Developing an automated oyster pouch flipper

在这个项目中，NSERC的资金将支持北岛学院（NIC）和里奇控股有限公司（RHL）开发一种自动化的牡蛎袋鳍状物，可以固定在船的一侧，这将提高牡蛎养殖的效率和安全性。太平洋牡蛎（Crassostrea gigas）是不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC）最广泛养殖的贝类。不列颠哥伦比亚省一种新颖的牡蛎生长系统包括将牡蛎放在由半刚性塑料网制成的漂浮矩形袋中，这些塑料网连接在一起，形成长串。这些袋系统使牡蛎和基础设施便于维护和收获，同时保持牡蛎在最佳生长条件。然而，每个月必须翻转袋2-6次，以防止海洋生物污垢的积累，这是劳动密集型和危险的。该项目将包括设计、测试、建造和修改一个新的原型，该原型将在RHL在温哥华岛海岸的商业贝类养殖场进行测试。该项目的成果将帮助RHL克服一个重要的劳动力挑战，并提高他们的牡蛎生产能力。加拿大贝类水产养殖部门为国内和全球市场生产可持续的健康海产品。在一个以“低技术”和劳动密集型做法而闻名的部门，养殖系统的创新和自动化将有助于加拿大贝类养殖者扩大业务，并在全球市场上保持竞争力。

In this project, NSERC funds will support North Island College (NIC) and Ritchie Holdings Ltd. (RHL) todevelop an automated oyster pouch flipper that can be affixed to the side of a boat, which will increase oysterfarming efficiency and safety. The Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is the most widely farmed shellfishspecies in British Columbia (BC). A novel oyster grow-out system in BC involves placing oysters in floatingrectangular pouches made of semi-rigid plastic mesh that are linked together, forming long strings. Thesepouch systems make the oysters and infrastructure convenient to access for maintenance and harvesting, whilekeeping the oysters in prime growing conditions. However, pouches must be flipped 2-6 times per month toprevent the build-up of marine biofouling, which is labour intensive and hazardous. The project will involvedesign, testing, construction, and modification of a new prototype that will be tested at RHL's commercialshellfish tenures off the coast of Vancouver Island. Results of this project will help RHL overcome animportant labour challenge and increase their capacity for oyster production. The Canadian shellfishaquaculture sector produces sustainable, healthy seafood products for both domestic and global markets.Innovation and automation of grow-out systems, in a sector known for its 'low-tech' and labour intensivepractices, will help Canadian shellfish growers grow their operations and remain competitive in global markets.