PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Researchers are developing resilient aquaculture systems that can sustain abalone and seaweed production despite ocean acidification, rising temperatures and other environmental stressors threatening marine shellfish farming.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Marine shellfish aquaculture faces an existential threat from multiple interconnected environmental stressors. Ocean acidification weakens abalone shells and impairs growth in both juveniles and adults, while rising water temperatures reduce the growth of seaweeds that serve as critical abalone feed. Meanwhile, increasing hypoxia creates additional unknown risks for densely-stocked aquaculture operations. The research team's goal is to develop aquaculture techniques and infrastructure that can meet increasing seafood demand, buffer operations from these environmental impacts, minimize ecological footprint and create economic incentives for sustainable seafood production at local, national and global scales.
The project focuses on advancing Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems, where multiple species are cultivated together in ways that benefit each other and the overall system. Building on previous research showing that single-tank systems perform as well as more complex dual-tank setups, the team has concentrated on optimizing stocking densities to reduce energy usage and physical space requirements. Their approach combines red abalone cultivation with dulse seaweed in single-tank systems designed to withstand environmental stressors.
Recent experiments using 22 tanks with varying densities have yielded breakthrough results. Tanks stocked with 100 abalone demonstrated longevity of 275 days on average without intervention, with about one-third of the animals reaching market size through a "set it and forget it" approach. The IMTA system achieved abalone growth rates of 0.09 mm per day, potentially reducing time-to-market from 4.1 years to 3.4 years compared to traditional farms. This system eliminates the need for wild algae collection and tank cleaning while producing higher-protein abalone, reducing labor costs and environmental impact. The team continues to refine the approach by addressing challenges such as pH fluctuations and lighting optimization, while conducting outreach to California producers, tribal governments, and educational institutions.