Farming the Open Ocean in the US

Michael Chambers, UNH and NH Sea Grant

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.

What is Open Ocean Aquaculture?

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.

Why Farm the Ocean?

70% of the planet is ocean Yet it produces only 2% of

our food

US seafood deficit of $10 billion/yr. Growing populations will increase demand

Japan consumes > 50 kg / yr. US < 7 kg / yr.

US Exclusive Economic Zone

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

Inshore Protected Aquaculture

Types of Cage Systems

Floating

Submersible

Circular, HDPE (Cards, MSI, Cooke) Sea Station

Square, steel (WaveMaster)

Aquapod

Feeding Systems (day feeders)

Auto Feed Barges (near shore)

1st Generation

20 ton Aquamana

Developing Offshore Feeding Technologies

2nd Generation For Sale

Feed Monitoring

Projects that have Advanced OOA in the US

Funded by Occidental Petroleum

Gulf of Mexico

Red Drum

Florida Pompano

GMIT

Gulf of Mexico

University of Southern Mississippi / Sea grant

SeaFish

GMIT

- Red drum - Cobia

White Sea bass

Striped bass Yellowtail

California halibut

Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute, CA

Stock enhancement Marine aquaculture

University of Miami

• 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 .

Cobia fingerlings (Rachycentron canadum)

Two Sea Station Cages

One 3000 m3 Aquapod

Raised snapper and cobia

Planned expansion created permitting challenges

Puerto Rico

Moved to Panama - Open Blue Sea Farms

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 StationTM fish cages.

• Oceanic Institute

• Anuenue Fisheries

• Pacific Ocean Ventures

• Kona Blue Water Farms

• Blue Ocean Mariculture

Greater Amberjack

Hatcheries in HI

Oceanic Institute

Pacific Ocean Ventures

Hawaii, The Big Island

Ocean Systems Evaluated at UNH

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Gadus morhua

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Marine Fish Cultured in Sea Pens

Mytilis edulis

• 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 – O2

– Salinity – pH – Florescence – Turbidity – Pressure

Environmental Monitoring is an Important Component

• 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

What’s the Future for Farming the Ocean