Researchers in Queensland have found a way to grow marine worms in wastewater. The discovery is expected to benefit the global aquaculture industry.
“Marine biologists at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre have developed a system that recycles aquaculture waste water through sand filtration,” says news website abc.net.au.
In the process of treating wastewater, these worms which farmers use to feed prawns also grow. This, till now, had not been possible on a commercial scale.
The findings of the project are the world's first, according to the lead researcher Paul Palmer. The success of this project means that now, prawn and fish farmers will not need to draw much water from natural environment. They can use recycled water. The second advantage linked to the project is that the worms have successfully been used to assist the process of water purification.
“What it means is prawn farmers can produce food on their own farms to supply to their own hatcheries and have control over the quality,” says Palmer in the report by ABC.