VALIAS

Research Directions:

Marine biodiversity

Description:

VALIAS aims to match the need for managing the marine Invasive Alien Species (IAS) populations with the growing demand for marine derived-products. Under the frame of circular economy, the valorization of unexploited IAS can represent a sustainable strategy for the realization of a circular bio-economy, with the production of stable and safe food, fish feed and cosmetic ingredients. Various compounds with high commercial value obtained from IAS byproducts, including collagen, enzymes, bioactive peptides, minerals and functional fatty acids will be valorized in VALIAS. In this way, we may turn the current problem represented by marine IAS into a "Win-Win" solution both for the European fisheries and for the companies active in the sector of aquaculture, nutrition and cosmetology. Specifically, VALIAS will contribute to the limitation of IAS stocks and of their negative ecological and economic impact on marine life, fisheries, human welfare, and health in European seas.

The Principal Investigator from HCMR is Dr Paraskevi Karahle from IMBRIW, while Dr I. Negas is the Scientific Responsible for the work done in IMBBC