Bacterial biofilms: a biotechnological solution
for the production of mytilus seed

The Bio Bío region has several comparative advantages for the development of mytiliculture (the cultivation of clams, mussels and other shell fish); however, this
activity is still in an early stage of development due to its dependence on mytilus seed from other regions of Chile.

This Region could, in the medium to long term, become selfsufficient in the supply of these seeds if a network of small mytilus banks is formed. The project contributes with the
recovery and renovation of the actually existing regional banks that are scarce and have reduced coverage.

A group of researchers, led by the academic Olga Aracena, are developing this project through the High-Tech Business Incubator, Idea Incuba. They propose to use artificially created reefs to provide a fixed substrate for the mytilus bank formation.

To ensure that these species settle in these reefs, the researchers have proposed the use of bacterial biofilms, selected from the natural environment, identifying those that induce mytilus settlement in the artificially created reefs.

The economic impact of the project –that obtained support from the Innova Bío Bío- relies in capital’s savings in the production of mytilus seeds, which is especially important given that it’s supply is equivalent to 40% of the total cost. In the medium term, this cost should be eliminated, and the Region will be able to count on its own quality, stable supply, which will stimulate aquiculture development. This, in turn, will contribute to replacing the high opportunity cost that exists for the lack of a larger aquiculture industry.

This project will strongly impact -through this group- with this new line of biotechnological research oriented toward aquiculture.