Bioremediation of bacteria in aquaculture waste using the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii

The excessive release of bacterial pathogens from animal waste into the aquaculture environment has become a major concern for the aquaculture industry. The biological filtration by macroinvertebrates contributes to water purification as a result of the bacterioplankton removal from the water. The filter-feeder polychaete Sabella spallanzanii is known for its ability to accumulate bacteria from the marine environment. In the present study we evaluated the survival, growth and capability of this species to remove several bacterial groups from aquaculture waste in order to ascertain its employment as bioremediator in a farming scenario coupled with the conversion of the wastes into polychaete protein-rich biomass of potentially marketable value. In comparison to other technologies, the employment of S. spallanzanii in waste treatment represents a more attractive option to reduce bacterial loads.