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Marine Aquaculture Research Projects
Marine Aquaculture Research Projects

Photo Credit: Tomi Marsh

Pacific Marine Pilot Projects: In 2017 PSMFC entered into an agreement with the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture to support establishing or expanding regional pilot projects for marine aquaculture for the U.S. West Coast states of Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington, as well as Hawaii and U. S. Pacific Islands. NOAA has similar agreements in place with the Gulf and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissions.

PSMFC has been responsible for developing a request for proposals (RFP’s) and leading the selection process for qualifying projects. PSMFC administers the successful projects once they are selected. The archived RFP’s from 2018 and 2019 can be found HERE.

We have worked closely on this project with our two sister commissions (Gulf and Atlantic) and the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture.  

Explore project locations via the interactive map below

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2018 Marine Pilot RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
DulsEnergy, Inc. Commercial Demonstration Production of Dulse Seaweed in Land- Based Systems on the Oregon Coast Dulse (Palmaria mollis)
OR
The Cultured Abalone Farm, LLC Evaluation of Two Species of Native California Seaweed for Commercial Production Feasibility Chondracanthus exasperatus and Laminaria farlowii
CA
OceansAlaska Community Demonstration Seaweed Farm Native kelp species (Bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana)
AK
Pacific Shellfish Institute California Sea Cucumber nursery development California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus)
WA

 

2019 Regional Oyster Aquaculture Research Consortia RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
Pacific Shellfish Institute Assessment of ecological function and interactions of oyster culture and eelgrass In collaboration with shellfish farms along the west coast, this project will assess the interaction of eelgrass with various oyster culture systems, and the ecological functions of these habitats for managed fish and invertebrate species. Washington, Oregon and California
Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center Preparing for Future Challenges – Threats from Ocean Acidification, Vibrio Coralliilyticus and OSHV-1 μVAR to West Coast Oyster Farmers The project identifies and addresses production and technical challenges that prevent West coast oyster aquaculture from achieving its full economic and biological potential. The proposed research and outreach focus on genetic improvement of Pacific oyster diploid and polyploid stocks to ensure growth of the oyster industry in a future with increasing challenges of ocean acidification and more frequent outbreaks of diseases, such as Vibrio coralliilyticus and the oyster herpes virus OsHV-1 California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, France, and Canada ( B.C.)

 

2019 Marine Pilot RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories / San Jose State University Research Development of a rock scallop hatchery for California’s aquaculture industry Rock Scallop (Crassadoma gigantea)
CA
HoldFast Aquaculture LLC and Santa Barbara Mariculture Co. Developing locally adapted mussel varieties for aquaculture production in the Southern California Bight Mediterranean mussel  Mytilus galloprovincialis
CA
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Development of Sustainable Land-Based Macroalgae Culture Methods: Stand-Alone Monoculture and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Ogo (Gracilaria pacifica), Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca), and Nori (Pyropia perforate)
CA
Pacific Shellfish Institute California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) nursery and upland growout development Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus californicus)
WA
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation MaricultureMap – Version 2.0 – A tool to inform mariculture expansion in Alaska The proposed work in this project will enhance and expand the MaricultureMap v1.0 and transition the AHAB map into a combined operational system for Alaska that significantly shortens the time for multiple stakeholders to access siting information of potential mariculture operations.
AK
University of Washington Applying cutting-edge technology for reproductive control in emerging bivalve species Characterize genomic processes involved in primordial germ cell specification in geoducks (Panopea generosa).
WA

 

2020 Marine Pilot RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
Pacific Shellfish Institute Resolving Bottlenecks to Commercial Rock Scallop Aquaculture Rock Scallop (Crassadoma gigantea) Manchester Research Station, WA
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Connecting Alaska Seaweed with New Markets Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissimi), Ribbon Kelp; (Alaria marginata) and Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). Wrangell, AK
Kelptastic Farms Workforce Training and Hands on Seaweed Farm to Develop Economic Diversity and Empower Coastal Community Members Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Ketchikan, AK
University of California, San Diego Expanding the Horizons of West Coast Aquaculture through Culture of Native Clam Species Littleneck Clams (Chione undatella and Leukoma staminea), Butter Clam (Saxidomus nutalli) and Clipped (Flat) Semele Clam (Semele decisa). San Diego, CA
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Development of a Pilot-Scale Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) California Yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis); Ogo (Gracilaria pacifica) and/or Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca); Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis); California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) San Diego, CA
University of Hawaii, Hilo Putting Traditional and Novel Hawaiian Seaweeds into Cultivation for Regional Benefits Various Species of Rhodophyta, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta Hilo, Hawaii
Seagrove Kelp Company Enhancing the efficacy and sustainability of kelp seed production for the Alaskan mariculture industry Bull kelp, (Nereocystis luetkeana), Winged Kelp (Alaria marginata), and Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima); Ketchikan, Alaska

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2021/2022 Marine Pilot RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Development of a new native bivalve for aquaculture: spawning and growth of the Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) Manchester Research Station, WA
University of Washington, Seattle, WA Development of genomic markers for environmental resilience in mussels Mytilus trossulus and Mytilus galloprovincialis. Seattle, WA
Pacific Shellfish Institute, Olympia, WA Expanding aquaculture potential for the California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) in Alaska and Washington Giant red sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) Ketchikan, AK and Manchester Research Station, WA
University of California, San Diego Business economic analysis for West Coast based urchin ranching Purple sea urchins, (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus) Goleta, Moss Landing and Monterey, CA
Seagrove Kelp Co., Alaska Establishing a platform for inclusive cultivation of black seaweed (Pyropia abbotiae) in Alaska black seaweed (Pyropia abbotiae) Ketchikan and Metlakatla, AK
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Alaska Alaska Mariculture Initiative - Phase 3 Seaweeds/Shellfish Wrangell, AK
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts and Alaska Rapid Seeding of Seaweed Grow Lines Kodiak Island Sustainable Seaweed farm Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Ribbon Kelp (Alaria marginate) Kodiak, AK
Ocean Era, Inc., Hawaii Tropical macroalgae nutrient uptake in finfish effluent water, and macroalgal marketability Ulva ohnoi, Halymenia hawaiiana, Caulerpa racemosa, and Gracilaria parvispora Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
University of Southern California Selective Breeding for Ocean Acidification tolerant stocks of farmed Blue Mussel in Pacific Southwest Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) San Pedro, CA and Santa Barbara, CA
Barnacle Foods, Alaska Mapping and Aerial Survey of Kelp Beds in Southeast Alaska to Establish Baseline Abundance and Inform Kelp Farm Site Selection, Seed Stock Sources, and Out planting Schedules bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Juneau, AK
Guam Department of Agriculture Na’boka: Battling Hunger through Community-Driven Aquaculture Projects Giant clams(Tridacna maxima) Guam

 

2023 Marine Pilot RFP Selected Projects

GRANTEE PROJECT TITLE SPECIES LOCATION
Kauai Seafarm Overcoming hurdles and expanding opportunities for sea cucumber aquaculture in Hawaiian fishponds Stichopus horrens sea cucumbers. Kalaheo, HI
Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute Development of a Pilot-Scale Hatchery and Nursery Culture Techniques for Pacific Calico Scallops (Argopecten ventricosus) as a New Shellfish Aquaculture Species for California Pacific Calico Scallops (Argopecten ventricosus) San Diego, CA
Prince William Sound Science Center Empowering coastal Alaska by building local capacity for kelp farming and evaluating best practices for harvesting seed stock. sugar kelp; Laminaria saccharina, ribbon kelp; Alaria marginata), Cordova, AK
Jamestown Seafood Comparing land-based and net-pen culture of Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and assessing an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) approach using giant red Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus); Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) Manchester Research Station, WA
Hawaii Pacific University Development of an Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture System to Increase Production and Profitability of Hawaiian Fishponds mullet (Mugil cephalu), Pacific white shrimp, (Litopenaeus vannamei); Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas); sea lettuce, (Ulva fasciata) Waimanalo, HI
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