Development of a high-throughput chip technology to monitor water quality, off-flavour and diseases in recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS)

Recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS) represent an ambitious approach that can contribute to a more sustainable land-based fish production by optimizing water resources and controlling discharge of nutrients. Despite an increased interest since the 70’s, several crucial challenges remain, such as disease outbreaks, maintenance of high water quality, and presence of microbial off-flavour compounds within the facilities. In the Innovative Training Network (ITN) project RASOPTA – Safeguarding future production of fish in aquaculture systems with water recirculation (years 2021-2025), funded by EU Horizon2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, these three subjects are scrutinized by 12 PhD students enrolled at universities throughout Europe. The purpose is to optimize conditions in RAS industries. In the project, a chip-based, high-throughput PCR Fluidigm platform will be developed with the aim of rapid mapping of pathogenic microorganisms for early warning of diseases. In addition, microbial water quality indicators will be identified and included in the chip. Finally, to identify emerging off-flavour episodes in the RAS farms, genes encoding the off-taste compounds geosmin and 2-MIB will also be quantified using the chip technology. The chip can hold 48 different assays combined with 48 different water samples generating 2304 data points thus achieving rapid detection of various indicators in a large number of samples. The chip represents a robust and powerful tool capable of monitoring water quality, off-flavour and disease conditions in the RAS facilities allowing improved management before conditions become severe and costly hurdles. Taken together, PhD students, academic institutions, industrial partners and state of the art technologies may bring forward decisive knowledge for the sustainable support of RAS in the future.