Theme 4: marine biological resources/fishing and fish farming

The PISCEnLIT project is set within a global context where fishing is reaching its maximum limits, while aquaculture, currently matching catches at sea in terms of production levels, is seeing essential development compromised by environmental and social problems. PISCEnLIT will use the principles of ecology to intensify fish farming activities, while ensuring that these are better integrated into the surrounding area. The aim is to improve production quality and efficiency by respecting the contribution made by ecosystems.

The project will adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the issue, taking into account technical, biological, social, organisational, environmental and economic considerations. Four areas have been identified for researching the diversity of fish farming production systems and the ecosystems in which they operate. These cover fish farming ponds and closed circuit fish breeding systems in France, integrated farming ponds in Brazil and Pangasius farming in Indonesia.

PISCEnLIT will identify the conditions required for establishing efficient fish and shellfish farming by basing its work partly on lifecycle analysis, that is quantifying materials and resources (foodstuffs, facilities, work, etc.) and energy used, as well as pollution emitted (greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and nitrogen and phosphorus into the water) by fish farming systems. It will also look at and evaluate other functions of fish farming systems that go beyond basic production – recycling, purification, employment, developing by-products, etc.

The project’s scope and originality lie in the way it encompasses apparently contradictory objectives: the development of fish and shellfish farming activities in response to humanity’s growing need for food and an acknowledgement at the same time of today’s obligation to respect ecological, environmental and social norms in order to develop these activities in a sustainable way. Provided that the methods recommended are accepted for regulated implementation by breeders, relevant institutions and the profession as a whole, PISCEnLIT could ultimately lead to technological innovations and suggestions for future economic development within the industry.

PISCENLIT project partners

Research centres

• INRA, INRA joint research unit (UMR) Agrocampus Ouest - 'Soil, agro-hydrosystems and spatial modelling', Rennes, project director

• CIRAD, research unit – ‘Aquaculture and Aquatic Resource Management’, Centre de coopération en recherche agronomique pour le développement (Centre for Agricultural Research for Development) Montpellier

• IRD, Caviar Research Unit, Montpellier

• IFREMER, Department for ‘Biology of Farmed and Harvested Marine Organisms’, Languedoc Roussillon aquaculture lab, Palavas les Flots experimental station

• LAMETA, Theoretical and Applied Economics Lab, Montpellier

• Research Unit - 'Animal and animal product uses, Nancy

• ITAVI, Institut Technique de l'Aviculture / service technique Aquaculture (Institute of Poultry Breeding/Aquaculture Technical Department), Paris

Contact

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The PISCEnLIT project is funded by the French research agency (ANR) SYSTERRA 2009 Programme and recognised by the Pôle Mer Bretagne.