Salinity affects the efficiency of a brackish aquaponics system of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum)

Brackish aquaponics using euryhaline fish and halophyte plants may be a sustainable method of functional food production. In addition, they could have a great potential as high nutritional, commercial and pharmaceutical value. This study investigated the effect of three different salinity levels (8 ppt, 14 ppt and 20 ppt) on the growth performance of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum), the first-time production of essential oil and the nutrient-removal efficiency of rock samphire in a brackish aquaponic system. A total of 135 sea bass (weight 8.2 ± 0.15 g, length 9.5 ± 0.33 cm) and 54 rock samphire individuals (height 7.7 ± 0.20 cm) were distributed in the nine aquaponics systems (rearing temperature 20 ± 0.2οC). The seabass growth performance was significantly higher (p