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ALTHOUGH LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ARE BEING INVESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND-BASED TANK CULTIVATION OF ABALONE, NO ONE HAS DEVELOPED A POLYCULTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR LARGE-SCALE IN-THE-SEA CULTIVATION OF BOTH ABALONE AND ITS MACROALGAL FOODS.

Award Information
Agency: National Science Foundation
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 2668
Amount: $39,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1985
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
5755 Thornwood Dr
Goleta, CA 93117
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 JOHN A BENSON PHD
 PROJECT MANAGER
 (805) 964-5844
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

ALTHOUGH LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ARE BEING INVESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND-BASED TANK CULTIVATION OF ABALONE, NO ONE HAS DEVELOPED A POLYCULTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR LARGE-SCALE IN-THE-SEA CULTIVATION OF BOTH ABALONE AND ITS MACROALGAL FOODS. WE PROPOSE TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF ABALONE-ALGAE POLYCULTURE INTHE SEA USING INNOVATIVE MARINE FARMS THAT SUPPORT SPECIAL PLASTIC AND FIBERGLASS-MESH CONTAINERS SERVICED WITH A NEW HARVESTER/WORKBOAT. IN THE PHASE I STUDY, WE WILL PURCHASE 1-CM LONG "SEEDSTOCK" ABALONE WITH RED-ALGAL-BANDED SHELLS FROM LOCAL HATCHERIES. THESE ANIMALS WILL BE USED IN FEEDING TRIALS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF CONTAINER DESIGN, FOOD TYPE, AND LEVELS OF LIGHT AND WATER MOTION ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ON THE HARVESTER-WORKBOAT WILL RAISE THE CULTIVATION CONTAINERS FROM THE SEA ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR CLEANING, PREDATOR CONTROL, AND FEEDING. CULTIVATION OF THE ALGAL FOOD SPECIES ON THE SAME FARM STRUCTURES WILL BE ATTEMPTED WITH THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF GREATLY REDUCING THE HARVESTING AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS OF PROVIDING A STABLE FOOD SUPPLY FOR THE ABALONE. BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEWLY DEVELOPED TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING SPAWNING AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT THAT ALLOW INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF UNIFORM SEEDSTOCK FOR EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING TRAILS, A LOW-COST IN-THE-SEA "GROW-OUT" SYSTEM FOR ADULT ABALONE WILL BE TESTED. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH EXTEND BEYOND ABALONE TO THE POLYCULTURE OF MANY OTHER COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT SHELLFISH.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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