Itsasbalfegó, our innovative aquaculture facility project in Getaria

• Two innovative submersible aquaculture facilities installed offshore in Getaria will be tested in 2025 with a limited number of specimens.
• The tuna will be caught live in collaboration with the local fleet using purse seine fishing methods, and the results will be evaluated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
• The initiative, promoted by the AZTI technology center and Balfegó through Itsasbalfegó, is in accordance with fishing and environmental laws and has been approved by all the competent authorities.

The ItsasBalfegó company, created by the AZTI technology center and Balfegó, presents an innovative pilot project in the waters of the Cantabrian Sea; specifically, some three nautical miles north of the port of Getaria.

The initial phase, which began on September 2, 2024, focused on the construction and installation of two submersible ponds in the sea. Once in place, in the autumn and winter, buoyancy and immersion tests will be carried out, and the hydrodynamic conditions will be validated to ensure they can withstand the harsh weather conditions in the region.

The last phase, which will take place in the summer of 2025, will consist of testing the ponds with a few specimens of bluefin tuna. The results of this phase will be evaluated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to determine if, assuming the results are positive, the commercial activity can be extended beyond the pilot phase and how to develop it.

One of the main goals is to involve fishermen in the process of purse seine fishing and the subsequent care of bluefin tuna to determine the best strategies together and maximize the benefits for all stakeholders.

Environmental sustainability and resource management

The project complies with the current national and European laws on fishing and the environment. It has obtained all the authorizations and permits required for its development, including the use of the fencing techniques approved to catch bluefin tuna in the Cantabrian. It has permits from the Environmental Department of the Basque Government, the Port Authority (part of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility), the Provincial Coastal Service of Gipuzkoa (part of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge) and the City Councils of Getaria and Zarautz. The project also abides by the conservation and management measures for the species regulated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Before being authorized by the government, the project underwent a comprehensive environmental assessment that considered all possible impacts on the marine ecosystem and proposed corrective measures to offset these effects.

The new facilities implement advanced technologies, such as sensors and cameras to monitor the water quality and biological activity around the ponds in real time, so that quick action can be taken to respond to any sign of a negative impact on the marine environment.

The use of automated and precise feeding systems ensures that the food is distributed efficiently, reducing any excess that could be deposited on the seafloor and affect the water quality. In addition, the foods used to nourish bluefin tuna are designed for maximum nutrient absorption. These foods consist of high-quality, traceable and sustainable ingredients, reducing the dependence on fishing for wild species and the impact on their populations.

Economic and social benefits

The initiative respects time-honored fishing areas and does not interfere with the activities of traditional vessels. It also generates 40 direct and some 200 indirect jobs, along with other economic benefits, such as promoting research and innovation, and boosting tourism and gastronomy.