IMTA is a relatively new concept in Aquaculture, and to help improve the understanding of the concept better, IMPAQT has prepared an online training course. The course is free and is hosted on the Open University’s OpenLearnCreate platform.
The massive open online course (or MOOC) has about 8 hours of content but is divided into 3 modules with numerous topics in each, so it is possible to select elements of your interest from the course. The course makes available and accessible much of the outputs and results from IMPAQT in an understandable and dynamic online format, using text and short video formats, presented by the individual partner.
The MOOC gives an introduction to aquaculture and the concept of IMTA, outlining the potential benefits and challenges. It details the IMTA experiences, within the project, around extractive species such as seaweed, mussels, oysters, scallops and lobsters. IMTA in China and Turkey is also covered. The sustainability and circularity of IMTA are presented with reference to life cycle assessments, socio-economic analysis, ecosystem services and IMTA modelling. Aquaculture sensors and the technologies to facilitate monitoring and management, along with the intelligent management system developed are included in the Precision Aquaculture module, as are the analysis of fish quality and biofouling on sensors.
The overall aim of the course is to facilitate the effective transfer of knowledge on IMTA, precision aquaculture, and the results of the IMPAQT project to interested stakeholders, policy actors and the aquaculture industry in general. This course will be of interest to those working in the aquaculture sector (fish farmers, farm owners, regulators, policy makers), as well as those who support the sector (technology suppliers and developers, representative organisations, trainers and educators, regulators and policy makers), along with investors in the sector.
Overall, the information in the course facilitates the acquire knowledge of the concept and practices of IMTA, on the sustainability and socio-economic assessments of IMTA, and on sensors, monitoring and precision aquaculture in support of IMTA. The IMPAQT MOOC will help to strengthen the research and innovative aquaculture landscape, by facilitating the key aspects of IMTA to stakeholders, investors and enterprises interested in starting up or integrating an IMTA system.
Enrol in the IMPAQT MOOC here and have an exciting journey to the future of Aquaculture!