Good Practice Short Story
Lots remain to be done to prove our concept and many fundamental questions are still outstanding but the most fascinating experiment during this project was simply to bring together shellfish farmers and researchers to preserve seas and oceans.
The researchers, working in close collaboration with the regional shellfish committee from South Brittany and local oyster farmers, have found that specimens of the sponge species Hymeniacidon perlevis sampled near the oyster production beds accumulate impressive amounts of heavy metals and other toxic substances such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and that they do so at higher levels than the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Subsequent in vitro bioassays have shown that this sponge could significantly reduce oyster contaminations by Escherichia coli and Vibrio aesturianus, a pathogenic bacteria. Following these impressive results, the research team is looking to amplify their study in a larger area and in harbour environments, also testing the option of cultivating and installing such “underwater cleaning” plants on eco-friendly substrates.
It was implemented with the support of the FLAG FR04 Pays d'Auray (2007-2013 programming period).
| Budget | €36 000 |
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| EU contribution |
€18 000
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| Other public contribution |
€18 000
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| Timeframe of implementation | From Feb 2012 to Mar 2015 |
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| Sea Basins |
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