The Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere (IPMA) is a public research institute that advises national authorities on oceanic and atmosphere matters. IPMA has a strong cluster of expertise in ocean and marine resource research, namely in aquaculture and fisheries.
The Aquaculture Research Station of Olhão (EPPO, figure 1) stands out for its exceptional experimental facilities, recognized both nationally and internationally. This core marine facility supports aquaculture research at all scales, ranging from bench-top laboratory studies to larger, semi-industrial production trials. EPPO spans approximately 7 hectares and includes over 250 tanks, a fully equipped hatchery for experimental production and various rearing systems such as flow-through, recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS), semi-intensive earthen ponds and intensive concrete and fiber glass tanks, for broodstock, larvae and juvenile rearing. The facility also features a support building with dedicated spaces for trophic chain production, daily operations and biological sampling; three RAS systems; analytical laboratories (biochemical, histological, molecular, microbiological and fish pathology); a seafood packing unit; a pre-fattening area; and 17 earthen ponds. EPPO maintains broodstock of several marine species (e.g., meagre, gilthead seabream, seabass, Senegalese sole and sardine), alongside microalgae and invertebrates, leveraging its expertise in their production.
The research focus at EPPO includes new species development, nutrition, animal welfare, environmentally sustainable production systems, and the evaluation of both onshore and offshore production systems for fish grow-out (Figure 2).
Acknowledgments: To INOVAQUA (MAR-021.1.3-FEAMPA-00004) and SAUDE&AQUA II (MAR-021.1.3-FEAMPA-00018) projects for the financial support.