The core objective of this project, AquaEtreat, is to develop and provide effective effluent water and waste treatment options, which are economically viable, for professional European aquaculture. This is a sector that is composed predominantly of SMEs in rural and coastal areas and where the security of employment depends on many different aspects of sectoral sustainability.

This objective will be pursued by developing and implementing cost-effective systems for the treatment of aquaculture farm effluent and the valorisation and reuse of the products and by-products. The systems will be designed according to defined parameters and installed in 3 different aquaculture entities. Their efficiency to prevent aquatic  will be verified by the characterisation of water and waste and also of the recipient ecosystem. Finally, the system output products and by-products will be fully characterised, defined and their possible re-use exploited.

The research will be approached through a series of interdisciplinary and interconnected work packages that contribute to the investigation of the different multi-dsciplinary aspects of the project's subject (technological, biological, physiological, ecological, environmental and economic).

Within the project's activities, a pivotal position is occupied by a specific training programme for SME managers, technicians and young researchers; this is to be accompanied by a capillary  plan for the transfer of innovative skills and technology to European farmers.

Systems and strategies will be developed to meet the following objectives:

1. To achieve technological and knowledge-based results that address a common problem within the sector;
2. To strengthen the technological base of the European aquaculture sector;
3. To develop new applications and skills that address and respond to the requirements for the sustainable development of the European aquaculture sector.

EXPECTED RESULTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The main subjects addressed by the RTD elements ofAquEtreat are to provide significant results and applications for economically sustainable water reuse and recycling in aquaculture SMEs.

In the first instance, the impact of fish farming on water quality (resulting from its use) will be defined more exactly. Methods and systems for water recycling will be defined by determining the treatment steps required to prepare the water for recycling This involves identifying appropriate water  equipment, methodologies and filtration practises. The possible reuse of by-products will be determined,targeting the possibility of increasing the economic value of the water treatment process by transforming a waste product into an item of value, compensating partiallythe operating costs.

Specifically, the potential for using treated water in alternative aquaculture processes will be assessed (e.g. the use of waste water for the  of alternative products - algae, aquatic plants, , zoobenthos,other fish - that could be used as for and fish ). Furthermore, the project will assess the possibilities of using the solid materials derived from waste water treatment in the agro-industrial sector (direct or indirect food production for human use) and/or in the pharmaceutics/cosmetic industry.

The dissemination and training activities of the project, which are within the responsibiliities of the FEAP, will result in the training of skilled managers and technical staff of the European aquaculture SMEs in the fields of

• water treatment,
• water reuse,
• by-product valorisation,
• environmental impact of the farming activities.

The European dimension of the FEAP will assure the effective transfer of the knowledge to the professional aquaculture sector.

Finally, the possibility to identify specific intervention points and protocols for water use and the reduction of pollution should permit the definition of Best Management Practises for intensive fish farming that could be implemented within European guidelines and standards.