As part of the ULTFARMS project, a knowledge exchange visit brought together ULTFARMS represented by F&E GmbH, the German ULTFARMS pilot lead, and the Municipality of Ustka in Poland, which participates in ULTFARMS through the associated project ULTAN – Ustka Low Trophic Aquaculture Enabler.
The visit provided an opportunity to exchange practical knowledge, assess potential sites and strengthen cooperation on the implementation of low-trophic aquaculture and multifunctional marine activities. A key focus of the visit was the ULTFARMS pilot activities and their potential transfer and adaptation to the Ustka region. The participants visited and jointly assessed potential sites for future activities, discussing their suitability in relation to environmental conditions, existing marine uses, accessibility and opportunities for integrating low-trophic aquaculture and ecosystem restoration.
These site visits provided valuable insights into the potential for developing future demonstration activities in the Polish region. Particular attention was given to sensor technologies and monitoring concepts. F&E GmbH presented experiences from the German ULTFARMS pilot, including approaches for monitoring environmental conditions and ecosystem responses. The Polish partners shared their regional perspectives and discussed potential monitoring requirements for activities planned in Ustka.
The exchange explored how sensor-based monitoring can support the collection of reliable environmental data and contribute to assessing the ecological performance of low-trophic aquaculture and other pilot activities. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss how the experiences and approaches developed through ULTFARMS and ULTAN can complement each other. While the German pilot provides practical experience from the implementation of innovative multi-use activities, the Ustka region offers a valuable setting for exploring how low-trophic aquaculture approaches can be adapted to local environmental, economic and governance conditions. Beyond the technical discussions, the exchange highlighted the importance of involving fishers, aquaculture practitioners, researchers, public authorities and other marine stakeholders in the development and implementation of pilot activities.
Combining scientific monitoring with local and practical knowledge will be essential for developing solutions that are environmentally sound and relevant to regional needs. Cross-border cooperation is particularly important in the Baltic Sea, where ecosystems, fish stocks and human activities extend across national boundaries. The exchange between ULTFARMS (German demo site lead F&E GmbH) and the Municipality of Ustka therefore represents an important step towards transferring knowledge, technologies and practical experiences between the German and Polish regions. The cooperation will continue through the ULTFARMS project, with a focus on pilot activities, site assessment, monitoring approaches and knowledge transfer. By connecting the experiences of the German ULTFARMS pilot with the activities of ULTAN in Ustka, the partnership aims to contribute to the development of innovative and low-impact aquaculture approaches that can be applied in multifunctional marine spaces across the Baltic Sea.
