Farming the Open Ocean in the US. Michael Chambers, UNH and NH Sea Grant

Transcription

1 Farming the Open Ocean in the US Michael Chambers, UNH and NH Sea Grant

2 What is Open Ocean Aquaculture? Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shrimp, shellfish and aquatic plants. Mariculture is farming the ocean. Open Ocean farming is conducted in areas that are not sheltered by land and have exposure to extreme sea conditions. This could include sites that are located 10 km or more from shore, in depths over than 50 m, tidal currents > 0.50 m / sec and seas > 9 m.

3 Why Farm the Ocean? Worldwide capture fisheries has plateaued around 100 mmt since the 1990 s. Currently, the U.S. imports 90% of its seafood creating an annual deficit exceeding $10 billion. Over 50% of this seafood production comes from other countries as farmed raised product without the strict environmental regulations enforced in the U.S. The United Nation s Food and Agriculture Organization predicts a 40 million metric ton shortfall by 2030 which will have to be met through fish farming. Recent federal health guidelines call for Americans to double their seafood consumption. If more seafood is cultured in the US, it will create jobs, reduce the carbon foot print on foreign imports, provide fresh product and will increase seafood security. As the population grows and the demand for seafood increases, aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in domestic and global seafood production.

4

5

6

7 70% of the planet is ocean Yet it produces only 2% of our food Japan consumes > 50 kg / yr. US < 7 kg / yr. US seafood deficit of $10 billion/yr. Growing populations will increase demand

8 US Exclusive Economic Zone

9 Pro s and Con s of Farming the OOA Pro s 1. Increased space for expansion 2. High water quality 3. Less user conflicts 4. Less visual concern 5. Greater dispersion of nutrients Con s 1. High wind and wave energies 2. Difficult to feed and monitor 3. Increased capitol investment 4. Increased risks 5. Need new culture technologies 6. Video telemetry 7. Icing

10 Inshore Protected Aquaculture

11

12 Floating Types of Cage Systems Submersible Aquapod Square, steel (WaveMaster) Circular, HDPE (Cards, MSI, Cooke) Sea Station

13 Feeding Systems (day feeders)

14 Auto Feed Barges (near shore)

15 Developing Offshore Feeding Technologies 20 ton Aquamana 1 st Generation 2 nd Generation For Sale

16 Feed Monitoring

17 Projects that have Advanced OOA in the US

18 Gulf of Mexico Florida Pompano Red Drum Funded by Occidental Petroleum

19 University of Southern Mississippi / Sea grant Gulf of Mexico GMIT GMIT SeaFish - Red drum - Cobia

20 Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute, CA White Sea bass Stock enhancement Marine aquaculture California halibut Striped bass Yellowtail

21 Fingerling production for ocean aquaculture. Developed live transport protocols to ship fingerlings to remote locations. They have aided Cobia culture for Ocean Blue Sea Farms in Panama and for the Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas. University of Miami Cobia fingerlings (Rachycentron canadum)

22 Puerto Rico Two Sea Station Cages One 3000 m 3 Aquapod Raised snapper and cobia Planned expansion created permitting challenges

23 Moved to Panama - Open Blue Sea Farms

24 Hawaii - Oahu Joint project between the Oceanic Institute, University of HI and Cates International. Developed hatchery, nursery and growout technologies for the Pacific Threadfin Submerged culture strategies were employed with Sea Station TM fish cages.

25

26 Hatcheries in HI Oceanic Institute Anuenue Fisheries Pacific Ocean Ventures Kona Blue Water Farms Blue Ocean Mariculture Pacific Ocean Ventures Oceanic Institute Greater Amberjack

27 Hawaii, The Big Island

28

29

30 Ocean Systems Evaluated at UNH

31 Marine Fish Cultured in Sea Pens Hippoglossus hippoglossus Gadus morhua Melanogrammus aeglefinus Mytilis edulis Oncorhynchus mykiss

32

33 Environmental Monitoring is an Important Component Solar powered with spread spectrum data telemetry to shore Lower cost accelerometer as motion sensor wave height Current speed and direction Sampled at three different depths including: Temperature O 2 Salinity ph Florescence Turbidity Pressure

34 What s the Future for Farming the Ocean Ocean renewable energy and seafood production should be integrated together of offshore infrastructure. Integrate environmental stewardship Involving integrated multi-trophic species Organic and inorganic species Marine seaweeds for bio fuels Develop new protein sources for fish feeds (marine plant based) Develop turn key ocean farming systems Engage fishermen and cross train in ocean farming