Application of Growth, Enhancement and Depuration Technology and Methods for Land-Based Oyster Cultivation

Summary:
The AIMAP project to develop techniques for holding oysters in cold intensive recirculation environments and enhanced depuration of oysters in high oxygen environments was undertaken between March 2010 and March 2011. This project involved the design and construction of 2 water treatment systems and associated tank holding capacities at the Village Bay Sea Products site in Rexton, New Brunswick.

The objective of the project was to provide controlled system environments to 1) reduce the weight loss and gonad development of mature oysters in a cold holding system and 2) provide an optimal and enhanced (over standard commercial methods) depuration system to remove bacteria and algal contaminants.

The environment of the system will be closely controlled so that essential growth-impacting parameters (oxygen, nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, carbon dioxide, ph, alkalinity; and food) can be closely monitored and supplemented and/or reduced to provide optimal holding conditions. Metabolic rate of oysters are determined to be critically dependant on oxygen levels with the culture environment. Enhanced metabolic rate increases the physiological efficiency of oysters. Very high oxygen levels can be easily maintained within intensive culture systems, so that there are no limitations on metabolic rates of the oysters. With the use of the InVentures gas infusion technology, which is a critical part of the depuration system as designed, extremely high oxygen concentration environments can be produced while simultaneously removing nitrogen from the water. The land-based depuration system designed for the facility was premised on the inclusion of the PurGRO2® apparatus.

The intensive recirculation-based system for cold holding of oysters and the enhanced depuration system were designed specifically for the Village Bay project. The systems were designed within the premise that controlled environments will alter and effect oyster metabolic rate (suppression of gonad development and enhancement of waste evacuation rate).

Project Lead: Village Bay Sea Products Ltd.

Total Project Cost: $1,458,650
           
DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $375,000

Other Financial Support:

• Recipient: Village Bay Sea Products Ltd.
• Federal Government: NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP);
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
• Government of New Brunswick: NBDAAF and Northern Economic Development Fund

For more information please contact the regional coordinator.

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