SBIR Phase II: Launching Velella: Testing the Commercial Potential of Mobile Offshore Fish Farming In Ocean Gyres

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将弹射公海海水养殖远离离岸，远离竞争的用户群体，场地租赁要求和停泊限制所造成的限制，通过开发技术的Velella？一个无栓系的开放式海洋区域漂流笼。自2005年以来，科纳蓝？在一个90英亩的场地上，Kona Kampachi公司的公海海水养殖业务每年生产500吨Kona Kampachi，对环境的影响可以忽略不计。增长和投资受到场地限制的制约。美国沃茨的海水养殖扩张同样受到系泊结构的监管限制以及进一步离岸运营的技术挑战的限制。Velella项目正在开发可被卷入区域海洋漩涡的流网围栏的基本技术。这将增加规模，减少劳动力需求，提高农场盈利能力。第二阶段还将扩大涡流预测能力，并启动Velella beta系统处女航。这项研究的广泛影响将通过对环境、沿海经济和公共卫生的惠益而积累起来。海洋陷入困境;超过90%的海洋？大型食肉鱼类已经消失，超过四分之一的鱼类种群已经消失？崩溃了？过度开发或过度捕捞的野生种群无法满足全球对健康海产品日益增长的需求。尽管如此，增加海鲜消费对美国消费者来说是势在必行的？健康近岸和岸上水产养殖业只能提供有限的扩张机会，或低价值产品。公海海水养殖可以满足这一迅速增长的需求，提高产品质量，减少对野生种群的压力。克服行业限制需要高度自动化的畜牧系统，并展示符合现行法规的可扩展深水生产模式。这项研究可以显着扩大美国沃茨的可持续，生态友好的海水养殖，没有环境影响或与其他场地限制水产养殖相关的用户群体冲突。自动化程度的提高可以增加产量，提高盈利能力，改善鱼类健康和海上工人的安全。增加国内海水养殖会减少美国？90亿美元的海鲜贸易逆差。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II project will catapult open ocean mariculture far offshore, away from the restrictions caused by competing user groups, site lease requirements and mooring restrictions, by developing the technology for Velella ? an untethered, open ocean regional drifter cage. Since 2005, Kona Blue?s open ocean mariculture operation has produced up to 500T per annum of Kona Kampachi, with negligible environmental impacts, from a 90 acre site. Growth and investment are constrained by site limitations. Mariculture expansion in U.S. waters is similarly limited by regulatory constraints for moored structures, and the technological challenges of operating further offshore. The Velella Project is developing essential technologies for drifter net-pens that can be entrained in regional ocean eddies. This will allow increased scale and reduced labor requirements, and greater farm profitability. Phase II will also expand eddy predictive capabilities, and launch a Velella beta-system maiden voyage. The broader impacts of this research are to be accrued through benefits to the environment, coastal economies and public health. The oceans are in deep trouble; over 90% of the ocean?s larger predator fish are gone, and over a quarter of fish stocks have ?collapsed?. Heavily exploited or overfished wild stocks cannot meet the growing global demand for healthful seafood. Still, increased seafood consumption is imperative for American consumers? health. Inshore and onshore aquaculture offer only limited expansion opportunities, or lower-value products. Open ocean mariculture can meet this burgeoning demand, improve product quality and reduce pressure on wild stocks. Overcoming the industry constraints requires highly-automated husbandry systems, and demonstration of a scalable production model for deep water that meets current regulations. This research could significantly expand sustainable, eco-friendly mariculture in U.S. waters, without environmental impacts or user-group conflicts associated with other site-constrained aquaculture. Increased automation can increase production volumes and improve profitability, fish health and worker safety offshore. Increased domestic mariculture could reduce America?s $9 billion seafood trade deficit.