Kelp production at a shellfish hatchery to mitigate ocean acidification effects and support healthy bivalve development

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The shellfish aquaculture industry relies heavily upon hatcheries to produce young shellfish "seed" that is later transferred to grow-out sites. As oceans become more acidic, shellfish larvae are having difficulty or are unable to produce shells necessary for growth and survival, resulting in widespread mortality events and huge financial losses at commercial hatcheries. Kelp naturally buffers seawater against ocean acidification by absorbing carbon from the ocean during photosynthesis, which raises the dissolved oxygen content and pH of seawater. This may lead to improved conditions for shell calcification. ****The goals of this project are 1) to demonstrate the feasibility of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) culture within a commercial shellfish hatchery and 2) assess whether the kelp significantly affects seawater quality at the hatchery. We will compare water quality (pH, aragonite, alkalinity, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pCO2) between kelp and control tanks. We predict that seawater pH, aragonite and dissolved oxygen levels will be higher in the kelp tanks.****There is an immediate need for innovative strategies to help mitigate ocean acidification at shellfish hatcheries, in the face of changing and often unpredictable ocean conditions. Kelp is not only an environmentally responsible buffering system, but is itself a valued aquaculture product in demand both by local chefs and in larger markets. We hope to demonstrate the benefits of integrated kelp culture to the shellfish aquaculture industry, in terms of measureable water quality that will improve larval development, leading to increased revenue.************