Aquaculture
The world's growing population is placing increasing pressure on our marine resources. Due to the decline of wild fish stocks, aquaculture is highlighted as a key solution.
Aquaculture is an industry for the future
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world. In particular, shellfish farming is promoted as a sustainable industry with many potential environmental benefits. These species require no additional feed; instead, they absorb nutrients from the water, helping to reduce eutrophication in coastal environments.
In Sweden, there is a strong interest in developing sustainable marine production systems. Land-based farming systems are also on the rise, and new techniques that involve co-cultivation of different species are being tested in various locations. One example is aquaponics, where fish farming is combined with vegetable cultivation.
IVL conducts research on aquaculture in both freshwater and marine environments. We lead projects focused on developing cultivation techniques for shellfish production, managing natural stocks of oysters and mussels, advancing hydroponic and aquaponic systems, and exploring opportunities to integrate fish farming with the pulp and paper industry.