Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture of Shrimp and Sea Cucumbers for Nutrient Recycling, Sludge Reduction, and Creation of Additional Revenue Streams
Location | Funding | Institution | Principal Investigator(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Hawaii | $38,802 | Oceanic Institute | Dustin Moss, Ph.D. |
Overall Project Goal
The goal of the current proposal is to test the feasibility of an IMTA approach using sea cucumbers to improve nutrient use efficiency and to create an additional revenue stream for shrimp farms.
Objectives
Year 1 and 2
1. Identify, determine availability, collect, and screen for shrimp pathogens for a minimum of two commercially-valuable species of sea cucumber that naturally occur in Hawaiian near-shore waters.
2. Conduct replicated sea cucumber culture experiments to quantify growth, survival, nutrient flow, and sludge (produced from shrimp RAS) processing capability.
3. Conduct two IMTA demonstration trials: 1- sea cucumbers fed sludge from a shrimp RAS while reared in a separate culture system and 2- polyculture of shrimp and sea cucumbers in a traditional open pond.
4. Disseminate research results to interested stakeholders in the USAPI and to a broader aquaculture community.