Ensuring Environmental Protection While Increasing Capacity with Land Based Atlantic Halibut Production

Final Report
Halibut PEI Inc
AIMAP 2012-G07

Executive Summary

Halibut PEI Inc (HPEI) has successfully grown Atlantic Halibut since 2008 in the refurbished Morning Star lobster holding plant at Victoria PEI while maintaining a very small environmental footprint. Within this proposal, while more than doubling the production capacity of the Morning Star facility, HPEI built a 22,000 square feet extension with an innovative modular hybrid recirculation system, engineered to optimize the growth of Atlantic halibut and designed, with Atlantech Group of Companies, a hybrid recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with a waste management system that ensures clean effluent control for all water leaving the site. These measures will increase production and ensure sustainability of halibut farming on PEI. This proposal formed part of a larger initiative to obtain private sector investment for further expansion across PEI and anywhere geothermally modified pathogen free salt water wells exist. All HPEI expansion will occur on land with closed containment. This modular multi tank system is an extension of our existing nursery and growout facility.

Partially funded by the Aquaculture Innovation Market Access Program (AIMAP), this modular aquaculture system, designed to optimally grow Atlantic halibut from 1kg to 3kg, will increase operational efficiency, facilitate optimal water use and reduce energy costs per kg of halibut produced. Once proven, this design can be repeated in other locations. As part of the overall project, HPEI continues to develop more energy efficient means of capturing the waste and reduce effluent volume and minimize the outflow of suspended solids. In conjunction with National Research Council (NRC), this part of the project is determining the sedimentation rate of halibut waste (mucus and feces) providing the necessary information to develop energy efficient self-cleaning. A unique biofiltration system which shows promise for consistent efficient operation despite the elevated mucus levels found in halibut effluent has been designed by Atlantech. The effluent system will allow us to maintain our current practice of moving all captured waste to terrestrial farms for composting.

This AIMAP project provides an example of a production system with increased operational efficiency and increased growout capacity while maintaining a low environmental footprint. The project adapts and takes part in the development of innovative technologies in biofiltration and energy efficient capture of effluent waste. HPEI continues throughout the project and will continue afterward to enable tours from educational institutions, work with graduate students, meet with informed companies and individuals to demonstrate the objectives of the project and further promote the halibut growout (feedlot) industry on PEI and beyond.

Introduction:

Atlantic halibut are an alternate species noted in the AIMAP and the National Aquaculture Strategic Action Plan Initiative (NASAPI) lists of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for further development in Atlantic Canada. HPEI has been growing halibut since September of 2008 at the Morning Star facility, a refurbished lobster holding plant in Victoria, PEI, Canada. Halibut have proven to be a very robust and effective farm animal in our system. This AIMAP project helped to support the expansion of the existing facility more than doubling the grow-out capacity for Atlantic Halibut. After an international request for proposals, HPEI chose the Atlantech Group of Companies to design the multi tank recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in a modular format that can be repeated wherever suitable saltwater wells exist. Most RAS systems are oriented toward water conservation and maintenance of consistent water conditions which include heating and cooling of water. This RAS is designed to maintain a constant ten degree Celsius temperature for optimal growout of Atlantic halibut using only the geothermal deep well water available in PEI, with no supplemental energy requirement. After four years of experience pumping the three existing salt water wells, HPEI has proven the water temperature lags behind the ambient seasonal temperatures by about five months providing an opportunity to combine RAS and timely addition of well water to maintain optimal growth conditions for Atlantic halibut. As production data is collected and the facility proven, this project will promote the expansion of the halibut industry on PEI and anywhere appropriate water sources exist. Increased halibut production contributes to making the entire Atlantic halibut farming industry more efficient, profitable and large enough to be a significant global producer. The Morningstar facility was originally designed in 2008 to grow halibut from 5gm to 3kg and does so efficiently. The expansion is designed for optimal growth of halibut from 1kg to 3kg, the most efficient and reliable part of the life cycle. However, with industry expansion on PEI and elsewhere, both these facilities could, with only slight modification produce halibut from 5gm to 1kg to be sold to other on growing facilities, similar in concept to this new expansion. Success of this initiative vastly increases the fin fish aquaculture sector on PEI.

HPEI does everything possible to promote the Atlantic halibut grow-out industry on PEI and elsewhere. Embarking on cooperative research projects, providing tours to informed audiences and accommodating students from several areas of study from student chefs, aquaculture degree programs, veterinary medicine and engineering continue to be part of the mandate of HPEI. The halibut grow-out industry is on the verge of major development and the support of AIMAP is crucial to success.

Plan and Performance Management Objectives and Results

Activity Objective 1: To build the farm infrastructure.

An aesthetically pleasing building meeting all construction codes in which water temperature for the halibut remains between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius year round is expected. The hybrid RAS is expected to run with maximum electrical efficiency providing increased production with negligible increase in environmental impact.

RESULTS

The more unique the project, the more encumbrances affect project development. HPEI had reasonably planned to begin building the expanded addition to the Morning Star facility in May 2012. In spite of meeting the previous year with the village of Victoria and receiving their support for the project, significant opposition became apparent. Environmental reviews took longer than expected to complete due to the increased level of concern by several parties. The Village council, to their credit, made a very thorough attempt to involve the citizenry and summer residents in the decision. Among a variety of circumstances, the necessary public meetings ended up being duplicated extending the time frame for building permit approval. HPEI, realizing that the large building necessary to house the expansion blocked seascape in this tourist oriented village, developed a cooperative development plan with the Council to ensure optimal “blending in” with the village. In the end, HPEI received unanimous support for the building permit, but the start time for the project had changed from May to October 2012. Once started, the 22,000 sq ft building progressed well with footings and concrete work being completed before significantly cold weather.

HPEI obtained private sector funds in the amount suggested in the proposal and these were dependant on obtaining a building permit. The problems with the application for a building permit included the environmental permitting which took over six weeks longer than anticipated. HPEI was required to get permits from both Environment Canada (a requirement by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and a provincial permit requiring an environmental impact assessment (EIA) from the province. The latter permit was an amendment to the existing permit for the Morning Star facility. If a new environmental permit had been required the permitting process may have been over 12 months long requiring several thousand dollars of extra investment. Any new facility needs to establish the requirements very early in their plan development. The building permit also required that we buy 100 ft of the provincial park necessary to accommodate the expansion. The park was owned by the provincial government but leased to the village of Victoria to operate.

HPEI negotiated and purchased the land and stabilized the shoreline with the addition of Island stone. The building permit required ministerial signature to change both the town plan and the park ownership causing further delays in the start date of the project. The Village required that all existing trees be moved from their location 100 ft into the park so as not to be lost. Exploration and extraction permits, required for new wells were processed in April 2013 so that the well could be drilled as soon as the weight restrictions came off the PEI roads. HPEI obtained an extension from a cooperating funding partner for this part of the project.

In order to avoid freezing ground and winter conditions, which would have delayed the project almost one year; HPEI changed the project development plan and began the cover building before plumbing and tank installation. Atlantech was able to design the sunken biofilter pit, an 8 ft deep, and 24' wide by 26' long concrete structure, in time for the initial pour of building footings. A layer of plastic sheeting covered with 8” of sawdust was installed to insulate the floor of the new building from freezing. Complications occurred with the existing effluent drain for the Morning Star facility as it did not actually travel underground as it had been designed many years ago. This required that the existing halibut plant be shut down for several hours while a new expanded drain system was relocated and properly installed. Winter storms slowed the construction effort down several times, but by February the roof was installed and the building closed in from the weather. Interior insulation, walls and ceiling coverings were quickly installed allowing for the removal of the sawdust and plastic sheeting so installation of pipe and tanks could be facilitated.

This objective has been met despite our late start with the building being in place and the system design completed.

In deciding to change the production schedule to allow progress despite winter closing in, the building was started in October and ready for RAS installation in April, not much longer than the originally anticipated project time. In addition, all of the extra criteria set out in the Village of Victoria development agreement have been met and the project continues to have full and strong support from the council. The building structure and RAS design were completed within the expected budget.

The change of plan to winter construction added some extra costs especially due to the installation of sheet plastic and sawdust to the floor to prevent frost. The severity of the winter had caused some 24” deep frost lines in the floor which had to be removed by excavators and hauled away in trucks, causing a further 2 week delay. The cost of installation was exceeded by the cost of removal and because the excavation of the unexpected frost lines took longer than expected.

HPEI contracted a number of engineers and other specialists to ensure that a visually pleasing building which meets all building codes. HPEI also worked with Maritime Electric to remove overhead wires, relocate the transformer and run a new electrical service into the existing and expanded facility. The culvert for the entry way was moved and re-established by PEI Transportation Department. Two electrical contracts were developed by the electrical engineer in December and February and electrical contractors chosen with the work being completed shortly afterward. The first quote required coordination with the existing electrical generator system so the existing facility could continue to operate while construction of the expansion took place. Atlantech provided the final electrical loads and pump locations in April and the electrical engineer developed the final contract to be sent out for bidding. Obtaining electrical designs is expensive but it allows a more detailed quote to be bid on and saves money for installation of the complex equipment.

All of these events require negotiation and adaptation of schedules to get done and even when carried out successfully can lead to unexpected delays which slow down other contractors. In the end, the building was completed and the incoming RAS equipment custom designed and engineered to fit into the building. With the reduction in building size due to required building codes, the tank sizes changed and required that the production estimates for growing Atlantic halibut be revisited and modified causing some design delays.

Objective 2: To design and evaluate new solid waste removal system.

Performance of the solid waste processing loop will be measured in the halibut holding tanks which should maintain great water quality and non returning organic material. The deliverable on the effluent stream will be low suspended solid release (below 20 ppm and aiming for 2 ppm) and all water chemistry requirements maintained within the required limits. Energy efficiency of the process (i.e., reduced electrical costs per kg of fish produced and limited maintenance) will be an important measure. A concentrated sludge for capture and removal will be an important outcome.

RESULTS

Throughout the fall 2012 and winter 2013, HPEI and Atlantech reviewed and developed, first with intermittent meetings and later with weekly meetings, the details of the system necessary for optimal growth of Atlantic halibut. Although the Atlantech system varied somewhat from the original design proposed by HPEI in the AIMAP application, they were the closest to the HPEI design objectives of the five systems which HPEI evaluated. In addition to determining the size and placement of equipment; fecal loads, mucus loads, water velocity and piping size all had to be determined, reviewed and confirmed. Atlantic halibut is a new species for this type of system so modification and adaptation focussed the expertise in both companies.

While the building construction was preceding HPEI continued to develop the design and obtain quotes for the components of required for the RAS. After looking at “vinyl leave in forms” for concrete tanks, corrugated silo rings set in concrete with acrylic coating, used glass fused on steel rings attached to concrete and fiberglass tanks in November 2012, we chose the “vinyl leave in forms” concrete construction based on price, convenience and aesthetics. However when we obtained quotes from concrete contractors on PEI in January, the installation price of this system more than doubled due to the perception of difficulty installing the concrete walls using the concrete delivery systems available on PEI. After several weeks of negotiating with the manufacturer and the concrete installers as well as re-examining all of the other systems in detail, HPEI changed the tank type to sectional fiberglass tanks. All of the system design for center sumps, side boxes and under tank plumbing had to be redone due to this unexpected change in tank supplier. As a result we missed the optimal season for fiber glass construction for these hand laid fiber glass components causing further unanticipated delay. The underlying cause of the change in tank structure was due to limited concrete moving equipment available in PEI, something that no one, including the supplier of the system, anticipated.

The system design was completed in April with only in ground piping left for detailed implementation drawings to be finished so bids could be requested from contractors. There are two systems available for the collection of manure for removal to land based disposal in organic manure piles. As the initial performance data is assembled and the NRC sedimentation project results are available, tank side solids collectors will be added to the system. Though yet to be proven, we expect the system will meet objectives without the addition of tank side solids collectors. However, when added the system will perform better at high densities and increase energy efficiency and have a beneficial effect on water chemistry leaving the building as organic material from the system will be removed quickly. Information on this will be added as the system is operated and evaluated.

Objective 3: To establish tank dynamics for self cleaning shelves.

This performance measure will be determining the percent of halibut that utilize the shelf. Design changes are likely over time and each new design will require systematic evaluation by fish count on the shelf. 

RESULTS

Halibut feces have a substantially different consistency than most fish. From previous work HPEI had determined that the fecal material consists of one portion that sinks quickly and another that is neutrally buoyant and tends to remain longer in the water column, In addition, growing halibut in lower salinity appears to create more mucus than at higher salinities. The mucus is very buoyant and combines with small fecal particles making them difficult to remove. For several years HPEI filtered to 50 microns in size, all the effluent from the farmed halibut. The excessive mucus is sticky and adheres to almost anything. The rotary filters operate using a high pressure spray bar for self cleaning. However, halibut feces and mucus clogged the rotary drums and required additional twice daily cleaning with hot water and weekly cleaning with a standalone very high pressure cleaning machine.

The sedimentation rate and characteristics of Atlantic halibut feces has been only superficially researched and no one has determined the characteristics in moderate salinity water at the temperature range that occurs at the HPEI facility. HPEI worked with NRC and the University of PEI (UPEI - Wayne Peters, PhD, P. Eng) to develop a project to determine the sedimentation rate of halibut feces, mucus, feed and combinations of all of these components. This project was delayed in funding and began in February 2013, almost a year behind the anticipated schedule. HPEI hired Peter Sykes whose PhD thesis focused on halibut production and the project moved quickly in March and April. The sedimentation data will allow calculations to modify the tank side solids collectors or other radial flow type separators and allow testing of shelving platform materials to ensure self cleaning. This work is expected to be completed by November 2013. HPEI will supply an addendum to this AIMAP report at that time.

HPEI tried using shelving previously, and found, in addition to fouling with feces and mucus, the shelves had to be very stable. Any vibration or tilting of the shelf material causes the halibut to seek another resting place. The design of the current shelves will be, as noted above, self cleaning and be stable by as they attach to the tank top rim as well as being suspended from the ceiling with cable. There will be no underlying vertical supports that would interfere with fish behaviour and collect debris. The material to cover the shelves will be chosen by the ability to resist fouling and tested for acceptance by the halibut. The results of this work, when completed will be appended to this report.

Objective 4: To evaluate new biofilter media.

Consistent and routine measurements of vital parameters - oxygen, CO2 and ammonia - will be carried out daily during set up and balancing of this of this part of the hybrid recirculating system.

RESULTS

The RAS in the HPEI extension recirculates a total of 22,000 liters per minute (lpm) through the 12 holding tanks full of halibut. This massive volume of recirculating water requires a biofilter containing almost 4 tonnes of plastic media in a custom designed concrete pit that is 8' deep and 24' W by 26'L.

The biofilter, associated rotary drum filter, and pumping channel are designed to maintain acceptable water quality at full capacity and on full feed for optimal growth of halibut. The media is an Atlantech designed plastic bead and should meet all facility design criteria. The novel media which we intended to compare will not be used initially. Recent European research on this novel media suggests that it can be added, rather than replacing existing biofilter to increase nitrification. Once the initial capability of the biofilter has been evaluated HPEI will decide if further testing will be done. The company making the originally proposed Toroid biofilters is no longer in business therefore requiring a change in our biofiltration design. The system will vary from 75% to 95% recirculation depending on how much additional well water is required to maintain a constant water temperature in the tanks.

Objective 5: To complete a final report

RESULTS

With the delays experienced by HPEI, the equipment for the construction of the RAS arrived at the last minute. Because of the decision to build in the winter rather than delay for a year, and because the floor of the expansion was insulated with plastic and sawdust, installing the RAS system is proceeding as quickly as possible. However, testing of the system will not be completed until the system is completed so an addendum report has been negotiated and will be submitted when the testing is complete. All of the rest of the final report is included herein.

Objective 6: To develop a communication plan for distribution of the information to perspective producers of Atlantic Halibut.

RESULTS

HPEI has always maintained an open communication policy. Throughout this project and continuing afterward, university and college groups have toured the facility including students from several local educational institutions. Many groups interested in learning about growing halibut have been accommodated including visitors from other countries and most parts of Canada. HPEI keeps its customer base informed about the new extension. HPEI is registered with the Oceanwise program supporting sustainable seafood production. A series of informational announcements will follow when the system becomes operational.

DISCUSSION

HPEI, in its MorningStar facility, a refurbished lobster holding facility in Victoria PEI, has proven good growth in Atlantic halibut utilizing geothermally modified, naturally filtered sea water wells for growing halibut from 5gm to 3kg. A flat fish that spends most of its time on the bottom of a tank, halibut require less water depth and more surface area than salmon and trout and their sedentary behavior changes tank flow dynamics which affect self-cleaning and growth performance. This project steps up the adaptation of technology to promote optimal growth year round for this species.

HPEI has pursued the development of a truly sustainable; land based Atlantic halibut industry in PEI and beyond. Having grown halibut in the Mornings Star lobster plant in Victoria PEI since 2008, HPEI, with the support of this AIMAP project, wished to advance to the next stage of development creating a facility for on-growing Atlantic halibut from 1kg to 3kg for market. Being the most efficient and reliable stage of halibut growth this size range provides a fish that can be grown in sea cages or land based facilities with consistency and within a short enough time frame to be of interest to banks and investors. HPEI knows that the existing Morning Star plant has water most suitable for growing juvenile Atlantic halibut from 5gm to 1kg and that production stage will be maintained. However halibut above 1kg have greater tolerance to variable water conditions and can be on-grown efficiently in other sites with lower salinity. While designing the new expansion for growth of market fish, HPEI ensured that the new facility at Victoria can be converted in the future to supply many more 1kg halibut for grow-out at other sites was possible if the business case warranted that change.

AIMAP supports the development of sustainable production. Utilizing new and existing technology to improve production, reduce production costs and maintain environmental performance was the motivation for this project. The environmental component is essential for halibut culture on PEI as the effluent from the land based farms will usually be in full public view. The other aspect of the environment which was important for HPEI, centered on the concerns of the village to have a building which “fit in” especially considering the size of the expansion and its intrusion onto the seascape. HPEI was able to do this to the satisfaction of the village council while still staying within budget for the budget allocated for the building.

Several delays occurred during the project and complicated the timely delivery of AIMAP contributed components. Every project of this magnitude has complications that arise unexpectedly. There is likely no way of predicting what these may be. The decisions based on seasonal change in building plans were further complicated by the lack of concrete installation equipment for our chosen tanks. The latter change in plans was the most instrumental in slowing the project, thereby making the selection and delivery of equipment funded under AIMAP a very tight timeline. Delays have caused confounding complications. For instance, because HPEI has limited storage capacity at their fully operational existing site, equipment for the expansion was to be delivered “just in time” so that it could be installed as required. However, due the constraints of fiscal year end requirement for some of our AIMAP funding, things like the four tonnes of biofilter material had to be manufactured and delivered, creating a significant storage problem which will further hinder construction speed and required purchase of a motorized pallet jack to handle the immense volume of material.

The motors required for the degassing Low Head Oxygenator (LHO) units could not be ordered due to the deterioration that would occur without proper storage for these units which weigh 200 pounds each. Since a portion of our funding comes from agencies such as AIMAP, ACOA and Finance PEI, HPEI must spend money to make a claim on the approved funds from the lending agencies. This creates a problem as the construction and design delays meant that we were further delayed in claiming funds to complete the next stage. It is a catch 22 that anyone proceeding with facility development needs to be aware of.

The biggest consequence of the unanticipated delays became the juveniles necessary to keep the facility expansion on stream with fish production objectives. The fish purchased to go into the facility soon over grew the space available within the existing Morning Star facility forcing some difficult decisions. The orders for 5gm juveniles for all of 2012 had to be delayed and will now be replaced by juveniles from the 2013 hatch. Approximately 8000 fish were shipped from the Morning Star nursery facility to Scotian Halibut Ltd site in Woods harbor. A serious grading and increased cull of remaining fish allowed sufficient room to accommodate the growth of fish to market size and increased harvesting of 3kg fish has allowed the larger fish to continue growing to harvest weight. HPEI has arranged to buy from another source, older, larger fish, in 2014 to replace the missing in 2012 juveniles. From a business plan perspective this biologic component which can never be altered is the one for which anyone developing a similar system needs to be aware.

Within the overall project which AIMAP was a part, HPEI added the 22,000 sq ft building to add sufficient growout space to the existing Morning Star facility to grow 70 tonnes of market halibut per year. The seven 35' diameter tanks and five 26' diameter tanks provide the necessary surface area to grow halibut in the fastest, most efficient portion of their grow-out phase. The tanks are 5.5 feet deep which allows for sufficient water depth for optimal feeding and for the installation of shelving to further optimize surface are and increase stocking density within a tank. The water depth also makes human access to the tanks easy and safe for grading and continuous harvest. 

To optimize growth and reduce growout costs, HPEI developed a unique hybrid recirculation system (RAS). Unique because the RAS is used to maintain optimal temperatures all year round without any supplemental heating or cooling. Well water temperatures at the Morning Star site vary seasonally lagging behind ambient water temperatures by about 6 months. Temperatures can be 12 degrees in November - December while our coldest water temperatures occur in May and June providing the three existing wells are pumped continuously. By developing the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) we can flow through sufficient water to maintain an optimal temperature of 10 degrees Celsius year round for maximum fish growth. The new facility is designed to recirculate 22,000 lpm inside the building with an effluent stream of less than 2200 lpm. That effluent will be the same pure reconditioned water that will go back to the growing halibut.

Associated with this project, HPEI will be establishing a new deep well to be added to the original three wells. By minimizing water use through recirculation, HPEI can manipulate wells with different temperature profiles to maintain optimal temperatures for months at a time, thereby avoiding heating or cooling costs. By using recirculation, we will be able to “save” wells for use (since they hold temperature longer when not used) and thereby have optimal temperatures all year round. Optimal temperature for growth increases the kg of fish produced and reduces days to market making halibut aquaculture more viable and efficient. The hybrid system lends itself to greater temperature control by utilizing the geothermally moderated ground water effectively. Using less water for raising greater biomass of fish will allow some of the wells to remain unused for a period of time. As one well is pumped for several months the temperature will change and another well can be brought into production. Since the temperature changes will be within 3 degree Celsius the modification of the tank water temperatures in the hybrid recirculation system will change minimally. This well management will be based on the experience HPEI gained with its three existing wells.

The multi-tank hybrid recirculation system was built adjacent to and attached to the existing facility. Throughout the design process HPEI encountered some unexpected changes that altered the original design. The set-backs required by the village were different than those originally given to us and required the building to be longer and narrower. Since we had already begun to negotiate the purchase of 100 feet of the adjacent park, we had to reduce some of the tanks sizes and alter some of our system engineering to accommodate the new water volumes. The hybrid water handling system has tank side degassing towers combined with an LHO which increases overall stripping of CO2 and allows tanks to be isolated for periods of time during grading or harvest. Atlantech's triple drain system removes solids quickly and efficiently minimizing the buildup of nitrogenous wastes in the system or released in the effluent. The entire system has one set of pumps to elevate water to a head tank adjacent to the biofilter and afterward the whole system operates by gravity. The hybrid design creates a low pressure concentrated effluent stream to allow efficient removal of suspended solids which are then captured and removed for land based composting. The use of electronic controls will operate the state-of-the art effluent control system 24/7 to minimize release of suspended solids, carbon dioxide and nitrogenous compounds.

HPEI continues to review and adapt means to further separate, concentrate and dehydrate the collected solids to improve systems currently in place. Since this project was submitted several equipment related events required that the original conceptual design be changed and re-engineered to accommodate. The company making the Torriod biofilter changed hands and the units were no longer available. The Australian manufactured Multicyclone™ units, a swirl separator that maintains head pressures through the process will be used for other purposes but could not be obtained in a size suitable for the new expansion. The final design incorporates the foam fractionators purchased by HPEI during the research stage. The current design of the RAS does not include the use of ozone though it could be added subsequently. The ozone was dropped until the new system design is tested to determine if further water cleansing is required. The central biofiltration system will feature Atlantech's patented biofilter media. A novel media with a much more porous surface was to be compared within this project to determine if it will improve biofiltration for the mucus laden water produced by halibut. Since this AIMAP project was submitted, work in Europe suggests this new media works best as an addition to existing media, at least in normal city sewage systems. HPEI will evaluate the effectiveness of the Atlantech design to handle halibut effluent and add the new media for testing at a later time if necessary.

In addition halibut to their sedentary life cycle halibut in lower salinity water exude buoyant mucus which complicates the collection of suspended solids and the adhered fecal material. Halibut feces do not form fecal pellets but rather disseminates small particles. Both skin and intestine exude significant amounts of sticky mucus which tends to adhere to all surfaces complicating plumbing and filtration systems. In the new tanks, a unique hanging shelf design will ensure a stable non vibrating area to increase tank surface area and thereby fish density. With the information generated in a feces sedimentation study funded by NRC, manipulation of the tank hydraulics to keep the mucoid material in motion over the shelves where the tank drain design will remove it quickly using the triple drain system. These results will be appended to this report when the project is completed.

The proposed facility design and results of the various sub-projects will be of use to any one growing halibut thereby contributing to the advancement of the halibut growout industry. Built as a modular unit it will be suitable for placement at any other site on PEI or elsewhere that has salt water wells. Much of the information generated will enable other RAS to adapt to halibut culture.

As this project finishes, HPEI will be able to confirm the economic model that will lead to establishment of other halibut facilities enabling a new aquaculture species and new finfish industry for PEI. Further expansion into underutilized lobster holding facilities will occur based on current expertise and experience gained by HPEI at the Morning Star facility. Development of purpose built farms where suitable salt water wells exist will be possible as a result of this proposal. Expected production within 5 to 10 years is conservatively estimated to be in excess of 250 tonnes of Atlantic halibut per year resulting in a multimillion dollar industry on PEI. That volume of production will require secondary support in terms of processing capability and value added products. HPEI now works with the PEI Aquaculture Alliance, two First Nations groups and others assessing wells and facilities. Increased processing capability on PEI will be required as the industry grows increasing employment and product diversity through value added products.

Conclusions:

Innovative aquaculture projects require adaptation, innovation and risk. Outside forces may affect the best laid plans and complicate and confound outcomes and timelines. The overall objective to develop an Atlantic halibut industry in Atlantic Canada remains a constant and worthwhile horizon. Innovative use of geothermal salt water wells to grow a valuable finfish species with a very high market demand should allow land based farming which avoids all environmental issues that fish farming has encountered.

This project, with the help of AIMAP, continues to progress and after commissioning will generate the data (to be appended to this report) which will confirm the operating properties and costs of growing Atlantic halibut on land. Ongoing design work and experimentation will work further reduce energy costs associated with collection and removal for composting of the organic waste of the farm.

The support of AIMAP provided assistance in the building and equipping of the 22,000 sq ft expansion of HPEI's Morning Star facility, increasing production from about 30 tonnes to over 70 tonnes annually. By constructing an intensive recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) modified to take advantage of the geothermal pathogen free well water available at the company site in Victoria PEI this technology will be applicable wherever similar wells exist. Increased production of Atlantic halibut using land based aquaculture systems will develop the fin fish aquaculture production within PEI but also demonstrate increased viability of land based aquaculture by avoiding heating and cooling costs. Maintaining strict environmental objectives ensures sustainable industry expansion. The RAS in the new expansion uses Atlantech's triple drain system to remove solids from the fish tanks quickly and effectively. For the first stage of development and testing, two of the triple drain components will be tested. When the results of the NRC sedimentation study become available, the shelving designed to increase surface area (flatfish spend most of their time on the bottom so increased stocking requires expanded surface areas to stock the fish on a sq ft basis) will be installed and tested for self cleaning ability. Any alteration in cleaning ability will be evaluated. In a final step, the third component of the triple drain (tank side solids collectors will be modified to accommodate the higher mucus load and if necessary modified to optimize water clarity and quality in the fiberglass tanks filled with halibut.

Having noted the importance of CO2 build up to the halibut and the difficulty removing CO2 from salt water, this new system has tank side degassing towers combined with LHO units which will increase CO2 removal, allow isolation of a tank from the main system for extended periods of time and optimize conditions for variable stocking densities. In addition, the design allows for water flowing from the well to be introduced to a tank through the tank side degassing/oxygenation towers to allow any tank to act as a flow through system if necessary. The volume of water pumped through the tank side degasser/oxygenation units enhances hydraulic performance in tanks, necessary for the seven 35' diameter and five 26' diameter, 5.5' deep halibut holding tanks. Both incoming RAS water from the central solids removal system and the water pumped through the tank side units will be redistributed through unique inlet spray bars facilitating proper tank hydraulics for self-cleaning of the shelf system while facilitating fast, effective solids removal from the tank to the central waste processing system.

Solids removed from all tanks goes through a central system for removal from the RAS and capture for on land disposal. This design is slightly different than our initial proposal but best met the objectives used to evaluate the five system design proposals received from international contractors of RAS.

To be prepared for industry expansion, both the existing Morning Star plant and the new expanded facility can be converted from growing the 3kg market fish to grow halibut juveniles from 5gm to 1kg for on-growing at other facilities. HPEI began with the overall aim to build an industry and this project with all of its complications will contribute to that goal.