Mariculture

The object of the research is sustainable mariculture, meaning that culture of organisms which causes less environmental impact and less modifications in the ecosystem. To obtain this, the way for wisely exploiting the natural energy of the environment for sustaining the metabolism of the cultured organisms must be understood.

Research is mainly concentrated on coastal lagoons where one can find the best combination of factors for sustainable mariculture. Special attention is given to extensive finfish culture modelled on the practice of the fishery meres (“valli da pesca”) of the upper Adriatic. An important theme is the defining of the maximum sustainable yield of a paralic ecosystem. This is investigated both as a potential factor by means of indicator species, and as a real factor by sampling the actual fish stocks.

The silverside (Atherina boyeri) merits specific research as a candidate for mariculture due to its commercial value and complete adaptation to the paralic environment. Another significant chapter is mollusc farming. The approach here consists in finding methods with which to foretell the suitable environmental conditions (water, sediment) for on-growing the various species of molluscs. Besides analytical methods, environmental quality is assessed using biotic indicators in nature and in vitro.

Vegetal organisms are studied from two different perspectives: their capacity to purify polluted waters and their ability to synthesize chemicals useful to man. Water depuration using natural vegetation is considered within the context of protecting lagoons from the inflow of polluted freshwater.