Aquacombine Project: RAS and Salicornia Integration for Sustainable Aquaculture

Aquacombine project (2019–2023) led by Alpha Aqua A/S, Denmark, integrates rainbow trout farming with Salicornia europaea cultivation in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The project demonstrates that Salicornia efficiently removes nitrogenous compounds—ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate—reducing levels by over 50%, thus mitigating toxic waste and reducing environmental discharge. Work package 11, managed by Alpha Aqua, focuses on designing and installing demonstration units. The system supports sustainable food production by repurposing fish effluent as fertilizer, increasing farming quotas, and minimizing pollution. Dr. Ramon Parez (COO) and Dr. Jiwan Kumar Chettri (Ph.D. in fish health) lead R&D at the Esbjerg test farm. The project generated key insights on halophyte integration, with a recommendation to establish a dedicated research centre. Licensed under CC BY, the project concludes December 2023.