Installment of Anti-Predator Netting to Improve Oyster Seed Survival

Han Pacific Shellfish Ltd.是一家小型家庭经营的贝类养殖场，位于不列颠哥伦比亚省的登曼岛附近。近年来，由于不寻常的海洋条件和它们的小牡蛎种子被螃蟹捕食，它们的牡蛎没有进入市场。虽然海洋条件是不可控制的，而且越来越不可预测，但在一些地区，在脆弱的牡蛎周围安装反捕食者网和/或袋已经成功地减少了由于捕食造成的损失。我们建议在Han Pacific Shellfish Ltd.安装不同类型的防捕食网，专门为海洋中的长期生活设计，以确定哪些产品可能最有效，并根据需要调整现有产品以适应当地条件。养殖场工作人员和北岛学院研究小组将监测网的状况和牡蛎的存活情况，并在必要时进行网的维修/调整。该项目将为汉太平洋贝类有限公司提供直接和长期的利益，使更多的产品使消费者。此外，希望在贝类水产养殖业进行实践培训的学生助理将获得宝贵的经验。我们希望这个项目将鼓励北岛学院和小规模水产养殖公司之间的进一步伙伴关系，这些公司往往没有或非常有限的财政手段进行内部研究和开发。

Han Pacific Shellfish Ltd. is a small, family-owned shellfish farm near Denman Island, British Columbia. Inrecent years their oysters have not made it to the market due to unusual ocean conditions and devastatingpredation of their small oyster seed, mostly by crabs. Though ocean conditions are uncontrollable andincreasingly unpredictable, installing anti-predator nets and/or bags around the vulnerable oysters has beensuccessful in some areas to decrease losses due to predation. We propose installing different types ofanti-predator netting at Han Pacific Shellfish Ltd. specifically designed for long-term life in the ocean, todetermine which product(s) might be most effective and to adapt the existing products to suit the localconditions, as necessary. Net condition and oyster survival will be monitored by the farm staff and by the NorthIsland College research team, with net repairs/adjustments made as necessary. This project would provideimmediate and long-term benefits for Han Pacific Shellfish Ltd. by allowing more of their products to make itto consumers. In addition, valuable experience will be gained by student assistants who desire hands-ontraining in the shellfish aquaculture industry. We hope that this project will encourage further partnershipsbetween North Island College and small-scale aquaculture companies, who often have no or very limitedfinancial means for internal research and development.