SISdATA – System to Increase Security and Sustainability in the domain of Atlantic Traditional Aquaculture is a project supported by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme that aims to strengthen and modernise aquaculture in Atlantic coastal regions. The project focuses on developing an integrated digital platform to support both traditional aquaculture systems, such as natural earthen tanks, and offshore cage farming.
Led by the University of Coimbra (Portugal), the SISdATA platform is now fully developed and ready for data upload, with public release scheduled shortly. The platform also brings together the expertise of all project partners, who have worked collaboratively to develop and integrate a wide range of advanced modelling tools.
Through the SISdATA platform, these models support better day-to-day management of aquaculture farms, including improved water renewal and aeration strategies, as well as the design of more resilient offshore infrastructures, such as cage nets and mooring systems. They also help predict water quality and environmental conditions, supporting more informed and sustainable decision-making.
The modelling framework uses information from large-scale regional models and translates it to local farm conditions, with support from the European Laboratory Atlantic COLAB. This approach is already being applied by the partnership in several Atlantic regions, including the Mondego Estuary in Portugal, the Island of Madeira, Ireland, and other areas across the Atlantic Area.
Project partners have contributed expertise in key areas. The University of Coimbra developed tools to better understand water circulation and renewal in aquaculture tanks and to simulate fish growth under changing environmental conditions. The University of Rouen Normandie (France) contributed models to assess the effectiveness of aeration systems. The University of A Coruña (Spain) focused on offshore aquaculture, developing tools to assess cage behaviour under waves and currents. University College Dublin (Ireland) addressed offshore infrastructure performance, including mooring systems, biofouling, and fish ecology, using environmental data from Copernicus services.
Together, these contributions demonstrate how SISdATA supports more efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible aquaculture. By providing practical digital tools for SMEs, farmers, and research centres, the project contributes to a stronger and more sustainable Blue Economy across the Atlantic Area.
Led by the University of Coimbra (Portugal), the SISdATA platform is now fully developed and ready for data upload, with public release scheduled shortly. The platform also brings together the expertise of all project partners, who have worked collaboratively to develop and integrate a wide range of advanced modelling tools.
Through the SISdATA platform, these models support better day-to-day management of aquaculture farms, including improved water renewal and aeration strategies, as well as the design of more resilient offshore infrastructures, such as cage nets and mooring systems. They also help predict water quality and environmental conditions, supporting more informed and sustainable decision-making.
The modelling framework uses information from large-scale regional models and translates it to local farm conditions, with support from the European Laboratory Atlantic COLAB. This approach is already being applied by the partnership in several Atlantic regions, including the Mondego Estuary in Portugal, the Island of Madeira, Ireland, and other areas across the Atlantic Area.
Project partners have contributed expertise in key areas. The University of Coimbra developed tools to better understand water circulation and renewal in aquaculture tanks and to simulate fish growth under changing environmental conditions. The University of Rouen Normandie (France) contributed models to assess the effectiveness of aeration systems. The University of A Coruña (Spain) focused on offshore aquaculture, developing tools to assess cage behaviour under waves and currents. University College Dublin (Ireland) addressed offshore infrastructure performance, including mooring systems, biofouling, and fish ecology, using environmental data from Copernicus services.
Together, these contributions demonstrate how SISdATA supports more efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible aquaculture. By providing practical digital tools for SMEs, farmers, and research centres, the project contributes to a stronger and more sustainable Blue Economy across the Atlantic Area.
Publish date: 2026-02-05
