Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA)
Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, or IMTA, is a form of aquaculture in which two or more organisms are farmed together. In IMTA, specifically, multiple aquatic species from different trophic levels (different positions in the food chain) are farmed in an integrated fashion to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and provide ecosystem services, such as bio-remediation.
IMTA involves raising multiple species of seafood in the same aquatic system, with the waste products of one species used as nutrients for another. This creates a closed-loop system that mimics natural aquatic ecosystems.
An IMTA system could typically two or more of the following: pellet-fed finfish, seaweeds, molluscs, and/or sea cucumbers.
IMTA reduces waste and improves productivity. It’s also a sustainable approach to aquaculture development.
This kind of aquaculture has been practised in Asian countries for centuries, but it is a relatively new concept in Europe.
Some challenges to making IMTA fully operative include defining the system, creating a market for IMTA products, and defining environmentally acceptable waste levels.
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