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Evaluating The Performance Of A Multi-Tile Macroalgae Cultivation Structure Using Physical And Numerical Modeling, Zachary John Davonski

Master's Theses and Capstones

A scaled physical-model of a macroalgae cultivation structure was constructed and tested in the UNH wave tank. The physical-model was a 3x3 tile array, consisting of horizontal kelp-growing longlines, node buoys, and mooring lines. The model was scaled by Froude number to a 1:180 length scale. Deployment in the UNH wave tank allowed for evaluation of the design’s performance during wave and current conditions. The model was subjected to waves and simulated currents in order to investigate its response to dynamic loading conditions, as well any anomalous behaviors such as snap loading or component interaction. The motion of the system …

Sustainable Production Of Feed For Recirculating Aquaculture Using Black Solider Flies And Microalgae, Patrick Erbland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The demand for high-quality, nutritious food continues to increase as human populations grow. As wild fisheries are depleted, aquaculture production is growing to meet the demand for seafood. Sustainable alternatives to wild caught fish meal are increasingly valued for aquaculture feed production. Microalgae and insect larvae are both valuable sources of fatty acids in aquaculture feed. Black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens (L.) are used to convert organic waste streams into insect-based animal feeds. We tested their ability to retain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from feeding substrates, which has important implications for their use …

Evaluating The Performance Of A Multi-Tile Macroalgae Cultivation Structure Using Physical And Numerical Modeling, Zachary John Davonski

Master's Theses and Capstones

A scaled physical-model of a macroalgae cultivation structure was constructed and tested in the UNH wave tank. The physical-model was a 3x3 tile array, consisting of horizontal kelp-growing longlines, node buoys, and mooring lines. The model was scaled by Froude number to a 1:180 length scale. Deployment in the UNH wave tank allowed for evaluation of the design’s performance during wave and current conditions. The model was subjected to waves and simulated currents in order to investigate its response to dynamic loading conditions, as well any anomalous behaviors such as snap loading or component interaction. The motion of the system …

Evaluating Recirculating Aquaculture System Nutrient Production, Alexander J. Sitek

Master's Theses and Capstones

While aquaculture production accounts for half of the world fish production, a growing problem emerges with the amount of effluent being produced. Waste treatment of aquaculture effluent is expensive and energy- intensive as conventional approaches to waste remediation have remained mostly unchanged. To improve the economic sustainability, the aquaculture industry needs to integrate with other production systems similarly as terrestrial animal agriculture has done with soil-based crop production. Integrating waste production in a wastes-to-resources approach as fertilizer for hydroponic cropping systems will allow aquaculture producers to monetize waste treatment. However, a full accounting of aquaculture nutrient production is necessary to …

Dynamic And Structural Analyses Of A Gravity Fish Cage Employing Copper Alloy Netting, Michael James Osienski

Master's Theses and Capstones

Aquaculture, the process of growing marine plants and animals in the ocean, has been rapidly expanding due to increased seafood consumption coupled with the steady decrease of wild fish stocks. Increasing environmental concerns due to near-shore farming practices have pressured farmers to expand into more energetic open ocean sites. Environmental loading in these off-shore sites can deform common non-rigid aquaculture fish cages, reducing the cage’s net chamber volume, which can severely impacting the health of the rearing fish.

Copper alloy nets have emerged as a possible alternative to traditional polymer (nylon) twine used in the net chamber of fish cages. …

Senders, Receivers, And Spillover Dynamics: Understanding Transformative Forces Of Aquaculture In The Marine Aquarium Trade, Bryce Risley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Industry and academic conversations on aquaculture’s role in the marine aquarium trade are often centered on production advancements, biological and reproductive constraints of concerned species, and conservation deliverables and often overlook the possible socioeconomic consequences of aquaculture production. Due attention is yet to be spent on understanding broader stakeholder sentiment on aquaculture production and the toll it may have on specialized suppliers such as those in the Sri Lankan marine ornamental fishery. Utilizing a framework derived from Coupled Human and Natural Systems, research found suppling stakeholders predominantly unable to participate in aquaculture production due to various access limitations. When viewed …

The Influence Of Message Type, Environmental Attitude, And Political Ideology On Perceptions Of Aquaculture In The United States, Tabitha C. Boze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, aquaculture receives varying degrees of support based on individuals’ perceptions of the industry. This study analyzes the factors that contribute to those perceptions; namely, message type, affect, political orientation, and environmental attitude. We collected data through a nationwide survey, distributed by Qualtrics, which recruited a representative sample of U.S. residents. The survey included multiple-choice, Likert scale, and open-ended questions regarding individual characteristics (e.g., age, income, political orientation, etc.) and opinions on aquaculture. In order to study message type, we employed four experimental conditions (narrative video, narrative text, infographic video, and text) and one control group with …

Biophysical And Stable Isotopic Profiles Of The Salmon Louse Lepeophtheirus Salmonis (Krøyer, 1837), Emma Taccardi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis is a parasitic copepod that infects wild and farmed salmonids throughout the northern hemisphere. L. salmonis represents the largest economic hurdle of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) industry, with an estimated annual cost of nearly $1 billion globally due to production losses and anti-parasitic control measures. Salmon farming in Maine has existed for decades and is a critical economic driver, yet the region is underrepresented in global sea lice research. The aim of this work was to examine parasites in the context of animal trophic transfer and characterize physiological condition by quantifying the …

Improved Monitoring And Decision-Making To Manage Atypical Aeromonas Hydrophila In Catfish Aquaculture Ponds, Bradley Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Commercial catfish production is an inveterate industry within the southeastern United States. Bacterial disease is a significant detriment to global aquaculture, including the United States catfish industry. Among them, an atypical strain of the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila has plagued the industry since the late 2000s. Atypical A. hydrophila (aAh) outbreaks are largely acute, resulting in catastrophic losses. The disease ecology, prevalence, and genetic distribution are poorly understood. Atypical Aeromonas hydrophila displays a rapid onset with few warning signs of the impending disease, making it difficult for early detection. At present there are two recognized haplotypes of aAh. This project aimed …

Light And Feeding Cues: Entraining Circadian Rhythms In Chinook Salmon Tissues, Maryam Thraya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The circadian clock is known to help organisms synchronize their behaviour and physiology with the external environment. Present in almost all cells, the clock is made up of a transcription-translation feedback loop that is responsive to cues such as light and feeding. This clock functions to influence the timing of various processes within the cells by promoting gene expression at optimal timing. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is an important aquaculture species whose clock has not been characterized yet. The aim of the work presented here is to probe for the expression of circadian clock genes in some tissues of Chinook …

Sourcing And Evaluating The Use Of Detritus As A Supplementary Diet For Bivalve Aquaculture Using Stable Isotopes And Fatty Acid Biomarkers, Adrianus C. Both

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Detritus is a ubiquitous component of ecosystems and an important fuel for secondary production. Due to the extractive nature of bivalve aquaculture, detritus is often incorporated into carrying capacity and growth models for cultured bivalves. However, despite the complexity and difficulty in obtaining direct measurements, detritus is often treated as a homogeneous food source in models. Further understanding the role detritus plays in the diet of cultured bivalves could lead to more comprehensive and accurate models as well as more informed site selection for growers. The purpose of this study was to assess the abundance, bioavailability, and contribution of detritus …

Growth Of Juvenile Red Abalone (Haliotis Rufescens) Fed Different Seaweed-Based Diets, Quinn C. Wulffson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The rise of abalone aquaculture has mitigated most of the global demand placed on wild stocks of abalone; however, the current production of abalone relies heavily on naturally harvested kelp. The continued reliance on wild kelp as a feed source further contributes to the disappearance of kelp forests throughout coastal ecosystems. This study aims to better understand how juvenile red abalone Haliotis rufescens grow and utilize nutrients from three diets: a control diet of naturally harvested bull kelp Nereocystis luetkeana, a formulated commercial diet (ABKelp^®), and Pacific dulse Palmaria mollis produced using Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). Juvenile …

The Evaluation Of Functional Feeds Additives In Commercial Conditions With The Pacific White Leg Shrimp, Kurt Servin

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Given the rapid expansion of aquaculture globally and with the Litopenaeus vannamei sector making a significant contribution to seafood production, there is an urgent need to address diet and feed formulation focused on sustainability and novel ingredients, without using chemotherapeutics. This thesis explores three bioactive natural agents used in shrimp diets to mitigate the threat of disease and confer a more resilient shrimp: (i) β-glucans and yeast-derived components as functional feed additives; (ii) a blend of phytobiotic herbal extractives and yeast (YAH); and (iii) Tuna Protein Hydrolysate (TLH) as growth-promoting and immunostimulants. All studies were conducted on juvenile shrimp in …