Exploring innovative containment methods for integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) of the giant red sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) and shellfish

水产养殖可以提供显著的经济、社会和环境效益。然而，仍然有 该行业面临许多挑战，需要调查和创造性的解决方案。面临的一个挑战 不列颠哥伦比亚省的海参养殖业缺乏现成和廉价的 控制海参在海底生长的方法。拟议的项目旨在解决这一问题 开发和测试单独种植或种植的海参的底栖生物遏制方法面临的挑战 与其他养殖物种共培养。已经提出了两种遏制系统，包括改装的 地鸭“袋子在底部”，管状塑料网由聚氯乙烯管道稳定。这些系统将是 在实验室空间中设计和测试以确定最佳网目尺寸(以防止逃逸)， 锚定机构，安装方案，并测试各种放养密度。试验性围堵 然后，系统将在更大范围内进行现场测试，以评估其在SEA中的实用性和功能 黄瓜水产养殖。增加获得实用和廉价遏制措施的机会将有助于扩大 并促进可持续水产养殖做法。这个项目的研究团队是多学科的。 包括学术界、产业界和政府的合作者。

Aquaculture can provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits. However, there are still numerous challenges facing the industry that require investigation and creative solutions. One challenge facing the sea cucumber aquaculture industry in British Columbia is the lack of readily available and inexpensive containment methods for growth of sea cucumbers on the ocean floor. The proposed project aims to tackle this challenge by developing and testing benthic containment methods for sea cucumbers grown alone or in co-culture with other farmed species. Two containment systems have been proposed, including modified geoduck 'bags on the bottom,' and tubular plastic netting stabilized by PVC piping. These systems will be designed and tested in a lab space to determine the optimal mesh size for netting (to prevent escapes), anchoring mechanisms, installation protocols, and to test various stocking densities. Experimental containment systems will then be tested in the field on a larger scale to assess their practicality and functionality for sea cucumber aquaculture. Increasing access to practical and inexpensive containment will help expand the industry and promote sustainable aquaculture practices. The research team for this project is multidisciplinary and includes academic, industry, and government collaborators.