Enhance your technological senses and dive into another edition of B2E Colab’s “Technological Sonar”! Discover the latest findings and innovations transforming the marine industry. There are new horizons to explore, from the use of Daphnia to reduce eutrophication and nourish fish, to the creation of “virtual twins” of aquaculture farms, driven by genetic models. Also, pay attention to the incredible octopus hatchery discovered in Costa Rica. Furthermore, delve into the world of mussels: a revolutionary genetic chip has been created to identify their geographic origin. Marine biotechnology also brings advancements, such as the use of seaweed extracts to improve cardiovascular health.

AQUACULTURE

Will it be possible to use Daphnia for aquaculture effluent remediation and concomitant use in fish nutrition?

New research from Denmark suggests that the species *Daphnia magna* – a type of Daphnia – may have the potential to reduce eutrophication in recirculating aquaculture systems while providing a suitable food source for fish larvae. The research team used a combined approach, employing microalgae for bioremediation of recirculated water and bio-harvesting these algae by zooplankton to maximize resource recovery, with zooplankton being a suitable live food source, especially for fish larvae. While using microalgae to extract excess nutrients from recirculating aquaculture facilities is not a new technique, the challenge of this approach lies in harvesting the algae after growth. The researchers overcame this challenge by exploiting the natural behavior of Daphnia, which feeds on the algal community and can then be easily harvested with sieves. The results showed that after bio-harvesting the algae, all the excess phosphorus and 90% of the excess nitrogen had been assimilated by Daphnia.

TheFishSite
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How “virtual twins” can take aquaculture to the next level

PhD candidate Jessica Hintzsche, from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at the University of Queensland, is using software to virtually model the genetic tools available for perch farming, in collaboration with James Cook University and the MainStream Aquaculture Group. “We are creating the virtual twin of the aquaculture facility – a three-dimensional digital replica of the real world to allow us to run simulations,” Hintzsche explained in a university press release. “The advantage of a digital twin is that we can test the impact of different genomic, breeding and production technologies – such as parental selection and harvesting options – before they are implemented in the aquaculture facility. This would allow producers to make decisions on how to manage their business to the next level with healthy fish populations,” she added.

TheFishSite
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Innovatively Cultivated Oysters Supplement Wild Stocks in Chesapeake Bay

Solar Oysters, which produces the bivalves using a unique solar-powered system, the Solar Oyster Production System (SOPS), has placed a second batch of juvenile oysters on an expanding restoration reef off Fort Carroll, south of Baltimore. Solar Oysters claims that survival rates above 90% have been consistently observed in its system. This system uses clean energy through solar panels installed on rooftops to rotate oyster cages vertically through the water column. This way, the oysters have access to more abundant food sources and exposure to sunlight when they are out of the water, reducing fouling.

TheFishSite
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Sea Lice and Predatory Stress: Science Has a Solution

Research has linked increased sea lice attachment to elevated levels of plasma cortisol, a hormone produced by fish in response to stress. Stressed fish are not only more susceptible to sea lice attachment, but they actually attract them. GenusWave, an innovative technology company serving the aquaculture industry, has developed advanced solutions to seemingly impossible problems, such as Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST), which prevents predation and stress caused by predatory seals. By reducing stress, sea lice infestation levels also decrease. Based on recent research, TAST has the potential to significantly mitigate sea lice infestation in salmon aquaculture.

Fish Farmer
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LIVING MARINE RESOURCES

Researchers discover new octopus nursery on the seabed off Costa Rica

An international team of scientists has discovered a new, deep-sea octopus nursery in a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the coast of Costa Rica. The discovery of the discovery of a new active octopus nursery raises the number of known octopus nurseries in the world to three. The team also proved that the first known aggregation of deep-sea octopuses, the Dorado Outcrop, is an active nursery. “The discovery of a new active octopus nursery more than 2,800 meters below the sea surface in Costa Rican waters proves that there is still much to learn about our ocean,” said Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “The deep sea off Costa Rica surpasses the limits of human imagination, with spectacular images collected by the ROV SuBastian of tripod fish, octopus hatchlings, and coral gardens.”

Green Savers
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MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY

AZTI and USC create a genetic chip to authenticate the Galician mussel

This tool, developed within the Seatraces framework, revolutionizes the identification of the Galician mussel with its innovative genetic chip. A study led by the AZTI technology center, within the framework of the European SEATRACES project, has developed a genetic method that allows for highly accurate identification of the geographic origin of mussels. This research is of great importance for improving aquaculture management, preventing food fraud, and ensuring the traceability of these mollusks. Through sequencing techniques and genetic analysis, researchers identified 17 specific markers that allowed them to distinguish the geographic origin of mussels with high precision. Based on these markers, AZTI researchers collaborated with colleagues from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) in the development of a Genetic Chip containing the genetic makeup of the Mediterranean mussel species.

Mis Peces
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HYPERTENSION-LIFTING AGENT CONTAINING SEAWEED EXTRACT, AND FUNCTIONAL FOOD, QUASIMEDICINE AND MEDICINE CONTAINING THE HYPERTENSION-LIFTING AGENT

This invention relates to a hypertension-lifting agent containing a seaweed extract (e.g., Fucus sp.) in a smaller quantity compared to a predefined quantity of seaweed extract to achieve a blood pressure-lifting effect, and yet still exhibit an equivalent effect. This invention also comprises a functional food, a quasimedicine, and a medicine, each containing the hypertension-lifting agent. The hypertension-lifting agent contains a seaweed extract and an auxiliary composition that enhances the effect of the seaweed extract on blood pressure. The auxiliary composition comprises a trace element and a processed insoluble dietary fiber. The functional food, the quasimedicine, and the medicine contain the aforementioned hypertension-lifting agent.

Espacenet
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