Our Approach
AQUABENEFIT is organized into interconnected activities that combine field monitoring, innovative analytical tools, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach.
Field Monitoring
Biodiversity Surveys
Sampling fish, mobile invertebrates, and benthic communities at and around oyster farm structures
Molecular Tools (eDNA)
Detect hidden diversity from water samples collected around oyster farms
Underwater Video
Remote video systems documenting habitat use, behaviour, and species interactions
AI Image Analysis
Deep-learning models automating species identification and abundance estimates from video footage
Food-Web Tracing
Stable isotope analysis revealing trophic links between aquaculture habitats and surrounding natural ones
Farming Effects
Monitoring throughout the production cycle to identify practices that enhance habitat value
Data Integration & Stakeholder Engagement
Data integration
Linking diverse datasets to quantify habitat value and derive practical indicators
Stakeholder collaboration
Working with oyster farmers and managers to ensure relevance and impact
Communication and Dissemination
Sharing results with farmers, managers, policymakers, scientists, and the general public. A key focus is increasing public awareness of the ecological value of bivalve aquaculture.