Measuring Chlorophyll Fluxes in an Oyster Farm

Description

Seed is being deployed on shellfish leases with little consideration to localized inequalities in growing conditions. The concentration of food particles may be lower, perhaps frequently, in a given area of a lease compared to other areas. Factors such as currents and water temperature may stress animals to a point of reducing the uptake of available food resources. Shellfish growers could possibly take advantage of localized patterns with the commercial objective of shortening the production cycle. This strategy would be a first step in site management with the objective of optimizing yields. In order to attain that level of production at their site, leaseholders need to assess both the magnitude and persistence of localized features within their leases.

The primary objective of this project is to determine if the current stocking density of cultivated oysters (2,000 oyster bags per hectare) can deplete food resources within the farm at some point during spring, summer and fall.

Program Name

Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)

Year(s)

2006 - 2008

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf

Principal Investigator(s)

Luc Comeau
Email: Luc.Comeau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca