From July to September 2024, partners of the EFFECTIVE project carried out a pilot test of an innovative oxygenation system on a mussel farming platform in Fangar Bay, part of the Ebro Delta Bays. This initiative aimed to evaluate the system’s potential to mitigate the impacts of high summer temperatures and hypoxia (low oxygen levels), which can severely affect mussel hatchling survival and overall aquaculture productivity.
The oxygenation system was installed directly in a working mussel farm to test its ability to increase dissolved oxygen in the surrounding waters during critical summer months. To assess its effectiveness, sensors were placed in two distinct areas: an experimental zone where the oxygenation system was active, and a control zone without intervention. These sensors continuously recorded key environmental parameters such as water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels.
In addition to the sensor-based monitoring, several field campaigns were conducted to gather vertical profiles of water quality in both zones. This allowed researchers to closely track how oxygen levels varied at different depths and how the system influenced the overall water column.
The test is a significant step forward in exploring technological interventions that can support aquaculture under climate stress. By improving oxygen availability in marine farming environments, the system has the potential not only to reduce hatchling mortality but also to boost the resilience of local aquaculture practices in the face of rising temperatures and increasing environmental pressures.
This pilot supports EFFECTIVE’s broader mission of integrating innovative, nature-based, and tech-enhanced solutions to restore and protect coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Further analysis will help determine the feasibility of scaling up this approach as part of long-term strategies for climate adaptation and marine conservation in the Ebro Delta.
Stay tuned for more updates as the project continues to advance sustainable restoration practices.
