Crustasea Case Study

Every year, ISRI helps hundreds of companies across Europe and beyond to harness the potential of science and technology to create new and valuable products and processes.

The Crustasea project team from ISRI are looking at improving the infrastructure of our crustacean fishery sector. As a result, we expect to increase our share in the global market by improving crustacean quality, efficiency in farming, and the reduction of production costs.

To fulfil this objective, our sector needs to innovate and develop new and cost effective production methods through the whole value chain. The main objective is therefore to reduce mortality, loss in quality after capture, and to expand the market opportunities for live crustaceans.

In order to achieve this, the following knowledge & technological capabilities are being developed:

• enhanced understanding of the biological requirements of specific crustacean species (edible crab & European lobster) and the physical factors (particularly water quality) that impact onto their health, growth and survival.
• enhanced the understanding related to the handling, storage and transportation of live crustaceans to improve survival and quality, hence adding value to the sectors of crustacean fisheries, and in the near future, aquaculture.
• development of a patentable, cost effective crustacean grading unit for objective grading of such species into different qualities based on meat content.
• development of a patentable transportation technology consisting of intelligent transportation boxes, comprising a floodable system for flushing of the live crustacean animals.