The main objective of EcoAqua is to integrate outstanding researchers in the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) to foster research excellence in Sustainable Aquaculture under an Ecosystem Approach. After the 5 years implementation of EcoAqua, the ULPGC will push up the boundaries of its extant research lines, have an enhanced research capacities on aquaculture and its environmental interactions, through its University Research Institute in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Conservation, as well as play an active role in the development of the European Blue Economy, contributing to the Outermost Regional Sustainable Development. The ERA Chair, the associated research personnel and the staff of the ULPGC Research Groups in Aquaculture and in Biodiversity and Conservation will secure new additional research equipment and start new research studies, such as marine spatial planning and site selection, increase animal performance during life-cycle, including egg and larval quality, better fish health and welfare, new aquaculture species under climate change scenarios, genetic improvement of productive, health and animal welfare traits, fundamental knowledge to understand the interactions between farmed and wild stocks, including wildlife, etc. , all of them related to a better integration of Aquaculture and the Environment, taking into consideration the fragile marine ecosystem of the Outermost Regions, such the Canary Islands. In parallel, these outstanding scientists will build up a network of concerned partners inside the ERA (including the Outermost Regions, ORs) as well as other International partners, such as the Marine Programme of IUCN, to consolidate excellence research on diverse topics, such as sustainable feeds and ingredients, IMTA, marine protected areas and aquaculture production, use and develop best practices to optimize prevention methods, stock enhancements, manage and transfer aquaculture/conservation knowledge to stakeholders, etc., related to the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in European waters.
