One of the essential challenges of the Channel Area (FMA) concerns coastal water bodies which present a high level of nutrients from the supply of fertilizers and waste of human origin. The reduction in the quality of the water causes an excessive proliferation of plants (eutrophication). The eutrophication of the coasts causes in particular the growth of green algae forming deposits at the level of the intertidal mudflats which have an ecological, economic and human health impact. The ways of reducing nutrient levels in this context and in these ecosystems are the heart of the RaNTrans program.
The RaNTrans project will initiate innovative and cost-effective methods to quickly reduce the coverage of the algae deposit and contribute to the reduction of nutrient levels. On two sites per country (France and England), techniques for collecting algae deposits and reducing nutrients for intertidal zones will be developed and tested. The algae extracted from the medium will serve as a basic food for the cultivation of polychaete worms thus becoming a new food resource in aquaculture. Methods of reducing the concentrations of nutrients in coastal waters through the development of algae cultivation and oyster farming of the European oyster will also be implemented.
The RaNTrans project will make it possible to study societal and economic benefits through the creation of jobs by developing the commercial potential of algae, oysters and aquaculture foods at regional level and will also make it possible to improve the ecological quality of coastal water bodies and transitions.
Project Coordinator: Gordon Watson, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, England
Funder: European regional development funds France/England
ERDF contribution: €1,988,778
Total budget : 2,912,288 €
