Futureproofing Seafood Production on the British Columbia Coast

北岛学院提出了四个项目，以支持不列颠哥伦比亚省的贝类和海带水产养殖生产者。不列颠哥伦比亚省的海产品部门直接从水产养殖中收获了超过10万吨海产品。最具商业价值的贝类之一是太平洋牡蛎。在没有任何额外投入（食物，药物等）的情况下，提高这个物种在幼年时的生存率是很重要的。为了实现这一目标，涨潮贝类设计了一个原型育苗栖息地，可以减少牡蛎从水中取出的时间，并通过减少压力来提高幼牡蛎的生长和存活率。由于它们的体积很小，微塑料可能会被贝类意外食用，然后是人类，因为我们吃美味佳肴。因此，重要的是要确定目前用于BC贝类养殖的Vexar和PVC等塑料材料如何与养殖动物相互作用。北岛学院将在夸德拉岛和巴克利湾两个地点评估牡蛎中的微塑料。贝类特别容易受到二氧化碳引起的海洋酸化的影响。海洋传感器帮助我们监测不断变化的海洋条件，并使贝类养殖户能够有效地管理水产养殖业务。这些传感器通常很昂贵。在这个项目中，将获得一个海洋酸化传感器包，使我们能够将现有的传感器与新的低成本传感器进行比较，以帮助加拿大这一重要地区的未来发展。海带是不列颠哥伦比亚省的一个新兴物种，负责任的海带养殖可以提供经济机会。在这个项目中，NIC和Kwiakah第一民族将评估不同的海带生长配置和海藻收获时间的影响，以确定最佳商业产量，并告知为栖息地目的而需要留在原地的海带数量。

North Island College has proposed four projects in support of shellfish and kelp aquaculture producers in British Columbia. BC's seafood sector harvested over 100,000 tonnes of seafood directly from aquaculture. One of the most commercially important shellfish species is the Pacific Oyster. Enhancing survivorship of this species at a young age, without any additional inputs into the water (food, pharmaceuticals, etc), is important. To do so, Rising Tide Shellfish has designed a prototype nursery habitat that reduces the time oysters are removed from the water and enhances juvenile growth and survivorship by reducing stress.Because of their small size, microplastics may be accidentally eaten by shellfish, and subsequently humans, as we eat the delicacy. It is therefore important to determine how plastic materials such as Vexar and PVC, currently used in BC shellfish farming, interact with farmed animals. North Island College will assess oysters for microplastics at two sites - Quadra Island and Barkley Sound.Shellfish are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification from carbon dioxide. Ocean Sensors help us to monitor changing ocean conditions and allow shellfish growers to effectively manage aquaculture operations. These sensors are often expensive. In this project, an ocean acidification sensor package will be acquired that allows us to compare established sensors with new low-cost sensors to help futureproof this important region of Canada.Kelp is an emerging species in BC, and responsible aquaculture of kelp can provide economic opportunities. In this project, NIC and the Kwiakah First Nation will assess different kelp growth configurations and the impacts of seaweed harvest timing to determine the optimal commercial yield and inform the amount of kelp needed to leave in-situ for habitat purposes.