MARICULTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR RURAL ALASKA NATIVES

PROBLEM: ONE OF THE MAJOR BARRIERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PINK SCALLOP AQUACULTURE IS THE SHIPMENT OF THE LIVE ANIMALSTO MARKETS ON THE WEST COAST. PINK SCALLOPS ARE VERY FRAGILE. TRANSPORTING THEM TO KODIAK AND REMOTE SITE FOR SHIPMENT TO SEATTLE AND STILL MAINTAIN ENOUGH SHELF LIFE FOR WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS TO SELL THE PRODUCT IS DIFFICULT. QUESTION: CAN THE SHELF LIFE BE EXTENDED WITH PROCEDURES TO TREAT LIVE ANIMALS. APPROACH: LITERATURE SEARCH ON CURRENT LIVE SEAFOOD SHIPPING METHODS THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO SCALLOPS. LIVE SHIPMENT OF SHRIMPS, CRABS,OYSTERS, MUSSELS AND ABALONES ARE CURRENTLY PRACTICED. PERHAPS INVESTIGATE THE METHODS USED FOR TROPICAL FISH. TEST EXPERIMENTS ON TREATED VS. UNTREATED ANIMALS TO DETERMINE ANY POSITIVE INCREASE IN LIVE SHELF LIFE.