Observing Together: Oyster Producers, Local Organisations and LandSeaLot Researchers Collaborate in Portugal
In a new citizen science scheme, LandSeaLot researchers and local oyster farmers are collaborating to observe the environment and inform sustainable growth.
Aquaculture is currently the fastest growing food industry in the world. But to grow sustainably, producers need reliable data about changing conditions and local habitats. Data on parameters like water conditions and temperature can help farmers adjust production to local circumstances, while informing research and guiding actions to safeguard local ecosystems.
In Setúbal, Portugal, shellfish and oyster producers at Aquanostra Atlantic Farms are teaming up with LandSeaLot researchers to observe local environments and ensure sustainable growth for the area’s burgeoning aquaculture industry.
Established as the first Portuguese bivalve hatchery in 2013, Aquanostra raises renowned species like Flat Oysters, Portuguese Oysters and Japanese Oysters using environmentally friendly methods. The organisation maintains its high standards by drawing on decades of industry expertise, as well as evolving developments in research and innovation.
“Research projects are very important to us for informing production,” says António Correia, Executive Director and Co-founder of Aquanostra and President of Setubal Aquaculture Association. For example, “one of the main challenges we have is understanding water quality and how it influences our oysters. When we get to know the water characteristics, it helps us improve production and minimise mortality.”
This need to expand and contribute to knowledge of environmental and production conditions informs Aquanostra’s involvement with LandSeaLot. In the nearby Tagus and Sado Estuary LandSeaLot Integration Lab (LIL), researchers led by Dr Francisco Campuzano (+ATLANTIC CoLAB) are working to improve and integrate observation of the land-sea interface area. The LIL is one of nine sites across Europe that are piloting new methods, technologies, and partnerships with local communities to improve observation. At the LIL in Portugal, Campuzano’s team is studying parameters including water temperature, water quality and heatwaves to address pressing challenges like climate change.
In June 2025, Campuzano and Correia met to discuss their evolving partnership. The scheme will see local oyster producers deploy small, easy-to-use sensors and collect data on parameters like water temperature in the Sado Estuary. The Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, represented by Ricardo Salgado, will collaborate in data collection and analysis.
The collaboration between Aquanostra and the Tagus and Sado Estuary LIL began when Correia met Campuzano at the Portuguese National Aquaculture Association meeting. “We quickly realised that we shared not only scientific interests but also a commitment to practical impact,” says Campuzano. “This collaboration is a way to bridge scientific knowledge with Aquanostra’s deep, hands-on knowledge of the estuary. By combining these strengths, we can support more informed and sustainable management of the farms.”
As Correia explains, “our goal is to use the locations of our different producers to gather as much information about the estuary as possible.” Together, his team and LandSeaLot researchers will install small, easy to use temperature sensors in Aquanostra oyster farms. These activities will gather data on parameters like water temperature, growing scientific knowledge about the environment and helping industry players deepen their understanding of production sites and plan for the future.
“Oyster farming is a very young industry, with a lot of knowledge gaps – particularly in areas where we don’t control environmental factors,” explains Correia. “Having data on these environments is the first step to making informed decisions.”
To date, temperature loggers have been installed at strategic locations within the Sado estuary, and close to the oyster production areas. These sites allow researchers to compare environments with varying levels of salinity and water exchange, which are critical factors for oyster health.
Once collected, the data is initially stored locally, then transmitted to the LandSeaLot platform for quality control and processing. Researchers will analyse trends and outliers, sharing initial findings directly with producers through regular updates and simplified dashboards. Eventually, validated datasets will be shared with the broader scientific and policy-making communities via EMODnet and other European marine data infrastructures.
This novel collaboration is in its early stages. In future, the teams aim to increase the number of sensors. As Correia explains, “It’s just the beginning. The goal is to extend our efforts to more [sensors], more locations and more parameters.” LandSeaLot researchers will also work to streamline the distribution of data stemming from these sensors via European marine data services, namely EMODnet, to ensure that the data gathered is as useful as possible to other scientists and researchers, as well as to other potential users.
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