Cost Effective Microalgae Production for Aquaculture

The high cost of producing microalgae as food for bivalves constrains the size to which large quantities of bivalve seed can be grown in controlled hatchery conditions prior to transfer into a nursery. Larger hatchery seed translates to larger juveniles planted in the fall, and dramatically improves yields at harvest. Based on preliminary bench-top studies conducted by Mook Sea Farm, the SBIR Phase I objective is to develop an innovative 300 liter prototype bioreactor to produce shellfish food (Tetraselmis sp. (MC:2)) at reduced cost in conjunction with Mook Sea Farms existing microalgae production system. Tasks will focus on maintaining favorable culture parameters, assessing culture yields and longevity, and verifying that oyster seed grows at acceptably high rates when fed microalgae from the prototype. Successful development of this improved bioreactor technology will result in, at minimum, a 6 to 7 fold increase in cell yield per liter of culture along with a considerable reduction of lighting and cooling costs. If successful, this research and development will revolutionize Mook Sea Farms algae production allowing us to sell larger quantities of seed to other farms, increase sales of market-size oysters, and to supply concentrated, low cost, microalgae to finfish and shrimp farms.