Our spearhead is definitely oriented towards innovation and CSR, concerned about resources and the environment.
It is our passion for the industry that leads us to innovate every day to remain competitive. We adapt to changing circumstances, allowing us to meet the current needs of our customers. Today, it is an essential lever for creating added value for our products and services.
HOLOPROD is a new sector in Occitania based on sea cucumber aquaculture. With more than 1000 species in the world, 70 of which have commercial interest, this initiative offers promising potential. World production, reaching 280,000 tonnes including 50,000 tonnes from fishing, is mainly concentrated in Asia.
This innovative product is attracting growing interest for its nutritional qualities, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its positive impact on the environment, in particular thanks to seabed bioremediation and integrated multitrophic aquaculture.
The breeding cycle extends over 24 months, starting with a period of 6 months in the hatchery/nursery, followed by 12 months of pre-growing (100g) and 12 months of grow-out (250g), before processing and placing on the market. walk.
The HOLOPROD project stands out by focusing exclusively on H. tubulosa, an indigenous species, non-invasive, but with strong commercial potential.
The HOLOSUD project aims to establish a new halifood sector in Occitania, focused on the aquaculture of sea cucumbers, also known as sea cucumbers. Carried out in partnership with Ifremer, Cépralmar and CRCM, the project has received funding from the State as part of the Littoral Plan 21 – Action 9 – BOP 162 program.
We already have a sea cucumber processing line in our Villeneuve-lès-Béziers factory, supplied by sea fishing. The development of sea cucumber farming would make it possible to secure supplies while preserving the resource, because these animals have a behavior detritivore, thus playing a major ecological role in marine ecosystems.
By combining the farming of sea cucumbers with that of oysters and mussels, within the framework of Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture, the HOLOSUD project aims to offer an opportunity for production diversification to shellfish farmers. Experiments were carried out at the Ifremer Palavas station and in the Thau lagoon to evaluate the growth and survival of sea cucumbers.
Valhosea is a research project for bioactive molecules contained in sea cucumbers which takes place in three well-defined stages:
First, a comprehensive analysis is carried out on high-value bioactive molecules from sea cucumber. This step requires an in-depth search of the scientific literature in order to identify the compounds of interest.
Then, a sea cucumber sampling plan is developed over an entire year, taking into account the specific needs of the study, the information collected during the bibliographic search, as well as the knowledge acquired within the framework of the HOLOSUD project, approved by the Mediterranean Sea Pole.
Finally, the research of biomolecules focuses on two aspects. On the one hand, it examines the water used during sea cucumber processing processes, in particular storage and cooking water. On the other hand, it explores the different tissues of sea cucumbers during their transformation, ranging from skins to gonads including flesh, muscles, viscera and vat tubes.
The "Holonurs" project, carried out in partnership with CEPRALMAR and the REGIONAL COMMITTEE OF FISHERIES AND MARINE FARMING OF OCCITANIE, aims to develop the production of juvenile sea cucumbers (Holothuria tubulosa) in the Mediterranean. An initiative which contributes to the diversification of French fisheries production. During the summer of 2023, our technical teams carried out spawning of sea cucumbers from broodstock collected in the Gulf of Lion, thus producing 51 million eggs. These larvae developed in our experimental hatchery-nursery, located on the site of the Ifremer Palavas station, before being transferred to the nursery. Here, they have become 5 cm juveniles ready to be reintroduced into the natural environment.
Sea cucumbers play a major ecological role as detritivorous species, contributing to the proper functioning of ecosystems. Their breeding is part of an approach to sustainable shellfish farming and ecology. We are proud to carry out this innovative project which opens new perspectives for maritime professionals, offering a complementary source of income while preserving our precious marine environment.
This is just the beginning, and we can't wait to share the next steps in this exciting adventure with you!
This project is certified by the Pôle Mer Méditerranée, financed by the European Union and the Occitanie / Pyrénées-Mediterranean Region within the framework of FEAMPA, and technically supported by the Hérault Department.
