Consortium: CIIMAR e UNORTE (UP: ICBAS, FCUP, FEUP, REIT), UTAD, UM

ATLANTIDA aims to develop a platform for the monitoring of the North Atlantic Ocean and tools for the sustainable exploitation of the marine resources.

This project will be implemented by a multidisciplinary team of UNorte.pt (Universities of Porto, Minho, Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro) and CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research). This strategy will potentiate the expertise of the human resources involved in the consortium and implement a comprehensive approach of the Ocean observation and of the tools for its sustainable use. The project is coherently structured in 5 RLs, each organized in 2-4 R&D activities and 1 transversal activity for coordination, communication, dissemination and exploitation of results.

ATLANTIDA will create a coastal observatory and monitoring, focusing on data collection and supply, including monitoring platforms and systems, sensors, data management and information technologies. It will assess the impact of climate change on the wave energy resource. ATLANTIDA will study the role of global change as a driving force of biological change in coastal habitats, contributing to the management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems by developing new operative tools. Regarding deep sea, it will develop ocean circulation numerical models, ecological models and ecotoxicological tools. We will also produce knowledge baseline of deep-sea Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) to develop a framework for the co-creation of a knowledge baseline on the diversity and distribution of VMEs of the region. The project will focus also on monitoring the contamination and effects of microplastics, other contaminants and pathogenic bacteria in the environment. We will study pelagic ecosystems from microorganisms to large predators. The project will lead to the implementation of DNA (meta)barcoding approaches in marine species and communities biomonitoring. We will assess the distribution and residency patterns, and the genetic structure of the populations of cetaceans in the north coast of Portugal. The project will explore new opportunities to unlock the sustainable growth of aquaculture by minimising the environmental impact of fish farms whilst contributing to safe and healthier food items for consumers and deliver across economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions. ATLANTIDA will create biobanks of marine organisms and valorize marine biomass, exploring them in terms of biotechnological applications such as pharmaceutical, industrial and environmental -bioremediation. Macroalgae and marine invertebrate species will be identified and selected as model organisms and used as raw-material for the isolation of biopolymers with industrial interest, particularly sulphated polysaccharides, collagens and bioadhesives. ATLANTIDA will create a strong cohesion of the UNorte.pt institutions regarding the Ocean research and technologies, developing the conditions for a leading position at national and international levels.

Seafood is uniquely positioned to satisfy consumer´s new “clean protein” obsession. Consumers eat seafood because it’s healthier than other proteins. The trends of healthy eating and ethical consumerism are driving seafood sector growth. High in protein, antioxidants, omega-3, and numerous vitamins and minerals, seafood items are a veritable superfood that fit well in healthy, protein-rich, clean diets.

RL3 of the ATLANTIDA project will mainly target relevant fish species in the Atlantic Ocean, contributing to the sustainable growth of aquaculture, minimising the environmental impact of fish farms whilst contributing to safe and healthier food items for consumers.

Scientific Publications

Ferreira, M., Teixeira, C., Abreu, H., Silva, J., Costas, B., Kiron, V., Valente, L. 2021. Nutritional value, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of micro- and macroalgae, single or blended, unravel their potential use for aquafeeds. Journal Applied Phycology 33: 3507–3518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02549-2

Basto, A., Calduch, J., Oliveira, B., Petit, L., Sá, T., Maia, M. R. G., Cabral-Fonseca, S., Matos, E., Pérez-Sánchez, J., & Valente, L. M. P. 2021. The use of defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal as a main protein source is supported in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by data on growth performance, lipid metabolism and flesh quality. Frontiers in Physiology. 12: 659567. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.659567

Basto, A., Valente, L. M. P., Conde-Sieira, M., & Soengas, J. L. 2021. Central regulation of food intake is not affected by inclusion of defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Aquaculture 544: 737088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737088

Basto, A., Valente, L.M.P., Soengas, J.L., Conde-Sieira, M., 2022. Partial and total fishmeal replacement by defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal do not alter short- and mid-term regulation of food intake in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Aquaculture 560, 738604. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738604

Ferreira, M., Ribeiro, P.C., Ribeiro, L., Barata, M., Domingues, V.F., Sousa, S., Soares, C., Marques, A., Pousão-Ferreira, P., Dias, J., Castro, L.F.C., Marques, A., Nunes, M.L., Valente L.M.P. 2022. Biofortified diets containing algae and selenised yeast: effects on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and tissue composition of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Frontiers in Physiology 12: 812884. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.812884

Rangel, F., Santos, R.A., Monteiro, M., Lavrador, A.S., Gasco, L., Gai, F., et al. 2022. Isolation of Chitinolytic Bacteria from European Sea Bass Gut Microbiota Fed Diets with Distinct Insect Meals. Biology 11(7), 964. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11070964

Ferreira, M., Abdelhafiz, Y., Abreu, H., Silva, J., Valente, L.M.P. Kiron, V. 2022. Gracilaria gracilis and Nannochloropsis oceanica, singly or in combination, in diets alter the intestinal microbiota of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)". Frontiers in Marine Science, 9:1001942. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1001942

Matias R.S., Gomes S., Barboza L.G.A., Salazar-Gutierrez D., Guilhermino L., & Valente L.M.P. 2023. Microplastics in water, feed, and tissues of European seabass reared in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS). Chemosphere 335: 139055. https://doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139055

Ferreira, M., Machado, M., Mota, C.S.C., Abreu, H., Silva, J., Maia, M.R.G., Kiron, V., Costas, B., Valente, L.M.P. 2023. Micro- and macroalgae blend modulates the mucosal and systemic immune responses of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) upon infection with Tenacibaculum maritimum. Aquaculture, 566:739222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.739222

Ferreira, M., Sousa, V., Oliveira, B., Canadas-Sousa, A., Abreu, H., Dias, J., Kiron, V., Valente, L.M.P. 2023. An in-depth characterisation of European seabass intestinal segments for assessing the impact of an algae-based functional diet on intestinal health. Scientific Reports, 13:11686. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38826-y

Basto, A., Marques, A., Silva, A., Sá, T., Sousa, V., Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P., Aires, T., Valente, L.M.P. 2023. Nutritional, organoleptic and sensory quality of market-sized European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal as main protein source. Aquaculture 566, 739210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.739210

Basto, A., Valente, LM.P., Sousa, V., Conde-Sieira M., Soengas, J.S. 2023. Total fishmeal replacement by defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal induces alterations in intermediary metabolism of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Journal of Animal Science 101, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad040

Monteiro, M., Rimoldi, S., Costa, R. S., Kousoulaki, K., Hasan, I., Valente, L. M., & Terova, G. 2023. Polychaete (Alitta virens) meal inclusion as a dietary strategy for modulating gut microbiota of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Frontiers in Immunology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1266947