculture produces high levels of waste (feces, food residues, metabolites, etc.) that could cause strong environmental imbalances with negative consequences for the surrounding environment, both in the water column and, especially, at the seabed level, harbouring soft- and hard-substrate communities.

In this context and from a circular economy perspective, the multi-trophic polyculture of fishes with organisms with extractive capabilities has considerable environmental and social potential, especially if species (invertebrates and/or algae) with potentially high commercial value are co-cultured.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to bring together contributions on biologically and ecologically oriented methodologies and approaches to measure, control, and minimize the potential impacts of marine aquaculture.

In particular, topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Bioremediation
  • Zooremediation
  • Integrated multitrophic aquaculture
  • Innovative solutions for sustainable aquaculture
  • Effects on aquatic communities
  • New productions in aquaculture
  • Dissemination and community awareness.

Prof. Dr. Caterina Longo
Dr. Cataldo Pierri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Sustainable aquaculture
  • Bioremediation
  • Zooremediation
  • Integrated multitrophic aquaculture
  • Filter-feeder invertebrates
  • Rearing performance
  • Autochthonous communities

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 190 KiB  
Editorial
New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture
by Caterina Longo and Cataldo Pierri
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(8), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081531 - 31 Jul 2023
Viewed by 593
Abstract
The strong growth of the aquaculture industry can represent a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and requires the development of new strategies to control and minimize the impact of such activities on the structure and function of biological communities [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)

Research

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9 pages, 1411 KiB  
Communication
Perspectives for Exploitation of Sabella spallanzanii’s Biomass as a New Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) By-Product: Feeding Trial on Amphiprion ocellaris Using Sabella Meal
by Daniele Arduini, Claudio Calabrese, Jacopo Borghese, Stefania De Domenico, Matteo Putignano, Andrea Toso, Cinzia Gravili and Adriana Giangrande
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11010123 - 06 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1404
Abstract
This paper is part of a series of studies aimed at understanding the potential exploitation of the biomass of the polychaete worm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791), which is obtained as a by-product of an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. IMTA systems are [...] Read more.
This paper is part of a series of studies aimed at understanding the potential exploitation of the biomass of the polychaete worm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791), which is obtained as a by-product of an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. IMTA systems are designed according to an ecosystem approach with the aim to reduce marine monoculture impact while further increasing production via exploitation of valuable by-products. S. spallanzanii can remove large amounts of suspended matter by filtering large volumes of water per hour and performs well as an extractive organism under IMTA; however, it currently lacks any economic value, thus hindering its sustainable large-scale implementation. However, S. spallazanii has the potential to become competitive as a newcomer in fish bait, as an ornamental organism, and in fish feed markets. Notably, sabella meal has already been successfully tested as an attractant in an innovative fish feed. Here, we refer to the use of sabella meal as the main component (60%) in the formulation of a novel aquarium fish feed. Following the biochemical analysis of farmed sabella meal, the experimental feed was formulated by adding spirulina (25%) and dry garlic (15%) in such proportion as to be isoproteic and isoenergetic to the commercial control feed. After preliminary observations of the palatability of sabella meal for several tropical fish species, the novel experimental feed was tested on ocellaris clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier, 1830), by evaluating their growth response in a 70-day feeding trial. The fish seemed to enjoy the experimental feed at least as much as the control, and both the control and treatment groups showed no significant differences in weight gain (p = 0.46), specific growth rate (p = 0.76), and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.48), reinforcing the suitability of S. spallanzanii as a viable source of animal proteins to be employed in the fish feed industry in a circular economy perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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16 pages, 3090 KiB  
Article
Acoustic Delicing of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Fish Welfare and Salmon Lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) Dynamics
by Bibbi Maria Kállay Hjelle, Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson Imsland, Pablo Vigo Balseiro and Sigurd Olav Handeland
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(8), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10081004 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2051
Abstract
Acoustic lice treatment (AcuLice) is a newly developed system, which uses a composite acoustic sound image with low-frequency sound to remove salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). This field study documents the stress effects on Atlantic [...] Read more.
Acoustic lice treatment (AcuLice) is a newly developed system, which uses a composite acoustic sound image with low-frequency sound to remove salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). This field study documents the stress effects on Atlantic salmon and the effect on salmon lice dynamics during large-scale use of the AcuLice system. The effect of the AcuLice treatment on salmon lice dynamics was measured by weekly salmon lice counting at the facilities from mid-summer 2019 to late-spring 2020. The number of salmon lice treatments in the same period was also compared to a reference group. In addition, the number of weeks until the first salmon lice treatment (mechanical treatment) was compared between the two groups. Apart from a slight increase in plasma glucose, no significant differences were observed in the primary, secondary, or tertiary stress responses measured. For the mature female salmon lice, a significantly lower number (mean ± SEM) was shown for the AcuLice group (0.24 ± 0.03) compared to the reference group (0.44 ± 0.04). In addition, a lower number (mean ± SEM) of salmon lice treatments and a longer production period before the first salmon lice treatment occurred was observed at the AcuLice facilities (33.2 ± 3 weeks) compared to the reference facilities (20.3 ± 2 weeks). These data suggest that the use of the AcuLice system reduces the need for traditional salmon lice treatments with no added stress to the fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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13 pages, 851 KiB  
Article
Bioremediation Capabilities of Hymeniacidon perlevis (Porifera, Demospongiae) in a Land-Based Experimental Fish Farm
by Caterina Longo, Cataldo Pierri, Maria Mercurio, Roberta Trani, Frine Cardone, Pierluigi Carbonara, Sébastien Alfonso and Loredana Stabili
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(7), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10070874 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1931
Abstract
The expansion of aquaculture practices in coastal areas can alter the balance of microbial communities in nearby marine ecosystems with negative impacts on both farmed and natural species, as well as on human health through their consumption. Among marine filter-feeder invertebrates, poriferans are [...] Read more.
The expansion of aquaculture practices in coastal areas can alter the balance of microbial communities in nearby marine ecosystems with negative impacts on both farmed and natural species, as well as on human health through their consumption. Among marine filter-feeder invertebrates, poriferans are known as effective microbial bioremediators, even though they are currently still underutilized in association with fish mariculture plants. In this study, we investigate the microbial bioremediation capability of the demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis in an experimental land-based fish farm where this species occurred consistently in the drainage conduit of the wastewater. Microbiological analyses of cultivable vibrios, total culturable bacteria (37 °C), fecal and total coliforms, and fecal enterococci were carried out on the fish farm wastewater in two sampling periods: autumn and spring. The results showed that H. perlevis is able to filter and remove all the considered bacterial groups from the wastewater, including human potential pathogens, in both sampling periods. This finding sustains the hypothesis of H. perlevis use as a bioremediator in land-based aquaculture plants as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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16 pages, 5023 KiB  
Article
Detection and Statistics of Offshore Aquaculture Rafts in Coastal Waters
by Chen Zhou, Kapo Wong, Jin Yeu Tsou and Yuanzhi Zhang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(6), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10060781 - 05 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1992
Abstract
Offshore aquaculture is critical for a marine fishery economy. The spatial distribution of aquaculture that characterizes it plays a vital role in the sustainable development of marine resources and the protection of the marine environment. In recent years, China’s aquaculture has developed rapidly; [...] Read more.
Offshore aquaculture is critical for a marine fishery economy. The spatial distribution of aquaculture that characterizes it plays a vital role in the sustainable development of marine resources and the protection of the marine environment. In recent years, China’s aquaculture has developed rapidly; specifically, the scale of aquaculture has dramatically expanded, and large-scale aquaculture has gradually grown in popularity. Although high-resolution satellite data can accurately extract aquaculture areas, the extraction of a large area of the sea area requires a copious amount of data. In contrast, medium-resolution satellite images allow for the extraction of aquaculture areas from large sea areas with a smaller amount of data, offering significant advantages. Therefore, we used Landsat8 satellite data to extract and count the number of aquaculture rafts based on the Hough transform and Canny edge detection methods. We tested the accuracy of this method by selecting Haizhou Bay as the study area for the experiment and accuracy verification and found that the automatic extraction accuracy for the number of aquaculture rafts was more than 90%. Additionally, we calculated statistics on the number of aquaculture rafts in Haizhou Bay over the past seven years. The findings presented in this paper offer a significant reference value for local marine utilization, marine environment protection, and marine disaster prevention and mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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15 pages, 1344 KiB  
Article
Valorization Use of Amphipod Meal, Gammarus pulex, as a Fishmeal Substitute on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Histological and Histometric Indices of the Gut, and Economic Revenue of Grey Mullet
by Mohamed Ashour, Hamdy A. Abo-Taleb, Abdel-Kader M. Hassan, Othman F. Abdelzaher, Mohamed M. Mabrouk, Mohamed A. Elokaby, Othman M. Alzahrani, Samy F. Mahmoud, Mohamed M. M. El-feky, Walaa M. Shaban and Abdallah Tageldein Mansour
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121336 - 27 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2664
Abstract
The future of aquaculture development is directed toward high intensification to overcome the decline in natural fishing and to provide enough protein for the increasing world population. The spread of aquaculture production and intensification requires the search for high-quality, new efficient feed ingredients [...] Read more.
The future of aquaculture development is directed toward high intensification to overcome the decline in natural fishing and to provide enough protein for the increasing world population. The spread of aquaculture production and intensification requires the search for high-quality, new efficient feed ingredients with low cost and sustainable importance. Therefore, the current study aimed to detect the effects of partial or total replacement of fishmeal with amphipod meal, Gammarus pulex, on growth performance, survival percent, feed utilization, histological alteration of intestine and liver, and economic yield of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, fry. Five diets were formulated to contain 100% fishmeal (FM), or FM replaced with 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% amphipod meal (APM) (D0, D25, D50, D75, and D100, respectively). A total of 300 grey mullet fry (0.097 ± 0.001 g), were divided into five groups (three replicates each) at an initial stocking density of 20 fry per aquaria (100 L). The aquarium’s water is renewed at a rate of 30% daily. During a 60-day experimental period, the feeding rate was 20% of body weight, which was introduced as five meals per day. Fish fed D50 achieved the highest significant values of final weight (1.80 g), weight gain (1.70 g), survival (86.67%), final length (4.47 cm), and length gain (2.06 cm). In addition, the feed utilization of diets containing increasing substitution levels of FM showed that the highest protein intake (0.82 g ish−1), protein efficiency ratio (0.83), protein productive value (30.65%), and the lowest significant feed conversion ratio (1.21) were recorded with D50. The dose-response study revealed that the best substitution levels could range between 50% and 75%. Histological observations confirmed that the highest number of goblet cells and intestinal villi were recorded in the group fed D50. No pathological effect was observed in the liver at all substitution levels. In terms of economic efficiency, the best economic conversion ratio was recorded in the group fed D50. This study confirmed that 50% partial substitution of FM with APM is the ideal replacement level for grey mullet fry. In addition, the use of a new renewable alternative, such as APM to substitute FM, could relieve the pressure on the capture of wild fish and reduce the environmental impact of inland aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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9 pages, 9956 KiB  
Article
Gonadal Development of Females of the White Shrimp Penaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1936) Caught in Southeastern Brazil
by Roberta Cardozo P. Garcia, Cecília Fernanda F. Craveiro, Caroline V. Bernabé, Maria Aparecida Silva, Paulo Henrique R. Aride, Adriano T. Oliveira, Flávia Regina S. C. Gonçalves, Jones S. Neto, Henrique D. Lavander and Caterina Faggio
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(6), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060653 - 13 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3220
Abstract
This study describes the reproductive cell development and ovarian developmental stages, and identifies the nongerminal components of white shrimp (Penaeus schmitti) caught off the southern coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil. P. schmitti specimens were collected monthly from March 2019 to February [...] Read more.
This study describes the reproductive cell development and ovarian developmental stages, and identifies the nongerminal components of white shrimp (Penaeus schmitti) caught off the southern coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil. P. schmitti specimens were collected monthly from March 2019 to February 2020, by artisanal fishing. All shrimps were analyzed macroscopically (n = 181) and females were randomly selected monthly (n = 154) for ovarian histological analysis. The ovaries were extracted for visual analysis and then submitted to histological analysis. Macroscopic analysis determined five stages of gonadal development from the color and turgidity of the fresh ovary. Histological observations allowed us to observe five stages of gonadal development: immature, initial development, advanced development, mature and spawning. This information are fundamental for understanding the reproductive aspects of P. schmitti, as well as other penaeid shrimps, in order to promote preservation of natural stocks and provide information to assist in the development of the reproductive potential of native species in captivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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16 pages, 2902 KiB  
Article
Filtering Activity and Nutrient Release by the Keratose Sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus Schmidt, 1862 (Porifera, Demospongiae) at the Laboratory Scale
by Roberta Trani, Giuseppe Corriero, Maria Concetta de Pinto, Maria Mercurio, Carlo Pazzani, Cataldo Pierri, Maria Scrascia and Caterina Longo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9020178 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3024
Abstract
Sponges are an important constituent of filter-feeder benthic communities, characterized by high ecological plasticity and abundance. Free bacteria constitute an important quota of their diet, making them excellent candidates in aquaculture microbial bioremediation, where bacteria can be a serious problem. Although there are [...] Read more.
Sponges are an important constituent of filter-feeder benthic communities, characterized by high ecological plasticity and abundance. Free bacteria constitute an important quota of their diet, making them excellent candidates in aquaculture microbial bioremediation, where bacteria can be a serious problem. Although there are studies on this topic, certain promising species are still under investigation. Here we report applied microbiological research on the filtering activity of Sarcotragus spinosulus on two different concentrations of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a laboratory experiment. To evaluate the effects of the filtration on the surrounding nutrient load, the release of ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate was also measured. The results obtained showed the efficient filtration capability of S. spinosulus as able to reduce the Vibrio load with a maximum retention efficiency of 99.72% and 99.35% at higher and lower Vibrio concentrations, respectively, and remarkable values of clearance rates (average maximum value 45.0 ± 4.1 mL h−1 g DW−1) at the highest Vibrio concentration tested. The nutrient release measured showed low values for each considered nutrient category at less than 1 mg L−1 for ammonium and phosphate and less than 5 mg L−1 for nitrate. The filtering activity and nutrient release by S. spinosulus suggest that this species represents a promising candidate in microbial bioremediation, showing an efficient capability in removing V. parahaemolyticus from seawater with a contribution to the nutrient load. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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23 pages, 1445 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effects of the Enriched-Organic Diets Composition on European Sea Bass Welfare through a Multi-Parametric Approach
by Pierluigi Carbonara, Walter Zupa, Isabella Bitetto, Sébastien Alfonso, Mariano Dara and Matteo Cammarata
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(11), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8110934 - 17 Nov 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2589
Abstract
Three groups of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fed for seven months, with either a conventional diet or two different organic diets, which contain organic vegetables and a natural antioxidant compound. The two organic diets differed themselves in terms of [...] Read more.
Three groups of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were fed for seven months, with either a conventional diet or two different organic diets, which contain organic vegetables and a natural antioxidant compound. The two organic diets differed themselves in terms of raw proteins, fish oil, and lipid contents. Sea bass welfare condition was assessed in relation to these three diets, using 16 different indicators. These were: swimming activity (recovery test, muscle activity), haematological and serological stress indicators (haematocrit, haemoglobin, red-blood-cell count, cortisol, glucose, lactate), aspecific immunity parameter (lysozyme), indicators of exposure to organic contaminants (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and glutathione-S-transferase), and growth parameters (weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and hepato-somatic index). Most of these parameters individually did not give consistent responses, but their integration can provide an accurate evaluation of the fish welfare conditions among the three diet experimental groups. The multiparametric approach outlined a comprehensive picture of sea bass physiological state. The principal component analysis and the multi-criteria-decision-analysis were found to be useful tools for an integrated fish welfare assessment, highlighting that the best welfare condition was achieved in the experimental group fed with the protein-rich organic diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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24 pages, 15336 KiB  
Article
An Innovative IMTA System: Polychaetes, Sponges and Macroalgae Co-Cultured in a Southern Italian In-Shore Mariculture Plant (Ionian Sea)
by Adriana Giangrande, Cataldo Pierri, Daniele Arduini, Jacopo Borghese, Margherita Licciano, Roberta Trani, Giuseppe Corriero, Grazia Basile, Ester Cecere, Antonella Petrocelli, Loredana Stabili and Caterina Longo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(10), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8100733 - 23 Sep 2020
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4372
Abstract
In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was [...] Read more.
In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was realized at a preindustrial level in the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy, northern Ionian Sea), within the framework of the EU Remedia Life project. Long lines containing different collector typologies were placed around the fish breeding cages. Vertical collectors were utilized for both polychaetes and sponges, whilst macroalgae were cultivated in horizontal collectors. Data on the growth and mortality of the target species after the first year of rearing and cultivation are given together with their biomass estimation. Polychaete biomass was obtained from natural settlement on ropes previously hung in the system, while sponges and macroalgae were derived from explants and/or inocules inserted in the collectors. The description of the successional pattern occurring on collectors used for settling until reaching a “stable” point is also described, with indications of additional filter feeder macroinvertebrates other than polychaetes and sponges that are easily obtainable and useful in the system as bioremediators as well. The results demonstrate an easy, natural obtaining of large biomass of sabellid polychaetes settling especially from about a 4 to 10 m depth. Sponges and macroalgae need to be periodically cleaned from the fouling covering. The macroalgae cycle was different from that of invertebrates and requires the cultivation of two different species with about a 6-month cycle for each one. The present study represents one of the first attempts at IMTA in the Mediterranean area where invertebrates and macroalgae are co-cultured in an inshore fish farm. Possible utilization of the produced biomass is also suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

18 pages, 3356 KiB  
Review
Sponges as Emerging By-Product of Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
by Joseba Aguilo-Arce, Pere Ferriol, Roberta Trani, Patrizia Puthod, Cataldo Pierri and Caterina Longo
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11010080 - 03 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2848
Abstract
The use of marine sponges dates back thousands of years, and interest in these animals is increasing as new applications are discovered. Their potential is extensive, both in their ancient and still popular use as bath sponges for cosmetics and regarding the more [...] Read more.
The use of marine sponges dates back thousands of years, and interest in these animals is increasing as new applications are discovered. Their potential is extensive, both in their ancient and still popular use as bath sponges for cosmetics and regarding the more recent discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites mainly of interest for the pharmaceutical industry and the less developed aquariology. Despite their proven biofiltration and ecosystem restoration ability and the biomass supply problem for the interested industries, few integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems incorporate these invertebrates in their facilities. Therefore, in this brief review, the benefits that marine sponges could bring to rapidly growing IMTA systems are summarized, highlighting their suitability for a circular blue economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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