Aquaculture 2022

February 28 - March 4, 2022

San Diego, California

MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES FOR HABS IN OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE: A REVIEW

  Devan Nichols  and Timothy Hogan

 

 

  TWB Environmental Research and Consulting, inc.

 2 Summer St. Natick, MA

 dnichols@twb-erc.com

 



 As  development of  offshore  aquaculture projects increases, daily monitoring of net  pens becomes increasingly difficult and  the need for  remotely sensed monitoring tools becomes  more of a priority. Increased dissolved nutrients resulting from offshore aquaculture pens could have an impact on phytoplankton composition and the potential to trigger the onset of harmful algal blooms (HABs) . The impact of these blooms on the aquaculture industry amounts to approximately $8 billion/year globally due to mass mortalities in finfish, shellfish harvesting bans due to accumulation of phycotoxins, and human health costs. Currently, there are multiple commercial, academic, and government agencies working on remote sensing technologies to monitor offshore aquaculture facilities. This technology-based discussion aims to review current remote sensing technologies specifically used to monitor HABs and their applications to the offshore aquaculture industry . This review highlights current remote sensing HAB monito ring  technologies along with  their successes, limitations, knowledge gaps, and research needs.  These technologies will be essential tools for early detection,  tracking, and forecasting of HABs to improve  fish health and  operational  efficiency of offshore aquaculture facilities.