Feasibility of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in Norway: Perspective from North America and Japan

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) involves the co-culturing of filter feeders, finfish, and macro- and microalgae within an aquaculture system. A number of benefits are associated with IMTA, including the ability to minimize waste production an d maximize internal recycling of nutrients within existing fed-aquaculture systems. Feed constitutes approximately half the cost of production in current high-volume monocultures, and IMTA offers a means by which waste byproducts from finfish aquaculture may be recycled as nutrient inputs at lower trophic levels. By integrating fed-aquaculture (e.g. salmon) with extractive aquaculture (e.g. shellfish) and photosynthetic organisms (e.g. algae), IMTA has a number of economic benefits, including diversifyi ng production and increasing total production values without significant capital investment. The proposed research investigates the scientific and economic potential of adopting Integrated-Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) techniques in Norway, while cons idering such factors as social acceptability and the viability of IMTA techniques within existing regulatory frameworks. A comparative analysis is conducted between three test cases of IMTA, including pilot sites in Asia (Japan), North America, and Norwa y. Data from test sites is analyzed and presented during interviews with key stakeholders in the aquaculture industry to determine the environmental, economic and social relevance of IMTA to Norway.