CINEMar/Open Ocean Aquaculture Annual Progress Report for the period 1/01/03 through 12/31/03

Principal Investigator: Richard Langan

I. Accomplishments

A. Scheduled Tasks

1. Continue with materials evaluation
2. Continue with recruitment (spat settlement) studies
3. Continue technology transfer with local fishing community
4. Continue to work with international mussel industries on advancing offshore culture technologies
5. Continue mussel production and marketing

B. Progress on Tasks

1. We were unable to complete the planned replicated evaluation of growout ropes due to the destruction of the original longlines in February 2003. The incident resulted in the total loss of the seed crop socked in December 2002 and fall 2002 seed collection efforts. The longline was salvaged and useable components (corner floats, line, etc.) were used to deploy two new lines in April 2003. The new installation differed in several ways. Four anchors (two per line), each a 4,500 lb. granite block, were used instead of three larger concrete blocks for two lines (Figure 1). On one line, a cluster of six 16 inch diameter plastic floats were used in place of the 36 inch diameter steel corner floats, resulting in a savings of over $1,500 for the line materials (Figure 2). Though the replicated experiment could not be completed as planned, we quantitatively determined that New Zealand “loop” and Christmas tree” rope were the preferred core ropes for growout (Figure 2). This assessment was based on the ease of handling and socking, and by the subjectively evaluated strength of the byssal attachment as compared with previous deployment using other ropes.
   
2. Canadian “fuzz” rope was deployed as seed collectors in late May 2003 from the inshore raft at Fort Point and from the offshore longline. Seed lines in both locations caught visible (> 1 mm) seed in late July, but were heavily fouled with hydroids. Seed collectors on offshore longline received decent settlement between 12 m (the depth of the longline) and 15 m. Seed settlement thinned considerably beyond 15 m and virtually no seed were caught below 20 m.
   
3. Meetings with fishermen were held in Maine and New Hampshire in the winter and spring of 2003 (Figure 4). The presentations were well received and generated a great deal of discussion at the meetings. The technology transfer component of the project contracted an individual to work with interested New Hampshire fishermen to develop federal and state permit applications for open ocean aquaculture sites. The Yankee Cooperative (Seabrook, NH) is seeking permits for five longlines and another NH fisherman has submitted a permit for two lines as a sole proprietor. It is anticipated that permits will be granted in the spring of 2004. To our knowledge, no Maine fishermen have gotten that far in the process, however, an article that appeared in “Working Waterfront”, a publication for the Maine fishing industry, was very positive and is expected to generate additional interest.
   
4. The project’s principal investigator met with a New Zealand scientist who is developing carrying capacity models for mussel farms. Discussions focussed on potential environmental impacts on water flow and secondary production by suspended mussel farms. Presentations from two New Zealand, on Spanish and one German mussel industry representative were arranged for the offshore aquaculture session at World Aquaculture 2004 in Hawaii. One of the New Zealand representatives will be visiting the offshore demonstration site in the spring of 2004.
   
5. Following the loss of the 2002 seed cohort in the longline incident described above (#1), seed was purchased from Tightrope Sea Farms in Maine, and socked for growout in May 2003 (Figure 5 and Figure 6). Mussels from this cohort were larger (30 mm) than the seed socked for growout in previous deployments and some reached market size in five months. Small lots (<100 lbs.) were harvested and processed by hand for special events and for local distribution beginning in October 2003 and a large quantity (4,000 lbs.) was harvested in December and shipped to a Rhode Island processor. This resulted in a less than favorable outcome with delays on processing and delivery, a high percentage of breakage (29%), and improper tagging of the finished product. Smaller lots will be harvested for local sale in 2004 until the crop is exhausted.

C. Important Results or Findings

1. The two cohorts grown in 2003 continue to confirm the growout period and high quality of the product.
2. The condition of the salvaged longline components (lines, anchors, etc.) after four years of use indicates a life expectancy of seven to ten years.
3. The new longlines deployed in 2003 demonstrated that deployment can be done from a relatively small vessel (50 ft.) if it is properly equipped and has adequate deck space. It was also demonstrated that a cluster of 16 inch plastic floats can replace the expensive corner buoys, reducing the cost of a longline by nearly $1,500.
4. Consumer response is very positive, however, it will be difficult to establish a recognized brand market until the production increases sufficiently to fill local market demand.
5. Local processing facilities need to be established in order to take advantage of product quality and rapid turnover of processed product.
6. The mechanics of harvesting and moving product on the harvest vessel needs to be further mechanized.

D. Difficulties Encountered
Other than the loss of the original longline and the unfortunate incident with a processor, no difficulties were encountered.

E. Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives on Schedule
Expectations for the commercial success of mussel culture remain very high, however, greater mechanization in the harvesting process is needed and shore based or at sea processing capabilities need to be established as production from commercial operators comes on line in 2004.

F. Reports, manuscripts, and presentations resulting from the project
Manuscripts
Langan, R. and C.F. Horton. 2003. Design, Operation and Economics of Submerged Longline Mussel Culture in the Open Ocean. Journal of the Aquaculture Association of Canada. In press.

Langan, R. 2003. Balancing Marine Aquaculture Inputs and Extraction: Combined Culture of Finfish and Bivalve Molluscs in the Open Ocean. Journal of the National Fisheries Research Institute of Japan. In press.

Grizzle, R., L.G. Ward, R.Langan, G. Schnaittacher, J. Dijkstra, and J.R. Adams. 2003. Environmental Monitoring at an Open Ocean Aquaculture Site in the Gulf of Maine: Results for 1997-2000. Pages 105-117 in: Open Ocean Aquaculture: From Research to Commercial Reality. C.J. Bridger and B.A. Costa-Pierce, eds. World Aquaculture Society Publication, Baton Rouge LA, USA.

Presentations
“Design, Operation And Economics Of Submerged Longline Mussel Culture In The Open Ocean” Aquaculture Canada 2003, November 2003, Victoria, BC, Canada

“CINEMAR’s Open Ocean Aquaculture Research and Development Program”. Coastal States Organization Annual Meeting, October 2003, Portsmouth, NH.

“Advances in Offshore Aquaculture”. NOAA Library Seminar, October 2003, Silver Spring, MD

“Offshore Aquaculture in the Northeast U.S.” U.S. Senate and House chambers, June 2003, Washington, DC

“NOAA Aquaculture Research”. Annual Meeting of State Aquaculture Coordinators, June 2003, Seattle, WA

“Submerged Longline Culture Of Blue Mussels In Exposed Oceanic Environments: Design, Operation, Production Potential And Economic Considerations”. World Aquaculture 2003, May 2003, Salvador, Brazil

“Advances in Offshore Aquaculture in the Northeast U.S.”. World Aquaculture 2003, May 2003, Salvador, Brazil

“Advancing Offshore Aquaculture Technology and Practices: The UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture Demonstration Project”, Aquaculture America 2003, February 2003, Louisville, KY

“The Cooperative Institute for New England Mariculture and Fisheries”. RI Sea Grant, March 2003.

Abstracts
Design, Operation and Economics of Submerged Longline Mussel Culture in the Open Ocean. Proceedings of Aquaculture Canada 2003, November 2003, Victoria, BC, Canada

Submerged Longline Culture Of Blue Mussels In Exposed Oceanic Environments: Design, Operation, Production Potential And Economic Considerations”. Proceedings of World Aquaculture 2003, May 2003, Salvador, Brazil

Advances in Offshore Aquaculture in the Northeast U.S.”. Proceedings of World Aquaculture 2003, May 2003, Salvador, Brazil

Advancing Offshore Aquaculture Technology and Practices: The UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture Demonstration Project. Proceedings of Aquaculture America 2003, February 2003, Louisville, KY

II. Tasks and Activities for Next Reporting period

A. Tasks for the next reporting period

1. Continue mussel production and marketing
2. Continue to work with international mussel industries on advancing offshore culture technologies
3. Continue technology transfer with local fishing community

B. Brief work plan to accomplish tasks

1. The project will team will continue to produce mussels and work with local restaurants and seafood markets on brand recognition and promotion.
2. The project team will maintain contact with New Zealand, Spanish and Canadian industries to exchange ideas and technology on longline design and vessel configuration
3. The project team will provide technical assistance to the local fishing industry for permitting, equipment and materials acquisition, longline construction and deployment, seed acquisition and husbandry techniques.

C. Anticipated concerns or difficulties
None anticipated

III. Expenditures
Expenditures were consistent with original plans and timeline for the project