Cost Effective Microalgae Production for Aquaculture

Recipient Organization
MOOK SEA FARM, INC.
321 STATE ROUTE 129
WALPOLE,ME 04573

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
The high cost of producing microalgae as food for bivalves constrains the size to which large quantities of bivalve seed can be grown in controlled hatchery conditions prior to transfer into a nursery. Larger hatchery seed translates to larger juveniles planted in the fall, and dramatically improves yields at harvest. The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of a prototype microalgal bioreactor as a means of producing low cost, high quality food for juvenile oysters.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
402	2499	1020	40%
402	5399	2020	60%

Knowledge Area
402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
5399 - Structures, facilities, and equipment, general/other; 2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
Based on preliminary bench-top studies conducted by Mook Sea Farm, the SBIR Phase I objective is to develop an innovative prototype bioreactor to produce shellfish food (Tetraselmis sp. (MC:2)) at reduced cost in conjunction with the existing microalgae production system at Mook Sea Farm. Successful development of this improved bioreactor technology will result in, at minimum, a 6 to 7 fold increase in cell yield per liter of culture along with a considerable reduction of lighting and cooling costs.

Project Methods
The approach will be to assemble and run a small fed-batch production system consisting of five prototype units for growing Tetraselmis sp. (MC:2) for use as oyster food in the hatchery. Emphasis will be on: contamination control; enhancing culture productivity by controlling culture parameters; verification of food value to oysters; and, a cost benefit analysis of the new approach to microalgae production.

Progress 06/01/07 to 01/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In this Phase I project Mook Sea Farm (MSF) developed and tested the feasibility of using a new microalgae production system. Experiments and tests were conducted to maintain axenic cultures, increase biomass yields by manipulating key culture parameters, and to verify that the microalgae produced by the system allowed for good growth in juvenile oysters. A cost analysis was carried out to compare operational costs of the new system to traditional methods. PARTICIPANTS: William Mook of Mook Sea Farm, Inc. was the PI/PD. Andrew Stevenson of Mook Sea Farm, and Rebecca Banister, formerly of Mook Sea Farm, served as Research Assistants. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this technolgy include other shellfish hatcheries (public and private), marine aquarium keepers, and shellfish growers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Mook Sea Farm successfully demonstrated the feasibilty of the new microalgae bioprocess. Biomass yields were nearly 12 times greater and operating costs 5 times less compared to traditional shellfish hatchery food culture techniques. Juvenile oysters fed with food produced by the new method grow as fast as they do when fed traditionally grown microalgae. The equipment and protocols tested and developed for maintaining contamination-free cultures were successful. Based on these results, MSF is converting hatchery food production to the new technology and has applied for Phase II funds to: scale up and further optimize the system, and test several new uses for the food produced. These include the creation of a low temperature inventory for hatchery reared seed oysters, long-term wet storage of market oysters, and development of a microalgal concentrate for sale to other users of microalgae.

Publications

No publications reported this period