Development of Sustainable, Multi-Seasonal, Multi-Species, Marine Algal Aquaculture in Coastal Maine

This Phase I proposal determines the feasibility of growing multiple species of macroalgae in commercial marine aquafarm environments. Marine aquaculture is a logical outgrowth of successful wild harvest seaweed businesses over the last several years. Developing a marine aquaculture prototype will foster the science of sea farming. Extending growing seasons for multi-species would provide year round fresh sea vegetables for various growing markets where currently only dried and frozen product is available. Nursery production is the first step to successful grow-out while commercial success depends on careful cultivation. Our project collaborates with ongoing Sea Grant research in Maine and New Hampshire and University of Maine's Center for Cooperative Aquaculture (CCAR), to evaluate aquaculture seed stock and grow-out techniques. For each species obtained from CCAR, our team will gather data on water quality, nutrients, light levels, and hydrographic dynamics to assemble profiles of key parameters that determine optimum algal growth and evaluate factors that will be important for growing high quality sea vegetables year round. The six-month Phase I time frame investigates a limited period of the growing season but the data gathered can be used to project cultivation strategies for prototype aquaculture farms during Phase II.