Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Systems (IMTA): A Sustainable Approach for Better Resource Utilization

Abstract

For hundreds of people worldwide, fishing and aquaculture continue to be vital sources of food, nutrition, revenue, and livelihoods. The development of innovative culture techniques and the enhancement of culture systems for the blue revolution are products of the expansion of the fisheries and aquaculture industries. Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is one such system. IMTA is an intense and synergistic cultivation of numerous species inhabiting different trophic levels of the water column. One species' waste becomes a valuable resource for another aquatic species. By turning leftovers and uneaten feed from fed organisms into harvestable crops, IMTA encourages economic viability and increases ecological sustainability. Also, it has been the subject of several initiatives in numerous nations. This article is a brief description of the IMTA, its design, and relevance to sustainability.