Recent studies have shown that marine algae represent a great source of natural compounds with several properties. The lipidic extract of the seaweed Chaetomorpha linum (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales), one of the dominant species in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Mediterranean, Ionian Sea), revealed an antibacterial activity against Vibrio ordalii and Vibrio vulnificus, common pathogens in aquaculture, suggesting its potential employment to control fish and shellfish diseases due to vibriosis and to reduce the public health hazards related to antibiotic use in aquaculture. This extract showed also an antioxidant activity, corresponding to 170.960 ± 16. mmol Trolox equivalent/g (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay—ORAC) and to 30.554 ± 2.30 mmol Trolox equivalent/g (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay—TEAC). The chemical characterization of the extract, performed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, highlighted the presence of free, saturated (SAFAs), unsaturated (UFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids. The high content of ω-6 and ω-3 PUFAs confirmed also by gas chromatography indicates the potentiality of this algal species in the production of fortified food. The antibacterial activity seems related to the presence of linolenic acid present at high density, while the antioxidant activity could be likely ascribable to molecules such as carotenoids and chlorophylls (characterized also by thin-layer chromatography), known for this property. The presence of polyhydroxybutyrate, a biopolymer with potentiality in the field of biodegradable bioplastics was also detected. The exploitation of C. linum for a future biotechnological application is also encouraged by the results from a first attempt of cultivating this species in an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system.

Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable aquaculture. Within the Remedia LIFE Project, an experimental IMTA plant was put in place in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Southern Italy). The polyculture of several bioremediating organisms, such as mussels, tubeworms, sponges, and seaweeds, was combined with a coastal cage fish farm, in order to remove organic and inorganic wastes coming from the fish's metabolism. To verify the effectiveness of the system, the ex ante measurement of chemical-physical variables, trophic status, microbial contamination, and zoobenthos community health was compared with the results of the same measurement performed one year and two years after the implementation of the experimental IMTA plant. The results were encouraging, since a reduction in total nitrogen concentration in the seawater (from 43.4 ± 8.9 to 5.6 ± 3.7 μM/l), a reduction in microbial pollution indicators in the seawater (total coliforms: from 280 ± 18 MPN/100 mL to 0; E. coli: from 33 ± 1.3 MPN/100 mL to 0) and in the sediments (total coliforms: from 230 ± 6.2 MPN/100 g to 170 ± 9; E. coli: from 40 ± 9.4 MPN/100 g to 0), an enhancement of the trophic status (TRIX: from 4.45 ± 1.29 to 3.84 ± 0.18), and an increase in the zoobenthic quality indices and biodiversity were recorded (AMBI: from 4.8 to 2.4; M-AMBI: from 0.14 to 0.7). These results prove that the Remedia LIFE project's purpose was achieved. The selected bioremediators worked synergistically, improving water and sediments quality within the fish farm area. Moreover, bioremediating organisms increased their weight as a result of wastes uptake, producing, as co-products, large amounts of additional biomass. This could be commercially exploited, thus being an added value of the IMTA plant. Based on our findings, the promotion of eco-friendly practices to ameliorate ecosystem health should be encouraged.

The cultivation of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819, has been tested in an innovative Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture system (IMTA) in the Mar Grande of Taranto, as part of the EU-funded Remedialife project. This farming method could solve several problems including the low growth rate in mesotrophic environments while reducing the environmental impact of fish mariculture. Three productive cycles have been carried out. The first (2018–2019, traditional experiment) was conducted in three long lines around six cages of the fish farm in order to evaluate total mussel production under the innovative IMTA system and quality for human consumption by analyzing the concentration of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in mussel tissues. In addition, 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 16 EPA priority compounds and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are indicators of PCB contamination in the environment, were analyzed using gas chromatography in conjunction with a mass spectrometer. The second cycle (2020–2021, horizontal distance experiment) aimed to test the influence of fish cages on mussel growth by placing mussels near and far from the fish cages. The third cycle (2021–2022, vertical distance experiment) aimed to overcome the phenomenon of “heat waves” that can occur in the Mar Grande of Taranto during summer by testing the growth performance of mussels at two different depths (1 and 12 m). The following parameters were measured: Shell Length, L (mm); Shell Dry Weight, SDW (g); Flesh Dry Weight, FDW (g); Condition Index, IC = FDW/SDW. The results showed that the best growth performance was obtained near the fish cages and at a depth of 12 m. Moreover, the indicators of microbial contamination and concentrations of chemical compounds analyzed in mussel tissues cultured under the innovative IMTA system were in compliance with the reference values of European regulations.

This study investigated the environmental contamination of groundwater as a consequence of the discharge of treated wastewater into the soil. The investigation focused on a wastewater treatment plant located in an area fractured by karst in the Salento peninsula (Apulia, Italy). Water samples were collected at four sites (raw wastewater, treated wastewater, infiltration trench, and monitoring well), monthly from May to December 2019 (with the exception of August), and were tested for (1) panel of bacteria; (2) enteric viruses; and (3) chemical substances. A gradual reduction in the concentration of bacteria, viruses and contaminants of emerging concern was observed across the profile of soil fissured by karst. All monitored bacteria were absent from the monitoring well, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pepper mild mottle virus and adenovirus were detected at all sampling sites. Personal care products and X-ray contrast media showed the greatest decrease in concentration from infiltration trench to the monitoring well, while the highest residual concentrations in the monitoring well were found for anticonvulsants (78.5%), antimicrobials (41.3%), and antipsychotic drugs (38.6%). Our results show that parameters provided by current law may not always be sufficient to evaluate the sanitary risk relating to the discharge of treated wastewater to the soil.

The results of an ex-ante survey aiming to assess the impact of a fish farm in the Mar Grande of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) on the surrounding environment are reported. There, the implementation of an innovative IMTA plant was planned, with the goals of environment bioremediation and commercially exploitable biomass production. Analyses were conducted in February and July 2018. Both seawater and sediments were sampled at the four corners of the fish farm to detect the existing biological and physico-chemical features. The investigation was performed to identify the best area of the farming plant for positioning the bioremediating system, but also to obtain a data baseline, to compare to the environmental status after the bioremediating action. Data were also analyzed by canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). All the measurements, in particular, microbiology and macrobenthic community characterization using AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and the Multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) indices, suggest that the effect of fish farm waste was concentrated and limited to a small portion of the investigated area in relation to the direction of the main current. A site named A3, which was found to be the most impacted by the aquaculture activities, especially during the summer season, was chosen to place the bioremediation system.

Coastal habitats provide important ecosystem services, such as the maintenance of ecological sustainability, water quality regulation, nutrient recycling, and sandy beaches which are important areas for recreation and tourism. The quality of seawater is generally measured by determining the concentrations ofEscherichia coliand intestinal Enterococci, which might be affected by the persistent populations of these bacteria in sand. Sand might thus be a significant source of pathogen exposure to beachgoers. The quality of coastal recreational waters can also be affected by eutrophication, water discoloration, and harmful algal blooms, which pose additional human health risks. Here, we conducted a monitoring of the beaches quality along the Taranto Gulf by determining the concentrations of fecal indicator organisms, as well as other parameters that are not traditionally measured (physicochemical parameters,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and harmful microalgae), in shallow seawater and sand sampled from three beaches. The concentrations of bacteria were determined using both standard microbiological methods and the IDEXX system. Our results demonstrate the utility of measuring a greater number of parameters in addition to those conventionally measured, as well as the importance of assessing the health risks posed by the sand matrix. Additional work is needed to develop rapid analytical techniques that could be used to monitor the microbiological parameters of solid matrices.