Technology Transfer: Growing Mussels on Submerged Longlines in an Open Ocean Environment Rollie Barnaby Extension Educator, Sea Grant

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Technology Transfer Growing Mussels on Submerged
Longlines in an Open Ocean EnvironmentRollie
BarnabyExtension Educator, Sea Grant Marine
ResourcesUNH Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant
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Submerged Longline Culture of Blue Mussels
(Mytilis edulis) in Exposed Oceanic Environments
Design, Operation and Production Strategies
UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture Demonstration
Project A Component of the NOAA/UNH Cooperative
Institute for New England mariculture and
Fisheries (CINEMAR) Rollie Barnaby
Funding Provided by NOAA Sea Grant and OAR
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Aquaculture in Unprotected Oceanic Environments
Advantages Excellent Water Quality Lots
of Real Estate Minimal User Conflict
Challenges Systems Engineering Biological
Limitations Most waters unclassified
Increased risk of biotoxins (PSP) Permitting
Uncertainties Multiple Use Conflicts with
navigation and fishing Environmental Issues
(marine mammals)
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Goal To stimulate the commercial development of
open ocean aquaculture of bivalve
molluscs Objectives To demonstrate the
engineering, biological and economic feasibility
of open ocean culture To design technology and
operations for compatibility with existing
capture fisheries Approach Adapt existing
technologies and methods to open ocean
environments Develop new technologies and methods
as needed Develop production strategies Develop
business plans for several different operational
models Transfer Technology Troubleshoot and solve
industry problems
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5 miles from shore 180 ft deep Current velocities
.3-2 kts Significant wave heights gt 25
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MUSSEL CULTURE
Seed Collection Wild caught seed issues are
timing, location, materials and fouling
Nursery Culture On seed lines 4-6 months
Growout Suspension from submerged longline
Discrete lengths of mesh socking Continuous
with mesh socking Continuous with rope core
and biodegradable cotton sleeve
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Submerged Longlines
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Longline Site Layout
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Fishing boat to mussel boat
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Inshore Seed Collection Raft
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Seed Collection
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Mussel seed ready for socking
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Preparing Seed for Growout
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Offshore Operations

• Attaching socks and growout ropes
• Adjusting buoyancy as weight increases
• Monitoring growth and meat yield
• Harvesting
• Longline maintenance
• Water column monitoring

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Tubular Mesh Socking
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Mussel Summary
Growth Approximately 4 mm (0.2
inches)/month Average Growout from spat set 14
months 4-6 months on seed collectors
(nursery) 8-9 months on longlines
(growout) Production Seed line to growout
line ratio 1 ft 3ft Two production cycles
per year Optimal seed density on growout
ropes 200-225 seed/ft 2,000 ft of growout
rope per longline max of 3,000 ft 12,000
-18,000 lbs per longline
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Technology Transfer Process

• Objectives
• To demonstrate the engineering, biological and
  economic feasibility of open ocean culture
• To design technology and operations for
  compatibility with existing capture fisheries

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Commercial Fishermen Partners from the Beginning
of the Project

• There were a lot of informal discussions with
  fishermen before there was a proposal
• Fishermen were an important part of a meeting
  with University administration and Senator Gregg
• They gave input on the original proposal
• A local fisherman serves on the project Advisory
  Committee
• The local fishermens cooperative was listed on
  the aquaculture permit

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Fishermen were hired to work on the project

• A fisherman helped design and built the mussel
  mooring system
• Fishermen were hired to move fish, equipment, and
  people to and from the project site
• The finfish part of the project hired fishermen
  to feed the fish
• The project paid the fishermens cooperative for
  the use of their docks, winches, forklifts, and
  storage space

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Fishermen were very important in identifying the
project site

• Lobster, gillnet, dragger, and recreational
  fishermen actively fish the area where the
  project is located
• Meetings were held with each group to identify
  the best site
• Not one person spoke against the project at the
  public hearing for the aquaculture permit

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Extension Activities

• Contacted fishermen that participated in all
  aspects of the project
• Met with the two fishermens cooperatives board
  of directors periodically to update them on the
  project
• Organized mussel aquaculture workshops each year
  for the past four years
• Produced video and fact sheet on growing mussels
  on a submerged longline system

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• Met with New Hampshire Fish and Game the agency
  responsible for aquaculture permitting
• Organized stakeholder meetings to identify sites
  for mussel farms
• Have identified areas in state waters that seem
  to be acceptable to all users
• Now working one-on-one with fishermen helping
  them through the permitting process

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Thank You!
Any Questions?