SBIR Phase II: Innovative control of ectoparasites: key to expansion of open ocean fish farming

本SBIR二期研究的目标是在开放海洋水产养殖中控制外寄生虫害虫的创新手段。近海养鱼提供了巨大的增长机会。适应鱼类健康管理近海仍然是一个挑战，以环境无害的方式扩大这一潜在的利润丰厚的产业。在水箱试验中，研究了一种用于治疗海鱼体外寄生虫的装置。II期研究将完善治疗方法、足疗设计和使用方案。商业规模的原型将在海上网箱中部署和测试。足疗可以出售或授权给世界各地的养鱼场。足疗还可以提供令人信服的竞争优势，以推动夏威夷、美国水域或全球范围内的生产扩大。这项研究的更广泛的影响是增加了在开放海洋水产养殖中优化鱼类健康的无害环境手段，从而有助于这一创新、令人兴奋和潜在利润丰厚的行业的发展。近海养殖场可以生产高价值的海鱼，而不会对水质、底栖生物栖息地或其他海洋使用者群体产生重大影响。每年为美国近海农业节省10亿美元的成本可达1.15亿美元，在全球范围内都有潜在的应用前景。

This SBIR Phase II research targets innovative means for controlling ectoparasite pests in open ocean aquaculture. Offshore fish farming offers tremendous growth opportunities. Adaptive fish health management offshore remains a challenge for environmentally sound expansion of this potentially lucrative industry. PEDICURe (Passive Ectoparasite Device In Counter-current Underwater Reservoir) prototypes showed great efficacy in treating ectoparasite pests in marine fish in tank trials. Phase II research will refine therapeutic treatments, PEDICURe designs and protocols for use. Commercial-scale prototypes will be deployed and tested in offshore cages. PEDICURes could be sold or licensed to fish farms worldwide. PEDICURes could also provide compelling competitive advantages to drive expanded production in Hawaii, U.S. waters, or globally. The broader impacts of this research are in increasing the environmentally sound means for optimizing fish health in open ocean aquaculture, and thereby aiding the growth in this innovative, exciting and potentially lucrative industry. Offshore farms can produce high-value marine fish without significant impacts on water quality, benthic habitats or other ocean user groups. Cost savings to a $1 billion U.S. offshore farming industry could be $115 million p.a. There are potential applications worldwide.