explore suitable sites, combinations of resources, synergies, structural solutions and
their technical, environmental and socio-economic viabilities. The analyses also
included logistics, security, installation, operational, decommissioning and maintenance requirements. The outcome of the development process included different
theoretical platform concepts, designed and specified in great detail based on
simulations and models which were validated by experimental tests of realistic
small-scale models. The developed TROPOS concepts included the so-called
“Sustainable Sevice Hub”, “Leisure Island” and the “Green & Blue” concept. The
latter one, the Green & Blue concept, integrates offshore aquaculture and renewable
energies (Papandroulakis et al. 2014).
12.1.3 Aquaculture in TROPOS
Human population is growing and the demand for seafood is steadily increasing.
Marine organisms are a source of high quality nutrients (proteins, essential fatty
acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) which are fundamental in human nutrition, but are
also an important component in animal feeds and non-food sectors (e.g. cosmetic
products). As the availability of natural resources is limited, an increasing amount
of the demand has to be covered by aquaculture products. Aquaculture is the fastest
growing economic area in the food industry sector and the proportion of the world’s
food fish coming from aquaculture has risen in 2006 to almost half (FAO 2014).
With the increasing demand for seafood the fish-farming industry will have to
continue this trend (Cressey 2009). Accordingly, the integration of aquaculture in
the TROPOS multi-use concepts was of major interest.
The European aquaculture sector has access to dynamic and cutting-edge
research and technologies, advanced equipment and fish feed. Production currently
meets the requirements for environmental protection, and the final products are
traceable and meet high quality standards. The European Aquaculture Technology
and Innovation Platform (EATiP) has set several objectives for the sector to achieve
by 2030. Particularly for the Mediterranean, the target is to increase production by
200%. This production scenario will increase the current production from 230,000
to 690,000 t. To meet this objective, EATiP has defined the development of efficient technologies (such as developed in the scope of TROPOS) to support continued growth as one of its strategic goals.
Considering the expected growth of the aquaculture industry and the market
globalization, the targeted species, regardless of group (i.e. fish, shellfish, algae),
have to shift to those with global distribution and market. The target species should
be a fast growing and well adapted to the environmental conditions offshore and
clear oceanic waters. Among finfish, typical target species are large, fast growing
pelagic and deep demersal species, such as the greater amberjack and the wreckfish;
both species recently became targets for developing innovative and efficient rearing
technologies.
358
N. Papandroulakis et al.
their technical, environmental and socio-economic viabilities. The analyses also
included logistics, security, installation, operational, decommissioning and maintenance requirements. The outcome of the development process included different
theoretical platform concepts, designed and specified in great detail based on
simulations and models which were validated by experimental tests of realistic
small-scale models. The developed TROPOS concepts included the so-called
“Sustainable Sevice Hub”, “Leisure Island” and the “Green & Blue” concept. The
latter one, the Green & Blue concept, integrates offshore aquaculture and renewable
energies (Papandroulakis et al. 2014).
12.1.3 Aquaculture in TROPOS
Human population is growing and the demand for seafood is steadily increasing.
Marine organisms are a source of high quality nutrients (proteins, essential fatty
acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) which are fundamental in human nutrition, but are
also an important component in animal feeds and non-food sectors (e.g. cosmetic
products). As the availability of natural resources is limited, an increasing amount
of the demand has to be covered by aquaculture products. Aquaculture is the fastest
growing economic area in the food industry sector and the proportion of the world’s
food fish coming from aquaculture has risen in 2006 to almost half (FAO 2014).
With the increasing demand for seafood the fish-farming industry will have to
continue this trend (Cressey 2009). Accordingly, the integration of aquaculture in
the TROPOS multi-use concepts was of major interest.
The European aquaculture sector has access to dynamic and cutting-edge
research and technologies, advanced equipment and fish feed. Production currently
meets the requirements for environmental protection, and the final products are
traceable and meet high quality standards. The European Aquaculture Technology
and Innovation Platform (EATiP) has set several objectives for the sector to achieve
by 2030. Particularly for the Mediterranean, the target is to increase production by
200%. This production scenario will increase the current production from 230,000
to 690,000 t. To meet this objective, EATiP has defined the development of efficient technologies (such as developed in the scope of TROPOS) to support continued growth as one of its strategic goals.
Considering the expected growth of the aquaculture industry and the market
globalization, the targeted species, regardless of group (i.e. fish, shellfish, algae),
have to shift to those with global distribution and market. The target species should
be a fast growing and well adapted to the environmental conditions offshore and
clear oceanic waters. Among finfish, typical target species are large, fast growing
pelagic and deep demersal species, such as the greater amberjack and the wreckfish;
both species recently became targets for developing innovative and efficient rearing
technologies.
358
N. Papandroulakis et al.