Abstract
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems pose a potential solution to the world’s growing protein demand that is more efficient and sustainable than nearly any other method of food production. In this project, we set up and monitored the early performance of an IMTA system which included Japanese olive flounder (aka “Hirame”)(Paralichthys olivaceus) and a variety of halophytic plant species (S. portulacastrum, S. bigelovii, B. maritima) and macroalgae (seaweed) species (G. caudata, U. lactuca, and A. Subulata.) Early results indicate hirame performed well in the system and there is available nitrogen for the growth of macroalgae and halophytes. Ongoing work will elucidate other performance endpoints across both the RAS IMTA system as a whole and the individual species performance under such production conditions.