Development of a Pressure-Based Technology for the Purpose of Controlling Biofoulers on Oyster Cages and Oysters

Summary: With the financial participation of AIMAP, King Aquaculture Inc. has developed a prototype automated pressure washer in order to control marine biofouling that infests OysterGro cages and oysters. This technology eliminates the current technique of “flipping” the cage. In order to properly control biofouling, the current method can take up to seven flips in a season, which involves high labour and operating costs, and causes significant stress to oysters contained in the socks. This project aims to enable aquaculture operations to minimize the work involved in cleaning cages, the control of biofouling and marine growth and the speed of cleaning, while minimizing any disruption to oyster feeding. The overarching objective of the project is to improve the net productivity and economic viability of oyster aquaculture.

The new concept for cleaning involves operating from a barge equipped with pressure jets. The time required for the cleaning process does not exceed two minutes. The cages are out of the water for not more than six minutes, which does not disrupt filtration time and causes little stress to oysters. The pressure-based system for cleaning marine growth and controlling biofouling can be operated by just two people. All these factors should reduce the time it takes to get oysters to market

Project Lead: King Aquaculture Inc.

Total Project Cost: $ 236,819

DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $68,000

Other Financial Support:

• Recipient: King Aquaculture Inc.
• Provincial Government: New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Federal Government: NRC IRAP
• Municipal: Miramichi Economic Development Fund
• Coastal Zones Research Institute Inc. (CZRI)

For more information, please contact the regional coordinator.

Gulf Region: Stephen.Lanteigne@dfo-mpo.gc.ca