The CRINVERT project (CIMA 24/02) arises from a collaboration agreement between the Galician Ministry of the Sea and the University of Vigo, with the goal of developing a research line focused on the cryopreservation of larvae of commercially important marine invertebrates, such as bivalve mollusks and echinoderms. This initiative aims to improve the productivity of Galician hatcheries and contribute to the sustainability of marine resources through the use of advanced biotechnologies.
Galicia is a benchmark in the production and quality of bivalve mollusks, both from fishing and aquaculture. However, the number of hatcheries capable of supplying seed is very limited, which restricts production stability and increases dependence on natural spat collection. In addition, landings of species such as the pullet carpet shell, grooved carpet shell, striped venus clam, and cockle have shown a significant decline over the past decades.
In this context, hatchery seed production is an essential tool to support the management of natural banks. The CIMA centers of Corón and Ribadeo are already working on improving seed production and applying new biotechnological techniques, among which cryopreservation stands out—an approach that allows larvae to be preserved at low temperatures for use whenever the sector requires them.
This technology offers advantages such as:
Possibility of carrying out controlled mass spawnings and having larvae available on demand.
Reduction of pressure on natural seed, improving environmental sustainability.
Adaptation to the biological cycles of species and to the needs of the aquaculture sector.
The collaboration with the University of Vigo is fully justified by the experience and expertise of its research team, led by Dra. Estefanía Paredes , a pioneer in marine cryobiology with numerous publications in the field of larval cryopreservation.
The main goal of the CIMA 24/02 agreement is to improve the productivity of marine invertebrate hatcheries through the application and optimization of cryopreservation techniques.
The objectives are divided into two levels:
Provide the CIMA centers of Corón and Ribadeo with trained personnel in cryobiology and the necessary infrastructure to develop this technology.
Establish a stable collaboration with the University of Vigo to provide scientific and training support to CIMA staff.
Improve the technical, economic, and environmental performance of hatcheries, enabling year-round juvenile production.
Prevent the loss of valuable strains through the cryogenic storage of samples.
Design a complete technological package that can be transferred to private industry and scaled up to an industrial level.
Train CIMA personnel in cryobiology applied to aquaculture.
Take advantage of natural spawning periods to achieve maximum yield in spawnings and larval production.
Transfer the protocols developed at the University of Vigo and adapt them to the conditions of Galician centers.
Increase the survival rates of cryopreserved larvae.
Test new combinations of cryoprotectants, freezing rates, and antioxidants.
Determine the optimal larval concentrations during the cryopreservation process.
Create a biobank of cryopreserved samples at the CIMA centers of Corón and Ribadeo, ensuring their preservation and traceability.
The project is being carried out over four years (2024–2027), with progressive activities in training, experimentation, and evaluation:
Advisory support in the acquisition and setup of equipment.
Practical training of CIMA staff (visits to ECIMAT and research stays at the Corón and Ribadeo centers).
Implementation of work protocols and initial trials.
Initial optimization of cryopreservation methods and updated literature review.
Continuation of production scaling and improvement of protocols.
Seed production using fresh and cryopreserved larvae.
Standardization of biobank procedures.
Presentation of the first results at international conferences and in scientific publications.
Consolidation of seed production and evaluation of performance.
Participation in international research meetings and visits to foreign centers.
Publication of results and review of the state of applied biotechnology.
Calibration trials among the biobanks of CIMA Corón, CIMA Ribadeo, and the University of Vigo.
Final presentation of results at conferences and in scientific journals.
Publication of the final research report.
The project has a total budget of €56,670, provided by the Galician Ministry of the Sea, distributed by year:
2024: 43.170 €
2025: 4.000 €
2026: 7.500 €
2027: 2.000 €
The funds are allocated to the acquisition of specific equipment, consumable materials, and other expenses related to research, training, and dissemination of results.
The agreement entered into force upon its signing in 2024 and will remain active until November 30, 2027, with the possibility of extension.
Technical and scientific monitoring is carried out by a commission composed of representatives from the Galician Ministry of the Sea and the University of Vigo, who oversee progress, annual reports, and budget execution.
The CRINVERT project represents a strategic advancement for Galician aquaculture by introducing and consolidating a pioneering technology that:
Increases the productive autonomy of hatcheries.
Reduces pressure on natural resources.
Promotes sustainable innovation within the framework of the RIS3 Galicia Strategy.
Strengthens collaboration between public institutions and the research sector.
The creation of a marine biobank and the technical training of CIMA staff position Galicia at the forefront of cryobiology applied to aquaculture, strengthening the standing of the Galician scientific system in the field of marine biotechnology.
