unh open ocean aquaculture demonstration project
Post on 02-Jan-2016
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Technology Transfer: Growing Mussels on Submerged Longlines in an Open Ocean
Environment
Rollie BarnabyExtension Educator, Sea Grant & Marine Resources
UNH Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant
Submerged Longline Culture of Blue Mussels (Mytilis edulis) in Exposed Oceanic Environments:
Design, Operation and Production Strategies
Longline Schematic
160 m
18 m
120 m
22 m
12 m
Mussel socks Pearl nets
Submersible floats
UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture Demonstration Project
A Component of the NOAA/UNH Cooperative Institute for New England mariculture and Fisheries (CINEMAR)
Rollie Barnaby
Funding Provided by NOAA Sea Grant and OAR
Aquaculture in Unprotected Oceanic Environments
Advantages• Excellent Water Quality
• Lots of Real Estate
• Minimal User Conflict
Challenges• Systems Engineering
• Biological Limitations
• Most waters unclassified
• Increased risk of biotoxins (PSP)
• Permitting Uncertainties
• Multiple Use Conflicts with navigation and fishing
• Environmental Issues (marine mammals)
Goal: To stimulate the commercial development of open ocean aquaculture of bivalve molluscs
Objectives: To demonstrate the engineering, biological and economic feasibility of open ocean culture
To design technology and operations for compatibility with existing capture fisheries
Approach:Adapt existing technologies and methods to open ocean environments
Develop new technologies and methods as needed
Develop production strategies
Develop business plans for several different operational models
Transfer Technology
Troubleshoot and solve industry problems
5 miles from shore
180 ft deep
Current velocities .3-2 kts
Significant wave heights > 25”
• Seed Collection
Wild caught seed; issues are timing, location, materials and fouling
• Nursery Culture
On seed lines; 4-6 months
• Growout
Suspension from submerged longline
Discrete lengths of mesh socking
Continuous with mesh socking
Continuous with rope core and biodegradable cotton sleeve
MUSSEL CULTURE
Submerged Longlines
Longline Site Layout
Fishing boat… to mussel boat
Inshore Seed Collection Raft
Seed Collection
Mussel seed ready for socking
Preparing Seed for Growout
Offshore Operations
•Attaching socks and growout ropes
•Adjusting buoyancy as weight increases
•Monitoring growth and meat yield
•Harvesting
•Longline maintenance
•Water column monitoring
Tubular Mesh Socking
Mussel SummaryGrowth
• Approximately 4 mm (0.2 inches)/month
• Average Growout from spat set 14 months
4-6 months on seed collectors (nursery)
8-9 months on longlines (growout)
Production
• Seed line to growout line ratio 1 ft: 3ft
• Two production cycles per year
• Optimal seed density on growout ropes: 200-225 seed/ft
• 2,000 ft* of growout rope per longline; max of 3,000 ft**
• 12,000 -18,000 lbs per longline
Technology Transfer Process
• Objectives:
• To demonstrate the engineering, biological and economic feasibility of open ocean culture
• To design technology and operations for compatibility with existing capture fisheries
Commercial Fishermen Partners from the Beginning of the Project
• There were a lot of informal discussions with fishermen before there was a proposal
• Fishermen were an important part of a meeting with University administration and Senator Gregg
• They gave input on the original proposal• A local fisherman serves on the project
Advisory Committee• The local fishermen’s cooperative was listed on
the aquaculture permit
Fishermen were hired to work on the project
• A fisherman helped design and built the mussel mooring system
• Fishermen were hired to move fish, equipment, and people to and from the project site
• The finfish part of the project hired fishermen to feed the fish
• The project paid the fishermen’s cooperative for the use of their docks, winches, forklifts, and storage space
Fishermen were very important in identifying the project site
• Lobster, gillnet, dragger, and recreational fishermen actively fish the area where the project is located
• Meetings were held with each group to identify the best site
• Not one person spoke against the project at the public hearing for the aquaculture permit
Extension Activities
• Contacted fishermen that participated in all aspects of the project
• Met with the two fishermen’s cooperatives board of directors periodically to update them on the project
• Organized mussel aquaculture workshops each year for the past four years
• Produced video and fact sheet on growing mussels on a submerged longline system
• Met with New Hampshire Fish and Game the agency responsible for aquaculture permitting
• Organized stakeholder meetings to identify sites for mussel farms
• Have identified areas in state waters that seem to be acceptable to all users
• Now working one-on-one with fishermen helping them through the permitting process
Thank You!
Any Questions?
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