Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

ENGINEERING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

The Sustainable Marine Aquaculture Technology project is a collaborative research program with scientists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the Aquaculture Division of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, and Florida State University. Research is being conducted at two sites: at the Harbor Branch Aquaculture Development Park in Fort Pierce, FL and at the Florida State University Marine Laboratory in Sopchoppy, FL. The engineering research effort to develop sustainable systems for the commercial marine finfish aquaculture industry includes evaluating current technology for energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, and waste management.

ARS staff and Harbor Branch Aquaculture Division scientists are developing a showcase research facility for the aquaculture industry. This facility, called the STARR (Sustainable Tank Aquaculture Recirculating Research) facility, consists of two different 4-tank RAS designs, each replicated four times, with a total system volume of approximately 42,000 L.. The eight systems are under construction in a covered Quonset-hut style facility (9850 m2) with each system consisting of a swirl separator for each tank, a rotating microscreen drum filter (60 microns), biofilter (propwash floating bead filter or moving floating beadbed reactor), sump, oxygenation cone, and UV sterilizer. These systems were designed to be low cost, and energy efficient. Energy and water consumption, water quality including pH, oxygen, and temperature, solids and ammonia removal, CO2 and nitrate buildup will be monitored to evaluate system components for developing reliable and feasible technology for the marine aquaculture industry.

Florida State University research scientists and engineers are working cooperatively with HBOI and USDA scientists to evaluate methods to thermally control culture water with solar technology. Data is being collected to develop energy models for both conventional heating systems and solar heating systems to determine whether solar technology is a cost-effective alternative for maintaining optimal year round production temperatures in a recirculating system.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Sustainable Tank Aquaculture Recirculating Research (STARR) Facility

Evaluation Of Solid Removal And Nitrification Performance Of A RAS With A Prop-Washedbead Filter And Fluidized Bed Sand Filter

Comparison Of Performance And Economics Of Solar And Propane Greenhouse Heating Systems