More information
Description
Microplastics (MP) in the marine ecosystem is a growing threat to food safety and security. Culture of marine fish with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) may shield them from MP contamination. This project will determine the efficacy of RAS in minimizing MP levels of cultured fish. Marine MP contamination will increase over the foreseeable future with MP already present in the major finfish species harvested for food (2017, FAO Technical paper 615). While MP effects on human health are currently unclear, the European Chemical Agency published a proposal in 2019 restricting MP use. The project MP-RAS will assess the efficacy of the RAS water conditioning system in MP clearance. MP levels of meagre cultured in this system will be compared to those from wild-capture and those cultured in open-sea cages. The outcome will be production of meagre with significantly lower MP tissue levels compared to other commercial sources. This will benefit the producer, SEAentia, by avoiding MP disruption of development and growth thus improving fish yield and quality, as well as giving added value to the fish product by certified low MP content. It will benefit human health by reducing MP intake in an otherwise healthy product. SINTEF will provide expertise for quantification and characterization of MP levels in the culturing system. They will characterize MP origins, including from wear and tear of the RAS components, and determine the efficacy of each component of the RAS water purification system in MP removal. This will aid the development of cleaner RAS technology in both Norway and Portugal. IPMA will provide expertise for characterizing MP levels, as well as potential toxic agents associated with MP such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, in the fish products. This knowledge will provide better assessment of the toxicological burden of MP contamination and will direct more effective and specific interventions for MP clearance in RAS culture.