With CMCC’s expertise in high-resolution ocean climate modeling and data assimilation, the fishRISE project developed cutting-edge prototype systems for sustainable onshore and offshore fish farming. These innovations promise to have a significant impact on the aquaculture industry, marking a significant step forward in innovative, sustainable aquaculture.

The fishRISE project (Remote Intelligent Sustainable aquaculturE system for Fish) was created with the goal of increasing the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of aquaculture. This was achieved through the design and development of a comprehensive methodological and technological framework for both land-based and offshore aquaculture.

CMCC played a pivotal role in the fishRISE project, with significant contributions from the Institute for Earth System Predictions (IESP). The project’s results were presented during a final event held on June 28, 2024, at the University of Salento.

The event showcased cutting-edge solutions and their potential impact on the industry, particularly highlighting two advanced prototype systems for sustainable onshore and offshore fish farming. These prototypes represented the culmination of the project’s efforts to address key challenges in the aquaculture sector.

One of CMCC’s key contributions to the project was the creation of a web portal for marine forecasts visualizing through georeferenced maps the very high resolution data available for the area of interest, the Maricoltura Mattinatese fish farm, located southward Gargano in Puglia, Italy. This portal, together with a Decision Support System (DSS) for aquaculture, was tailored specifically for the project’s focus site.

CMCC developed the DSS as a web application to assist aquaculture stakeholders. This system enables users to register, create accounts, and input their variables of interest with specified upper and lower thresholds. The DSS then sends email alerts when these variables exceed the set limits, allowing them to take preventive measures based on the information.

“This tool is specifically designed to support aquaculture stakeholders who need to monitor and respond to potential anomalies,” says CMCC’s Rita Lecci, who contributed to the project. “For example, in the event of a marine heatwave, knowing that the water temperature is significantly increasing can help fish farmers adjust their feeding practices. Fish tend to eat less when stressed by higher temperatures, so reducing feed during these times prevents excess feed from sinking to the bottom and causing issues like anoxia.”

The DSS for aquaculture, based on high-resolution data provided by CMCC, was designed to detect anomalies in key variables such as dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, temperature, currents, and waves when they fell outside optimal ranges. Moreover, by allowing fish cages to adjust their positions based on currents, the system designed in fishRISE helps to reduce feed waste, preventing excess feed from settling on the seabed or being carried away.

CMCC also developed hydrodynamic and state of the sea high-resolution models for the Adriatic Sea and a coupled high-resolution physical-biogeochemical model to track the dispersion of feed residues from fish cages. Although this was primarily a research activity, it provided valuable seasonal insights for the Central Mediterranean. Additionally, CMCC projected future conditions for the next 30 years in areas of interest to understand the potential impacts of climate change on aquaculture activities.

Furthermore, CMCC released high-resolution historical data to ISPRA, which were used to create suitability maps for fish farming along the entire coast of Puglia. This allowed for the identification of other potential aquaculture sites. The project also included a comparison between high and low-resolution models produced by CMCC, encompassing Global, Mediterranean, and Adriatic models with increasing spatial resolution.

During the public event, the closure of the project, also premiered a comprehensive project video produced by the University of Salento, offering a detailed look at the project’s methodology and innovations. A shorter trailer version focused on the assets utilized in the project is also available, both of which can be accessed on the project’s website.

At the project’s closing event, a comprehensive video produced by the University of Salento was unveiled, providing an in-depth look at the project’s methodology and innovations. A shorter trailer highlighting the project’s key assets is available at this link. Both videos can be accessed on the project’s website.

Watch the video:

fishRISE aimed to enhance the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of aquaculture through a comprehensive methodological and technological framework. The project brought together a diverse partnership, coordinated by Xenia Progetti Srl, and included contributions from the Universities of Salento, Tuscia, and Eastern Piedmont, as well as research institutions like the CMCC Foundation, the Cooperative Research Institute (ICR), the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), and the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). Key small and medium-sized enterprises such as Apphia Srl, Badinotti Group, Maricoltura Mattinatese, and Planetek Italia also played a vital role.

Funded under the Italian Ministry of University and Research’s Call for Proposals for Industrial Research and Experimental Development Projects, the fishRISE project highlights the collaborative efforts shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture in Italy.