3D-COAST System (3-Dimensional Cultivation of Oysters Automated with Solar Tumbling)

The World Is Your Oyster Sea Farm Department PROJECT SUMMARY Instructions: The summary is limited to 250 words. The names and affiliated organizations of all Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) should be listed in addition to the title of the project. The summary should be a self-contained specific description of the activity to be undertaken and should focus on: overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to accomplish project goal(s); and relevance of the project to the goals of the program. The importance of a concise informative Project Summary cannot be overemphasized. Title: 3D-COAST System (3-Dimensional Cultivation of Oysters Automated with Solar Tumbling) PD: Saindon Luke Institution: TWIYO Inc. TWIYO proposes developing a three-dimensional oyster cultivation raft that incorporates automated solar-powered cleaning and tumbling of the oysters. TWIYO envisions oyster baskets hung on vertical rotating conveyor belt-like mechanisms that would cycle the baskets through the water column and into the air. This solar system will provide gentle tumbling action to improve oyster shape and quality and the cages will be exposed to the sun for several hours each day at the top of the cycle for bio-fouling purposes. 3D-COAST is a modular raft system that will be scalable and easy to use for new and established aquaculture operations. This system will allow TWIYO and other aquaculture operations to realize farm profitability sooner and with greater margin by increasing growing density and reducing costs per oyster. This will encourage more sustainable aquaculture operations to develop in the US as a critical asset for solving both climate change challenges and food supply security and resilience. Aquaculture is an area where the US lags behind and a required solution for food supply as terrestrial farming becomes more difficult in the face of climate change. Objectives: 1) Build one prototype 3D-COAST raft using the smallest available aquaculture lease type in Maine (an LPA license for 400 square feet). 2) Record KPIs such as labor hours per oyster season growth system reliability (hours of down time) maintenance cost growth density bio-fouling growth and shell-shaping effectiveness. 3) Compare system performance with traditional oyster cultivation techniques and quantify commercialization improvement potential for new and existing farms (including for TWIYO). 291 Federal St. Wiscasset ME 04578 | (207) 266-7677 Page 1