Scientists plan lunar aquaculture breakthrough
Can sea bass be farmed on the Moon? Groundbreaking aquaculture project says yes.
A French-led initiative called Lunar Hatch is exploring how sea bass might be farmed in space to feed astronauts on long-term missions to the Moon – and potentially Mars.
According to The Guardian, the project is being spearheaded by Dr Cyrille Przybyla, a marine biologist at France’s national ocean research institute, Ifremer. The concept involves sending fertilised sea bass eggs into space, where they would hatch en route to the International Space Station (ISS).
Initial trials have shown that the embryos can survive the intense vibrations of launch and endure the stresses of space travel, including cosmic radiation and changes in gravity. The long-term goal is to establish closed-loop aquaculture systems on the Moon using polar ice as a water source and recycling all outputs to sustain life.
The Lunar Hatch team has devised a circular system in which sea bass waste nourishes shrimp and worms, which in turn become fish feed. Wastewater could be used to grow microalgae and feed other filter organisms like bivalves.
Though the project is still Earth-bound, researchers are ready to move to the next phase – a real space mission. Backed by CNES (the French space agency), Lunar Hatch is awaiting the opportunity to collaborate with NASA or other international partners.
This innovation could also benefit remote communities on Earth, offering a sustainable protein source where conventional farming is not viable.
