The Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN)—A Network for a New Era of Ecosystem Responsible Aquaculture

ABSTRACT The Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN) is a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council strategic network that was initiated in 2010. It was triggered by the fact that aquaculture, though the world fastest growing food production sector, is associated with environmental, economic, and societal issues. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) offers an innovative solution for the environmental sustainability, economic stability, and societal acceptability of aquaculture by taking an ecosystem-based management approach. IMTA is the farming, in proximity, of aquaculture species from different trophic levels, and with complementary ecosystem functions, so that one species’ excess nutrients are recaptured by the other crops and synergistic interactions among species occur. CIMTAN is providing the interdisciplinary research and development and highly qualified personnel training in the following linked areas: (1) ecological design, ecosystem interactions, and biomit...