Family Farming Knowledge Platform

Sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea offers an ideal context for restorative aquaculture, an innovative approach integrating environmental health with sustainable marine food production. Through the cultivation of species that also provide critical ecological services, this practice produces valuable sources of food and protein for coastal communities while aiding in restoring degraded marine environments, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating organic pollution and habitat loss. This brochure showcases six species that stand out for their promise in supporting ecosystem services, restoration and local economies: the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis), stony sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), Mediterranean tubular sea cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa), European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and Greek bathing sponge (Spongia officinalis). An overview of each species’ biology, ecology, distribution and conservation status is followed by a summary of the key ecosystem services it provides, its history of human use and current aquaculture practices, and its potential for restorative aquaculture in the Mediterranean.

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Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Other organizations: General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
Year: 2025
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Type: Fact sheet
Content language: English
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