Malta, October 7th, 2025 – The BIORAS_SHRIMP project, part-financed by Xjenza Malta through the BlueBio ERA-NET Cofund on Blue Bioeconomy and Xjenza Malta, organised a specialised training course about "Improvement and Innovation of a Bio-secure Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for shrimp and Additional Biomass Circular Production: Theory and Practice" The event took place last September 4 - 5, 2025, at the AquaBioTech Group Research facilities in Mosta and Aquatic Resources Malta’s facilities Għammieri Farm, in Luqa.

The course was designed to enhance knowledge and practical skills for the sustainable and bio-secure management of shrimp culture using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Participants engaged in in-depth theoretical sessions covering the design and management of RAS for shrimp, aquaculture effluent treatment, growth performance metrics, integrated biomass production such as aquaponics and microalgae culture, sludge reuse, and disease prevention strategies. Practical hands-on training followed, with sessions conducted at both AquaBioTech and Aquatic Resources Malta experimental RAS facilities, focusing on shrimp rearing protocols and effluent treatment techniques including coagulation and flocculation tests for sludge thickening.

This intensive two-day course was attended by professionals from the countries engaged in the BIORAS_SHRIMP project consortium: India, Italy, Malta, and Norway. Participation was offered free of charge.

Farming shrimp sustainably in Europe is crucial to provide consumers with safe, traceable, and high-quality seafood while minimizing environmental impacts such as water pollution and ecosystem degradation. The development of sustainable shrimp aquaculture in Europe could support local production, reduces reliance on imports, preserves delicate habitats, and fosters innovation bio-secure, circular production systems that enhance resource efficiency and climate resilience in the blue bioeconomy sector.

The BIORAS_SHRIMP training course represented a step towards greener, circular, and biosecure shrimp aquaculture innovations in Europe.

Contact: Simona Paolacci, AquaBio Tech Group

Email: sip@aquabt.com

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About Blue Bio ERA-NET co-fund: 

The Blue Bio COFUND is the result of a collaboration between JPI Oceans and the former ERA-NETS COFASP and ERA MBT and consists of 27 partners from 16 countries.

The main objective of the COFUND is to establish a coordinated R&D funding scheme that will strengthen Europe’s position in the blue bioeconomy. The first co-funded call launched 17 December 2018. The COFUND partners have committed EUR 23,5 million, which will make up a maximum total budget of EUR 30 million including EUR 6.5 million co-funding from the European Commission.

The goal is to identify new and improve existing ways of bringing bio-based products and services to the market and find new ways of creating value from in the blue bioeconomy. Next to the co-funded call, the COFUND plans to contribute to the national priorities as well as to the strategic research agenda of JPI Oceans, and the ERA-NETs COFASP and MBT.