ECODESIGN OF SHELLFISH FARMING

The general objective of the project is to improve the management of the initial and final phases of the entire shellfish production cycle, from cradle to grave: the management of juveniles and production residues. On the one hand, the project intends to carry out a study aimed at identifying and mapping possible nursery areas for the veraceous clam (Venerupis spp.) associated with the Sacca di Goro, and on the other hand, the study of how to recover production waste, in a circular economy perspective, envisaging the recovery and re-use of sea waste, in particular bivalve mollusc shells from the shellfish production chain. Results: In the first study, a georeferenced map of nursery areas was produced, which could be used as an important decision-making tool by the Emilia-Romagna region for the purpose of expanding the current nursery areas. In the second study, the properties of bivalve shells were studied to enhance the production waste based on improvement of the quality of the sedimentary texture of the bottom of lagoon areas allowing a better oxygenation of the water body; alternative uses of the bioclast as an adsorbent material for environmental remediation in order to contribute to the protection of the environment and to the improvement of the production sites of the fish resource; decrease of the acidification effects of marine waters due to the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide, thus reducing the effects on the environment linked to climate change.