Molluscan AquacultureMolluscan Aquacultureinin

Atlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada

Need for Aquaculture

• The need for food around the world is always increasing

• Fish stocks are declining - New resources need to be developed

• Growing and caring for aquatic organisms for the purpose of food production

» Salmon, Mussels, Oysters, Scallops, Trout, Arctic Char, Sea Urchins, Kelp, etc.

Shellfish - Filter Feeding

• Filter feeding animals are very important in an ecosystem

• They eat what is already there - so they don’t need to be given artificial food

• They clean the water - most can even filter and eat bacteria, making them safe to consume

This slide shows clumped mussels open and actively feeding

GILLS

STOMACHINTESTINE

HEART

MANTLE

AMERICAN OYSTERANATOMY

Condo with Oysters

Oyster Aquaculture

The cages are tied and floated in rows to feed on naturally occurring food

Quahaug Aquaculture

Shows high densities in red areas

Mussel Aquaculture

Lines from a distance

Closer to lines on a calm dayMature lines out of water

Mussel Aquaculture

Support Line Buoy

Marker Buoy

Between 5 & 7 Metres deep

Anchor

Mussels Sock150 socks per line

BOTTOM

Suspended mussel line

90 meters

SCUBA

Divers getting positioned

SCUBALook at mussel lines

Look for starfish in divers hand

Click on middle frame

SCUBA

This mussel line will be used for samples

Research

• “Weather Station” use of cages

• Temperature/Salinity

• Water quality

• What are the conditions in the bay

• Growth / Survival

• Competition

• Invasive species

1 m

DFO/AVC

Collecting portionTemperatureRecorder (1 min intervals)

Mussel Cage

Experimental Mussel Cage on Site

Growth

This mussel measures 4.95 centimeters

Research

• Field studies– Deployment

of 50 cages in PEI, NS, and NB (Oysters and Mussels)

Growth Rateµm/d

15050

How can there still be good growth in many areas that look crowded?

Working with Aquatic Ecosystems

• Dynamic - Everything is in movement • Tides, currents, water exchange, etc.

• Interrelated - All the parts are connected• Impact on one part affects the others

• Influences - Many things affect the ecosystem• Water based factors - Constantly changing environment

• Land based factors - Most things eventually finish in the oceans

• Natural and Man-made impacts

• Other species

Invasive species

Green Crab Clubbed Tunicate

Codium

Mussel research cage covered in club tunicates

Questions?

Marine Biology

Ecosystems

AquacultureScientific Research

Scuba Diving

Mussels

Crabs

Oysters

Lobsters

Invasive species Challenges

Questions on any of the Topics Above ?

Contact

Or any DFO office in your area

Matthew HardyAquaculture Biologist Fisheries and Oceans CanadaGulf Region 343 Université AvenueMoncton, N.B.   E1C 9B6Tel. (506) 851-2728

E-mail: hardyma@dfo-mpo.gc.ca