CINEMar/Open Ocean Aquaculture Annual Progress Report for the period 1/01/04 through 12/31/04

Principal Investigator: Rollie Barnaby, Forbes Horton,and Richard Langan

I. Accomplishments

A. Scheduled Tasks

1. Bring applied research results, primarily the engineering accomplishments, to other research institutions, agencies, existing aquaculture businesses, and potential businesses.
2. Bring results of finfish and shellfish culture research to other research institutions, agencies, existing aquaculture businesses, potential businesses, and the general public.
3. Respond to negative environmental reports concerning marine aquaculture.
4. Alert New Hampshire commercial fishermen to the potential business opportunities of raising mussels on submerged longlines.
5. Identify commercial fishermen that are ready to make an investment in mussel aquaculture.
6. With the help of commercial fishermen identify a place to deploy mussel growout longlines that has the least amount of conflict with other marine users.
7. Help the two NH fishing cooperatives obtain permits to grow mussels in NH waters.
8. Help fishermen put mussel longlines in the water, obtain mussel seed, attach seed to the longline, and harvest and market mussels.

B. Progress on Tasks

1. Results of engineering and biological research were presented formally and informally at regional, national, and international meetings/workshops: Northeast Regional Sea Grant meeting-January, World Aquaculture Society meeting-March, Boston Seafood Show-March, Farming the Deep Blue-October.
2. Helped OOA project receive national recognition by being part of a national public radio program.
3. Provided information and quoted in several local and regional publications.
4. Met formally and informally with representatives from two environmental organizations: Conservation Law Foundation and Ocean Conservancy.
5. Met with local commercial fishermen and fishermen’s cooperatives at least once a month to discuss mussel aquaculture.
6. With the help of commercial fishermen identified a site 2 _ miles offshore as the best place to start a mussel farm.
7. Each of the two NH fishermen’s cooperatives agreed to apply for aquaculture permits for five mussel longlines.
8. After months of meetings with fishermen, state and federal agencies, and an outside contractor, Tom Shevenell, who was hired to help with the permitting process, the permits were obtained.
9. Four commercial fishermen each agreed to be responsible for two longlines. The longlines were deployed in November
10. Because of weather, and limited vessel availability the longlines did not get seeded, it is hoped that seed can be put out on the lines early 2005.

C. Important Results or Findings
1. Aquaculture permits to grow blue mussels in the open ocean were obtained by someone other than an academic or research institution for the first time ever.

2. Commercial fishermen have started the process of growing blue mussels in the open ocean for the first time ever.

3. In two public hearings on open ocean aquaculture permits there were no negative comments.

D. Difficulties Encountered
1. The aquaculture permitting process was a generic permit application used for any type of aquaculture; finfish and shellfish, inshore and offshore, estuarine or open ocean, this added to the complexity of the process. There needs to be different categories of permits, the requirements for shellfish should not be as stringent as finfish.

2. The information required by the permitting process at this time is too technical for the average person.

3. The media carried a lot of negative information on aquaculture which was not relevant to open ocean or shellfish aquaculture. We did try to respond to this, but it is difficult to impact major media information.

E. Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives on Schedule
1. We identified a mussel grow-out site, helped fishermen obtain permits, and deployed four mussel longlines.

2. In early spring 2005 fishermen will put mussel seed on the longlines and in the fall they will harvest and sell their mussels.

F. Reports, manuscripts, and presentations resulting from the project
1. There were dozens of informal and formal presentations made by the PIs on this project.

2. Rollie Barnaby, PI for outreach, targeted commercial fishermen and met with this audience several times each month during the year especially during the permitting process.

3. Rollie Barnaby spent part of this period preparing for a six-month sabbatical in 2005 during which he will visit open ocean aquaculture businesses interviewing owners and write a report on “The Status of Open Ocean Aquaculture in the United States in 2005.”

II. Tasks and Activities for Next Reporting period

A. Tasks for the next reporting period

1. Continue to help mussel growers maintain, harvest, and market their first crop.
2. Purchase and deploy portable mussel processing equipment and teach growers how to use it.
3. Identify new growers and possible sites.
4. Produce a report on the “Status of Open Ocean Aquaculture in 2005.”

B. Brief work plan to accomplish tasks

1. Conduct workshops locally and in other New England States on mussel culture.
2. Meet with potential mussel farmers informally and formally at regional and national aquaculture meetings.
3. Spend five months visiting all the open ocean aquaculture businesses in the U.S. collecting information for report.
4. Spend one month writing report.

C. Anticipated concerns or difficulties
1. As mussel aquaculture grows it will become more and more difficult to identify sites in state waters.

2. The permitting problems will continue to slow the development of marine aquaculture unless it is modified.

III. Expenditures
Expenditures were consistent with the technology transfer activities that were conducted.