Insights from the Adriatic: Advancing Mollusc Health
03/06/2026
On March 17–18, 2025, the MARINET project was represented at the Annual Meeting of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for Mollusc Diseases. The meeting was held online and coordinated by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Mollusc Diseases at the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER). Our project partner, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), attended the event.
As part of Activity 2.4 of the Interreg Italy-Croatia MARINET project, IZSVe presented key results from the health monitoring of flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) being farmed at an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) site in Duino, Italy. The analyses revealed the presence of several pathogens and conditions, including Bonamia exitiosa, Perkinsus mediterraneus, and disseminated neoplasia. These are all pathologies of growing concern for sustainable aquaculture.
The meeting brought together 55 participants from 18 countries, providing a valuable opportunity to:
• Share knowledge with top European experts.
• Discuss diagnostic challenges, particularly those related to neoplasia.
• Improve the diagnostic capacity of the Italian NRL.
• Strengthen collaboration and research within the MARINET project.
This exchange helps advance innovative approaches to aquatic animal health and supports our shared goals for a more resilient and sustainable aquaculture sector in the Adriatic region.
