Optimizing production and products for scallop aquaculture

Lead PI: Damian Brady

Co-PIs: Dana Morse

Project Team: Struan Coleman, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Linda Auker, Christian Brayden

Abstract: The giant sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, supports one of the most valuable and important wild fisheries in the United States, valued at over $430 million dollars ex-vessel value in 2015. Additionally, the U.S. imports 40 million pounds of scallops, mostly from Asia, totaling another $350 million and contributes to the US’s significant seafood trade imbalance. Clearly, even with significant domestic landings, the demand for scallops and scallop products in the United States is significant. The state of Maine has the only large inshore scallop fishery in the US, and while some successes have been observed, consistent stock recovery throughout the state remains a goal. Work by several seafood companies has gained significant traction in educating buyers, chefs, and consumers of the value of a fresh, unprocessed scallops. The market is thus primed for a cultured product, landed daily and with the additional advantage of year-round availability. Moreover, the northeast region of the US constitutes an appropriate growing area for sea scallops, per temperature and salinity regimes and natural distribution of scallops. We propose to define best practices as it relates to production techniques (nursery optimization, grow out practices) and site selection (synoptic environmental monitoring) and to disseminate this information throughout the Northeast U.S. and more broadly. In close collaboration with partnering aquaculture companies in Maine, we have identified the following bottlenecks to industry expansion and designed a plan of work to address them: (1) It is critical to optimize nursery culture, so that seed can be grown to the size for ear-hanging (50-70 mm) as efficiently as possible. (2) The development of other products beyond simply adductor muscles (scallop meats) is important; it allows farmers to get more value per individual produced, and promotes resilience in the marketplace. Toward that end, more information on toxin loads at given sites, such that regulators, producers and consumers can be ensured of product safety is needed. (3) Trials on optimizing ear-hanging are still very much needed with Placopecten in U.S. coastal waters, and providing data to producers about the benefits and drawbacks of each method is key to making decisions about investments and expansion. Additionally, better coupling of environmental data with observed growth rates is vital to understanding future site selection as the industry transitions from early adopters to early majority and beyond. (4) Fouling is a challenge for every marine farming operation, and no different for scallops. Machinery exists to clean grow-out equipment, such as ear-hung scallops and lantern nets. However, a central piece of understanding is the timing and degree of settlement and growth, so that producers can be efficient and cost-effective when implementing their cleaning activities. (5) A central question is the financial feasibility of growing scallops as a culture crop: can a business be profitable? We propose to answer this question using the labor, biotoxin screening, and equipment costs determined from this project and partner interviews. (6) Outreach and extension makes all the outcomes and discoveries of this proposal accessible by those who might use it. We propose a robust outreach plan to make sure that information gets to any interested party in an organized, timely and engaging way. Importantly, the best practices developed in this proposal will be communicated beyond Maine by concentrating on extendible products: identification of optimal nursery/grow-out techniques and site selection characteristics as well as using the Aquaculture in Shared Waters training program co-developed by co-PI Morse. We propose to provide data on nursery production, biotoxin monitoring and sales of live product, timing of fouling organism settlement, and suspension grow out technology – data that will help producers become more efficient and profitable, and which will help new producers sustainably site farms. We will add to our pool of well-trained and qualified scientists in this field, and we will take robust measures to ensure that project data are available in a timely, organized and accessible fashion.

Project Dates: 9/1/18 – 8/31/21

Project Funding: NOAA- Saltonstall Kennedy