An important aspect of sustainable aquaculture is understanding the interaction between the local environment and an aquatic farm. The NOAA Fisheries Milford Laboratory is a global leader in aquaculture research and this year researchers are using cutting-edge technology to study the interactions between oyster farm gear and wild species.
On aquaculture farms around the country, oyster growers use cages to protect shellfish from predation and reduce the farm’s footprint. However, can these underwater cages do more? That is what the Milford staff are trying to find out. Weekly from May to September Milford Lab staff board a NOAA research vessel equipped with GoPro cameras and water collecting gear to examine oyster cage gear. “We know that shellfish aquaculture can improve water quality through ecosystem benefits provided by shellfish filter-feeding, but we also have anecdotal evidence that shellfish farms provide important habitat for wild species,” said NOAA Fisheries research ecologist Julie Rose…
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