What are the main results of your work in the area of ​​the blue bioeconomy?

In recent years, I have worked primarily on innovative integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) projects, testing different groups of marine invertebrates and macrophytes as extractive species. I have also worked on improving molecular, biochemical, and geochemical tools to help verify the geographical origin of seafood, both to combat fraudulent practices and illegal fishing, and to add value to seafood through origin certification. My most recent challenge is to advance the state of the art in the production of small shrimp-like crustaceans (e.g., amphipods) that can biosynthesize long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a key ingredient for the formulation of marine aquatic feeds, when fed with by-products from plant food processing; this will be a very interesting way to further bridge the gap between blue and green food ecosystems.

A project on blue bioeconomy that you participated in and are proud of

I would probably say the STEP project, in which my colleagues and I from the University of Aveiro managed to bioremediate the effluents from a super-intensive fish farm using nature-based solutions, namely the use of polychaetes (marine worms) and halophytic plants (sea purslane and sea asparagus). The results achieved were remarkable, both in terms of scientific results and benefits for the company promoting the project.

A course, an event, a meeting, a person who impacted and changed or reinforced your ideas/methods/work procedures – good practices

Prof. Wagner Valenti, member of the World Aquaculture Society and senior researcher at the State University of São Paulo, Brazil; one of the kindest people I have ever met and someone I am lucky to call a friend. His vision on what sustainable aquaculture should be like really inspired me to pursue some of the research areas I am currently working in.

How do you imagine the blue bioeconomy in 30 years? Prediction

That’s a tough one… maybe we’ll be eating sashimi made from 3D-printed tuna using cells produced in a bioreactor, instead of from ocean fish or caged fish? Three decades is a long time when you think about how much blue biotechnology has advanced in just 10 years and how it’s driving the blue bioeconomy.

The best thing about working with B2E

Having the opportunity to interact regularly with people from different backgrounds who work in businesses based on the blue bioeconomy. Every conversation is always very enriching.

An idea to improve working with B2E

Promoting think tanks on emerging issues in the blue bioeconomy.

When not working, you are:

Spending time with my children, watching movies and series, and playing Clash Royale (my guilty pleasure…). I hope to resume diving soon and spend more and more time underwater.