Application of Innovative Technologies to Improve the Efficiency and Sustainability of Shellfish Aquaculture Nurseries – Renewable Energy Upweller

Summary:
Because of the high cost of algae production in modern hatcheries, it is extremely cost advantageous to develop production strategies to transfer seed at small sizes (2-3mm) from the hatchery and to grow seed in an extensive nursery systems referred to as a FLUPSY (Floating Upweller System). For several years, staff at the Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR) have been following the development of a small solar powered FLUPSY technology developed by engineering students and researchers at Roger Williams University, Rhode Island.

In a previous CSR project, we responded to the industry’s need to develop a new shellfish aquaculture raft design using current state-of-the-art materials and techniques. The resulting “open” design has created next generation high quality rafts for the BC shellfish farming industry. This current project is the marriage of this recently developed renewable energy FLUPSY and our next generation shellfish culture raft.  A solar powered FLUPSY is novel on the west coast and we believe it has significant potential for adoption by the BC shellfish culture industry for a variety of species.

Our project objectives were to produce:

• A “farm scale” extensive nursery system that will allow the commercialization of native species such as the native cockle and other shellfish species;
• Greater sustainability for the shellfish industry via integration of renewable energy sources, reduced environmental risk and operational costs;
• Further integration and usefulness of the new CSR next generation shellfish culture raft design;
• A FLUPSY design that will have greater social acceptance through lower profile, consistency with shellfish culture rafts, add quiet operations; and
• Provision of FLUPSY design to industry for further adaption and improvement.

The modifications to a standard FLUPSY system to allow renewable solar energy to power the FLUPSY include: the fabrication of a shaft-driven axial flow pump; replacement of the standard 110VAC or diesel motor with a 90VDC motor; installation of solar panels, battery storage system and charge controller and; modification of the raft to support the new components. Significantly, these costs are well within costs or less than a diesel powered generator.

Adaptation of the VIU Shellfish raft to support the FLUPSY unit was relatively simple. Four galvanized 4x4 angle iron components (AIT Technologies) were constructed and these were bolted underneath the raft structural beams. Wherever possible, consumer items were modified to build FLUPSY components (i.e., garden storage box for battery storage and structural plastic garbage can for FLUPSY bins).

Initial testing indicates that the raft is achieving all desired criteria for performance and outcomes.

Recipient: Evening Cove Oysters Ltd.

Total Project Cost: $161,515
           
DFO-AIMAP Contribution: $89,440

Other Financial Support:

• Recipient: Evening Cove Oysters - http://www.eveningcoveoysters.com/
• Vancouver Island University Centre for Shellfish Research (VIUCSR) - http://www.viu.ca/csr/
• Roger Williams University - http://www.rwu.edu/

For more information please contact the AIMAP regional coordinator
Pacific Region: Sean.Irvine@dfo-mpo.gc.ca