SPINAQUA PhD student, Despoina Varamogianni – Mamatsi, gave an interview to “Haniotika nea” newspaper (a daily, local newspaper of Crete) about the exploitation of marine sponges as a means to reduce organic pollution in seawater near aquaculture facilities. The article is available online at https://www.haniotika-nea.gr/chania-lyseis-se-perivallontika-zitimata-mesa-apo-ergasies-ypopsifion-didaktoron/.
In detail, Ms Varamogianni – Mamatsi stated:
“At a national level, there has been no large-scale use of sponges as biofilters, while a few attempts have been recorded in New Zealand, Canada and some other countries. However, their demand is rather low, as macroalgae (seaweed) have long been on the top of the list for the same purpose. Sponges are feeding by filtering the seawater and retaining suspended particles (bacteria, phytoplankton), dissolved organic compounds, fish excretions and fish feed residues, thus reducing the organic load near a fish aquaculture unit.”