Culturing

Created by Seán Kavanagh

Aquaculture
Breeding, rearing and harvesting of aquatic organisms in varied water environments

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TermDefinition
AquacultureBreeding, rearing and harvesting of aquatic organisms in varied water environments
Most valuable asset to Irish AquacultureAtlantic Salmon
Ecological factors for start upsWater supply/quality, climate, soil/land
Biological factors for start upsSpecies, resources, type/size
Economic/social factors for start upsOwnership/regulations, markets, staff
Types of marine aquacultureCages/ pens/ aquarium trade
Types of freshwater aquacultureFish farms/ aquarium trade
Nitrogen CycleAmmonia- Nitrite- Nitrate
Nitrogen fixating bacteriaNitrosomonas/ nitrobacter
RAS System stagesClarification, biofiltration, gas stripping, oxygenation
Common aquatic feedRotifers, artemia
Batch culture systemSingle inoculation of cells into fertilised water
Continuous culture systemFertilised water pumped into culture, excess washed out
Forms of culturing musselsBottom, intertidal, rope culture
Native Oyster (scientific name)Ostrea edulis
Pacific Oyster (scientific name)Magallana gigas
LarviparousFertilised within shell
Broadcast spawningFertilised in water column
Aquaculture production stagesBrood stock, live feed culturing, hatchery, nursery, grow out system
Time period of mussels to reach marketable quality2-3 years
Scientific name of blue musselMytilus Edulis
Challenges to shellfish industryDiseases, overstocking, seed shortage, damage to benthic habitat (dredging), fouling, biotoxins/phytoplankton
Organic certificationOrganic status, MSC cert, Green Origin, Certified Quality Aquaculture
Oyster culturing systemBag + Basket system
Shellfish Hygiene 1Hygiene of foodstuffs
Shellfish Hygiene 2Hygiene rules of food of animal origin
Shellfish Hygiene 3Regulation to ensure food and feed law
Irish organisations involved in shellfish monitoringSea-fisheries protection authority, Marine Institute, Food Safety Authority of Ireland
MSSCMolluscan Shellfish Safety Committee
Harvest areas judged on sanitary quality usingE.coli readings
How often are production areas tested for E.coliEvery Month
Organisations involved in shellfish safetyMarine Institute, Veterinary Inspection Services (DAFM)
Human virus obtained through infected or raw shellfishNorovirus
Income of the Irish Salmon industry (2024)142 million
Scientific name for salmonSalmo Salar
Salmon life cycleEggs- Alevin- Fry- Parr- Smolt- Adult
Juvenile Salmon freshwater phase length2-3+years
Adult Salmon saltwater phase length1-2+years
Smoltification definitionPeriod of development of a salmon's seawater tolerance
When in their development are salmon smolts transferred to sea cages?8-16 months
Challenges to salmon aquacultureDiseases, sea lice, interactions between wild and cultured stocks, pollution
Sea lice control measuresMedication, cleaner fish, filtration, thermal/freshwater exposure
Lice per fish in Spring 0.5
Lice per fish in other seasons bar Spring2