Aquaculture – husbandry and nursery management

New Zealand plans to grow its Aquaculture industry to NZ$3B by 2035 from a current NZ$600M [1]. Based on studies from the USA, we could anticipate that a bill for mitigation of biofouling to aquaculture is north of NS$300M per annum. To mitigate the effects of biofouling and parasites, we need to identify the pest species and their effects on aquaculture and crops. Further, we need also consider the effects of Climate change and Ocean acidification.

The quality and quantity of Aquaculture crops can be improved and upscaled by creating the right conditions for reproduction and survival. Both quantity and quality can be regulated by food availability and temperature and are also affected by fouling organisms and other pest species. Particularly in shellfish aquaculture, efforts to mitigate sessile invertebrate biofouling can be >20% of total annual production costs (1.5-3 billion USD per annum) [2]. For some particular shellfish groups, this can equate to about 30% of the final shellfish product price [2].

For New Zealand, it isn't easy to find comparable studies. However, local estimate suggests that fouling by blue mussel species (Mytilus spp.) on Perna canaliculus farms in the Marlborough Sounds can incur a cost of up to 16.4 million USD per annum [3]. Additionally, the burden of Styela clava and Sabella spallanzanii on P. canaliculus aquaculture is forecasted to cost 1.1 million p. a. [4]. Worryingly, infestations of sessile biofouling invertebrates appear to be increasing, possibly due to climate-associated changes in the marine environment.

Our experience in taxonomy reproductive biology will be essential for New Zealand's efforts to increase its aquaculture production. Ocean Wolf's extensive network and ability to collaborate will help New Zealand's aquaculture industry with mitigation strategies for ecological impacts and pest species. Particularly in the aquaculture sector, our mission is to make knowledge available to the industry. For example, by improving reproductive output, growth and pest management, New Zealand can increase its share of the international Abalone market, which is currently around 0.2%.

What other customer and collaborator say about Ocean Wolf

‘Paul is a focused, hardworking scientist with a passion for scientific inquiry. In our time working together at an experimental pāua hatchery in Kaikōura,
I was impressed with Paul’s work ethic and diligence. He has a natural ability to problem solve and
a superb aptitude for taxonomy and experimental research. I would recommend Paul for a wide variety of research projects.’

Shawn Gerrity, Marine Ecologist at University of Canterbury

Tongue biter (Ceratothoa spp.) is a fish parasite that replaces its victim’s tongue and
lives of the blood of its host. Scale 1000 µm.
The Individual was collected by Kate Hutson and Karthiga Kumanan (Cawthron).

Polychaetes (Polydora spp.) who causing mud blister in shellfish. Scale 100 µm.

Close-up of Pāua juveniles sitting on a blade of brown seaweed (Lessonia variegata)
Juvenile Abalone can possibly hitchhike on seaweed to get to a new settlement ground.

Pāua (Haliotis iris) with epibionts like worms and algae on its shell.
Here is a poster about what we have removed from some pāua shells.

Pāua (Haliotis iris) after shell cleaning, the damage some epibionts can do to a shell is recognizable, particularly around the pulmonary holes.

In-text references:

[1] A. Angeloni, “Aquaculture’s ‘ambitious’ $3 billion goal by 2035,” The Marlborough Express, Blenheim, 2019.

[2] C. M. Adams, S. E. Shumway, R. B. Whitlatch, and T. Getchis, “Biofouling in Marine Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture:
A Survey Assessing the Business and Economic Implications of Mitigation,”
J. World Aquac. Soc., vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 242–252, 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1749-7345.2011.00460.x.

[3] B. M. Forrest and J. Atalah, “Significant impact from blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis biofouling on aquaculture production of green-lipped mussels in New Zealand,” Aquac. Environ. Interact., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 115–126, 2017, doi: 10.3354/aei00220.

[4] P. Cahill, A. J. Davidson, C. Cornelsin, and G. Hopkins, “Toward integrated pest management in bivalve aquaculture,” Pest Manag. Sci., 2022, doi: 10.1002/ps.7057.