RESEARCH - Research Summary

Research Summary

The productivity and profitability of shellfish aquaculture depend primarily on the transformation of naturally-occurring food into marketable shellfish. The ability to measure food concentration and food depletion by shellfish feeding is therefore critical for the forecast of shellfish growth and for the maximization of shellfish production. New, cutting-edge technology using light sensors permits autonomous, continuous and water-column integrated measurements of food depletion by shellfish feeding cultured in long-line farms. However, commercially available instruments are very expensive because they are mainly built for applications that require highest-performance and extreme environmental resistance. The objective of this project is to develop an integrated system, based on cost-effective bio-optical instruments to continuously assess food concentration and depletion in shellfish aquaculture sites. This will serve as a tool for monitoring shellfish feeding activity, forecasting growth and quantifying environmental impact. The system has potential as a commercial product for widespread use, not only in aquaculture, but also in coastal environmental monitoring world wide.

Network Investigators

Dr. John J. Cullen, Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Dr. Penney Barnes, Canada Research Chair, Centre for Shellfish Research, Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC

Project Partners

Mr. William Ricketts, President, Satlantic Inc., Halifax, NS
Mr. John Stairs, Co-owner, AquaPrime Mussel Ranch Limited, Ship Harbour, NS
Dr. Toby Balch, Nova Scotia Dept. of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fisheries and Aquaculture Services, Halifax, NS