Research
SWEMARC bridges the traditional boundaries of aquaculture research by integrating competences in social, economic, environmental and biological sciences and using trans- and interdisciplinary research methods in combination with strong intradisciplinary research.
Challenges
One of the greatest challenges of our time is to find solutions for increased food production with the hope of meeting the needs of a growing world population, while reducing the ecological footprint, protecting natural resources and ecosystems and promoting rural development.
SWEMARC's goal is to increase the farming of food from the sea through interdisciplinary and community-based research in a sustainable manner.
Vision
Our vision is develop and validate new sustainable mariculture models that are hallmarked by:
• Reduced dependence on wild-caught fish for feed
• Reduced environmental impact
• Circular nutrient flows
• Positive integration with local communities and coastal activities
• Effective production with reduced administrative and legal barriers
• Increased knowledge and acceptance for farmed seafood
Aim
The overall objective of the research is to develop and to explore novel and sustainable mariculture systems and to promote global production of healthy and environmentally friendly food choices. SWEMARC has a systematic design approach to handle the complexity of the mariculture field, and to establish production models and proof of concepts for the development of mariculture in biologically circular systems.
The research within SWEMARC will lead to an environmentally friendly production of food from the ocean. At the same time, we want to increase public understanding of sustainable aquaculture and the positive health and socio-economic effects of seafood production and consumption.
Goals
SWEMARC's specific research goals are:
• Develop new and multi-trophic (several species) farming systems, which are largely based on circular nutrient flows
• Provide new resource-efficient marine raw materials for feed development and production
• Identify and analyse conflicts of interests, laws and directives that currently prevent the establishment of aquaculture in Sweden
• Get a better understanding of consumer purchasing behavior regarding farmed sea food and their knowledge about aquaculture and its products
• Promote public knowledge of mariculture, as well as new products and markets in an interactive way
• Understand how local and cultural exploitation and traditional activities hinder the establishment of a mariculture
