Coordinators
Fiz da Costa
I’m a senior researcher at the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). My main field of expertise is bivalve aquaculture, mainly focusing in the optimization of hatchery and nursery protocols, nutritional and biochemical studies of different phases of bivalve culture; restorative aquaculture with bivalves and flat oyster restoration. I have experience in both the private sector as research engineer in R&D and freelance consultant in aquaculture optimization and selective breeding and in the academic field as researcher and project manager. Since mid-2020, I have participated in different initiatives of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) and I am a member of the Mar Menor Oyster Initiative (MMOI).
Eve Galimany
My research background is in the physiology, pathology, and ecology of benthic invertebrates from both fisheries and aquaculture. In particular, I have studied the ecological role that filter-feeders, i.e. bivalves, play in the ecosystem. I have researched on the role of these organisms mitigating the symptoms of eutrophication, reducing the occurrence of harmful and nuisance algal blooms, and restoring ecosystem functions. Also, I have investigated how the environment can affect the health and physiology of the invertebrates themselves, including invasive species.
I am currently a member of the Mar Menor Oyster Initiative and ICATMAR / ICM-CSIC, a research institution dedicated to gather fisheries’ field data for management and governance.
About the Production Working Group
One of the challenges that oyster restoration projects throughout Europe are facing is the on-going lack of reliable and stable supply of oysters meeting the requirements of restoration projects, such as genetics or disease status. In addition to that, there are often mis-matches between funding timelines and production timeline.
Therefore, the Production Working Group aims to find a collaborative solution to, or joint understanding of the barriers in sourcing oysters for restoration efforts. Moreover, we have launched the Historical Aquaculture initiative, aiming to gather information on European oyster production across countries to understand the important role that this activity may have historically had in moving stocks or replacing disappearing fisheries.
We welcome the WG members to propose initiatives or discussion topics and presentation in the line with the aim of the WG. We also welcome new members to join this the community.
Please get in touch with the coordinators Fiz da Costa (fiz.dacosta@ieo.csic.es) and Eve Galimany (galimany@icm.csic.es).