Projects

InnovaPrep, a Drexel, Missouri-based microbiological tech company, received federal funding to develop a first-generation system for onsite processing of large volumes of shellfish-growing waters, to prepare them for Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), which could be analysed onsite or easily sent elsewhere. The goal is to allow real-time sea water monitoring for vibrios and, eventually, other human pathogens that can accumulate in shellfish, using small, highly co

Goal: To develop state-of-the-art capabilities for sustained desert agricultural production and marketing on the Hopi Reservation, and in other arid regions of North America. Traditional subsistence farming on the Hopi Indian Reservation in northeastern Arizona is no longer economically viable. High unemployment has prompted many young Hopis to leave, further eroding Hopi culture and tradition. Hopi leaders have sought to reinvigorate agriculture on the Reservation, hoping to

Goal: To develop proprietary land-based aquaculture for high-quality, half-shell oysters and market them with a high margin of return. Ocean Equities, LLC, TerrAqua, and the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) at the University of Maryland Baltimore collaborated on a proof-of-concept project to evaluate the commercial production of Eastern oysters in a recirculating saltwater aquaculture system. The goal was to determine whether Eastern oysters could be gr

Shellfish aquaculture is the largest sector of U.S. marine aquaculture. As the industry expands, growers and regulators face increasing pressure to reduce illnesses caused by naturally occurring Vibrio bacteria, which become more prevalent during warmer months. Existing post-harvest treatments can alter the flavor and texture of oysters, are often unpopular with consumers, and are too costly for the thousands of small, independent shellfish farmers who dominate the industry.

Mariculture Systems, an Israeli start-up, developed an innovative semi-submersible offshore platform for raising fish in the open sea. Designed by leading marine engineering and aquaculture experts, the platform can withstand waves up to 17 meters (56 feet) high. During storms, the fish cages are lowered to about 30 meters below the surface, allowing the fish to behave naturally and avoid rough conditions. Each platform is capable of producing 7,000-10,000 metric tons of fish