The project was presented during the visit to the facilities of the Nueva Pescanova Biomarine Center.
La Xunta de Galicia
The Xunta de Galicia has confirmed that, through the Nexos programme, it will provide more than €680,000 in funding for an R&D&I project aimed at helping the aquaculture sector prepare for the challenges posed by climate change.
The Mitakua project focuses on developing a biosecurity programme for monitoring potential pathogens, making it possible to assess the threats they may pose to currently farmed species.
The initiative will also identify feeds and ingredients that can help fish acclimatise more effectively to thermal stress and adapt to periods of high water temperatures.
The project partners will also design recirculating aquaculture systems for marine species, optimised to cope with the physicochemical and biological conditions resulting from climate change.
Finally, a dissemination programme will be implemented to communicate the project's findings to the scientific community, the general public, public administrations, NGOs and the aquaculture industry.
The Regional Minister for Education, Science, Universities and Vocational Training, Román Rodríguez, took advantage of his visit to the facilities of the Nueva Pescanova Biomarine Center, one of the companies participating in the Mitakua project alongside Sea Sole Acuicultura and Neutro Applications, to present and explain the project.
The project also involves the collaboration of the Technological Centre of the Aquaculture Cluster (CETGA), with a research team specialising in aquaculture and marine biotechnology, and the Evolutionary Biology Research Group at the University of A Coruña (UDC).
"By bringing together the capabilities of businesses and the expertise of our research centres, we can develop solutions that are crucial to the future of the aquaculture sector," said the Regional Minister.
He further highlighted that "the outcomes of these research projects can be exported to other regions where the aquaculture sector, as in this case, plays a significant role."
The 2026–2028 Nexos call supports 37 projects, involving 138 companies and representing an investment of €22.6 million from the Xunta de Galicia, with support from European funds. The call is expected to mobilise a total investment of €39.75 million.
