Program Highlights

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in Penaeid Shrimp Culture
Moderator: Shaun Moss

This symposium highlights the application of recirculating technologies in penaeid shrimp culture. Presentations will cover shrimp nursery and growout production, and will include topics on system design and engineering, system management, water quality, and microbial ecology.

Culture of Algae as an Alternative Fuel Source (Friday AM)
Moderator: Greg Boardman

For years we have recognized that hydrocarbons can be extracted from algae, but production of this oil as an alternative fuel source has not been developed commercially. This session focuses on the culture of algae and the extraction of algal oils for use as a biofuel.

Recirculating Systems for Salmonids
Moderator: Steven Summerfelt (Sponsored by Freshwater Institute)

Worldwide production of salmon, trout, and arctic char in recirculating systems has expanded rapidly in the past 5 years, and although there is much heterogeneity in production system design, water quality control is a common factor. This symposium will present research and case studies that describe the interaction between recirculating system design, loading, and water quality in salmonid production systems, including details on water use, feeding rates, system exchange rate, culture tank exchange rate, production rates, treatment efficiency, waste capture efficiency, fish performance, and energy consumption. Of paramount importance will be discussion on the welfare and growth of the fish.

Innovative Feeds for RAS
Moderators: George Flick/Steve Craig

Feed issues continue to be at the forefront of aquaculture production. As the cost of feeds, feeding equipment, and labor typically account for over 50% of the costs of operating an intensive aquaculture production facility, even slight improvements in feed conversion ratios and nutrient utilization can play an enormous role in economic viability. Additionally, novel feed formulations, especially those designed for intensive recirculating aquaculture systems, are mandatory for the industry to move forward in an environmentally sustainable fashion. This session will focus upon the latest research involving sustainable feed formulations as well as their impacts on system design and operation.

Sustainable RAS
Moderator: David Kuhn

Seafood demand is growing as natural fisheries are being depleted. As stewards of the natural environment, humans need to develop sustainable methods for producing seafood. One such sustainable option is the implementation of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which culture animals in a controlled environment. This session will focus on concepts to improve RAS sustainability; possible topics include disease management, engineering technologies, feed selection, feed management, species selection, system management, and waste management.

The Application of RAS Technology for Mollusk Culture
Moderators: German Merino/Steven Hall (Sponsored by the Aquacultural Engineering Society)

The ongoing intensification of the mollusk aquaculture sector has led to development of systems to reuse or intensively recirculate seawater during the hatchery, nursery, or growout phase at both experimental and commercial operations. Species being reared include scallops, abalone, mussels and other species. Research-based information is needed on the intensification of feeding systems to reduce make up water requirements by filter feeding mollusks, the maintenance of adequate water quality, tank design, energy requirements, alkalinity and hardness effects on mollusks, and bioengineering parameters, including ammonia excretion and oxygen consumption. The emphasis on RAS does not exclude contributions describing flow-through, partial flow-through and land-based polyculture systems. Topics may include system design, operation and performance, and growth and welfare of cultured animals.

RAS Process Control I: PLCs or Other Types of Control Applications
Moderator: Timothy Pfeiffer (Sponsored by the Aquacultural Engineering Society)

In response to the trend towards intensification of aquaculture production to meet the increasing demand for farmed seafood, this session focuses on the application of control technologies in recirculating aquaculture systems. The use of control technologies, including programmable logic controls (PLCs), enables aquaculturists to improve system performance to meet expanding production goals. Session topics may include the use of control applications for oxygen monitoring and delivery, feed delivery and distribution, system aeration and degassing, and other novel and applied control aspects of RAS.

RAS Process Control II: Commercial Vendor Showcase
Moderator: Timothy Pfeiffer (Sponsored by the Aquacultural Engineering Society)

Today, there is a wide range of control technology commercially available to the aquaculture industry. The Aquacultural Engineering Society wishes to offer manufacturers of such technology the opportunity to present their control systems, give an in-depth presentation on the technical specifications of their system, and show how their technology can be employed to benefit the end user. Session topics will explore how various control systems are currently being utilized in RAS operations worldwide.