Arctic Ice Boom Innovation for Mussel Farm Protection

Final Report
Sunrise Fish Farms Inc
AIMAP 2012-N04

Introduction

Summary:

Sunrise Fish Farms Inc is one of the major blue mussel farms and operates the best seed production site in Newfoundland (NL). A major constraint to the expansion of this and other NL farms is the ability to protect the existing growout production areas from Arctic ice and to secure more exposed waters for growth of cultured mussels. Our farm is looking to enhance its growout farm sites and to develop other waters, as the demand for our NL mussels has steadily been increasing during the past few years. But many sites on the northeast coast of NL are at risk with the winter/spring ice conditions and the existing ice boom technology has limitations.

In the northeast coast of the province, most protected sites are reaching maximum carrying capacity; therefore, expansion plans must investigate more exposed waters which may have higher risks of ice and wind conditions. To mitigate these risks, this project will investigate innovative Arctic ice boom technology based on modifications of existing ice boom systems. The securing of these exposed waters would enhance sustainable production, local employment, and would also provide increased protection to existing farm and community infrastructures.

Goals/Objectives:

The objectives of this project were to investigate Arctic ice boom innovation to existing boom systems:

• To reduce risks to existing farm sites during harsh Arctic ice and wind conditions,
• To increase productivity through better utilization of exposed water sites,
• To avoid costly technology of submerged gear,
• To utilize existing farm infrastructures and operational systems, as the modified system would fit with only minor changes to existing moorings,
• To reduce farm losses due to ice damage that occur in some years and regions,
• To build on the capacities of local gear producers (i.e., North Atlantic Marine) to enhance NL aquaculture supply services, and
• To enhance mussel growth in these exposed ocean sites as the flushing rates bringing planktonic food for the mussels would increase, thus improve farm production.

Deliverables:

1. Arctic Ice Boom Engineering, Design and Fabrication
2. Arctic Ice Boom Testing/Evaluation and Modifications
3. Arctic Ice Boom Application to Other Areas of the NE Coast

Meeting Program Objectives:

• The project will contribute to Canadian aquaculture competitiveness through resolving technological issues with ice boom design and subsequently opening more productive water for mussel aquaculture site utilization and new site development.

The Project

In April 2012, DFO under its Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program (AIMAP) approved our project entitled ‘Arctic Ice Boom Innovation for Mussel Farm Protection.' They committed to $69,175 in support, with Sunrise Fish Farms Inc contributing about $30,000. DFO felt that this was very valuable innovative technology in support of the mussel industry in the northeast coast of the province. Also, this project was supported by the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA), and an expansion to this project was supported by the Newfoundland Innovation, Business & Rural Development- Small Business & Market Development Program (IBRD-BMDP).

Several enhancements to the original ice boom project were requested by DFO to improve the deliverables/outcomes and we initiated the following to address these considerations.

1. Amendment of the completion date for the final project report to the summer/fall of 2013
   to allow for the complete ice season assessment of the ice boom performance, as the critical ice time is in April-May-June. Thus it will extend into the next fiscal year for reporting only, but funding is still within the March 31, 2013 fiscal year-end.
2. Enhancement of the engineering assessments for the ice boom. (a) The original proposal included tensile testing by North Atlantic Marine Supplies and Services Inc. They now have a new fabrication engineer working with them. We had consultations with C-CORE at Memorial University of NL who did the original 2000 report entitled ‘Design of Ice Booms for Mussel Farms in the Green Bay Notre Dame Bay Region.' The consultations included Jim Bruce, Allison Kennedy and Steven Soper, who agreed to work with us to enhance the engineering assessment of the ice boom and stresses.
3. The skirt design was amended to a large mesh rope weave instead of the large mesh netting, as discussions indicated a risk of ice chafing of the smaller net mesh. The diagonal mesh weave is the same as the original concept. This is also similar in concept to iceberg towing net systems, but on a much different scale. Also, the net skirt was increased to 3 ft deep from 18 inches to ensure that some bay ice does not lift the net skirt.
4. The original ice boom quote was for a 3600 foot ice boom for the opening to Shoal Arm.
   The length of this main ice boom has been recalculated to 2438 ft. But a small opening to the bay also necessitated a second short ice boom section of 288 ft. To be cost efficient for the project, it only required several additional soft eyes and weaves, as the original rope cost included materials.

Enhancements to Methodology

Enhancement of the North Atlantic Marine's fabrication included the skills of a new engineer/manager as well as the previous fabrication expert. It also included:

• Evaluation of the stress monitoring for the ice boom design, which includes the test-bed services.
• Evaluation of the anchor points and ice boom loads, particularly as relates to the C-CORE
  recommendations.

Discussions with C-CORE at Memorial University of NL resulted in an engineering assessment and recommendations for the following:

• Review of ice conditions in the bay and region.
• Review of wind and currents in the region.
• Estimates of ice growth rates for the bay ice and expected ice thickness.
• Estimates of ice thickness and predictions of expected loads on the ropes by the ice.
• Predictions of load on the boom at different points (i.e., header, weave, bottom).
• Recommendations for anchor stress factors (i.e., three point system versus others).

Deliverables

Ultimately, the deliverables will be reduced risk to our NL mussel farms and increased mussel production for the marketplace. This year has been one of the worse for bay ice conditions, with tremendous loads straining the existing ice boom, observed lifting of the boom by the ice and loosening of the one-anchor bolt system. Southeast winds drove off the ice and prevented any damage to the mussel lines. This new ice boom technology should reduce such risks while still being affordable technology for the mussel growers. An additional deliverable of this project is the enhancement of the fabrication capacities of a local company, North Atlantic Marine Supplies & Services Inc , in support of the NL mussel industry.