2016 NRPT: Oil Spill Response Options for the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

On May 25-26, 2016, the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC)1 and Disaster Response Center (DRC) co-sponsored a NOAA Regional Preparedness Training (NRPT) Workshop at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The workshop focused on preparedness, planning and improvement of response to a potential oil spill that threatened the FGBNMS. The workshop examined response options such as dispersant use and in-situ burning (ISB) while developing the framework for an Environmental Tradeoff Analysis (ETA) to evaluate response options. The workshop also provided the opportunity for the spill response community to build relationships, understand the role each group plays in a response, and create a common understanding of the issues at the regional level. Preceding the workshop, the CRRC and DRC conducted a one-day training on May 24, 2016 at the FGBNMS titled, “State-of Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil” which was open to all 43 workshop participants

The implications of co-locating marine protected areas around offshore wind farms

Offshore wind farm (OWF) construction in the UK is progressing rapidly alongside increasing spatial pressures on marine ecosystems and social and economic activities. A need for increased protection of habitats, species and ecological processes that support environmental and economic benefits is being met by designation of marine protected areas (MPAs). Mitigation and spatial planning solutions are required to enable protection of vital ecological habitats, features and processes and support sustainable economic development. A potential solution is to co-locate OWFs and MPAs. This study uses a multi-disciplinary approach to examine if evidence on the environmental effects of existing OWFs and associated effects on fishing activity (as an existing resource use) benefits MPA goals. Through a systematic review and meta-analyses of existing data, knowledge of OWF effects on species abundance and economic effects on fishing were identified as key evidence gaps. The ecological evidence need was approached through a case study of ecological effects of North Hoyle OWF, North Wales, UK, using existing pre and post-construction monitoring data, as well as primary baited remote underwater video data, collected 5 years later (8 years post-construction). Results suggested habitat and species recovered to a stable state that showed some community differences to pre-construction conditions. The presence of OWF monopiles is likely to have increased existing heterogeneity of substratum and increased opportunities for scavenging species. Species benefitting and disadvantaged by habitat provided within the OWF reflected meta-analyses trends. Extended baseline monitoring to provide confident identification of natural levels of variation in sediment and fauna was lacking. Analysis of fishing activity and landings before and after OWF construction in three UK case study regions approached effects on resource users. Fishing activity in the three case study areas showed broad scale similarity to national trends. Small-scale activity patterns indicated greater reductions in mobile (towed) fishing gear effort near to operating OWFs than in static gear activity (using pots or static nets). Semi-structured interviews conducted with fishermen in each region revealed loss of ground and disruption as negative effects from OWFs, in addition to existing pressures. Benefits including habitat creation and species augmentation, as well as reduction of cumulative lost ground, were identified by fishermen from co-location of MPAs and OWFs. Ecological effects of OWFs suggested benefits from habitat creation, species augmentation and potential for protection of sandbank habitats between monopiles. Mitigation requirements were identified to maximise these potential benefits to an MPA network.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

Precision fish farming: a new framework to improve production in aquaculture

Aquaculture production of finfish has seen rapid growth in production volume and economic yield over the last decades, and is today a key provider of seafood. As the scale of production increases, so does the likelihood that the industry will face emerging biological, economic and social challenges that may influence the ability to maintain ethically sound, productive and environmentally friendly production of fish. It is therefore important that the industry aspires to monitor and control the effects of these challenges to avoid also upscaling potential problems when upscaling production. We introduce the Precision Fish Farming (PFF) concept whose aim is to apply control-engineering principles to fish production, thereby improving the farmer's ability to monitor, control and document biological processes in fish farms. By adapting several core principles from Precision Livestock Farming (PLF), and accounting for the boundary conditions and possibilities that are particular to farming operations in the aquatic environment, PFF will contribute to moving commercial aquaculture from the traditional experience-based to a knowledge-based production regime. This can only be achieved through increased use of emerging technologies and automated systems. We have also reviewed existing technological solutions that could represent important components in future PFF applications. To illustrate the potential of such applications, we have defined four case studies aimed at solving specific challenges related to biomass monitoring, control of feed delivery, parasite monitoring and management of crowding operations

Concepto de operación propuesto de la aplicación de drones en la industria acuícola de precisón para Colombia

En la medida en que se percibe el acelerado desarrollo y evolución de los drones en la humanidad, de esta misma manera se observa el aumento de la aplicación de este tipo de aeronaves en distintos sectores relacionados a las actividades cotidianas de los hombres y mujeres, teniendo como objetivo principal beneficiar y agilizar dichas actividades gracias al uso del espacio aéreo donde los sistemas de aeronave no tripuladas se desenvuelven, los cuales generan una alternativa a la solución y mejora de problemas tales como el transporte, recolección de información, vigilancia y una variada gama de posibilidades y aplicaciones en diferentes sectores económicos. Se hace cada vez más evidente que el uso seguro de estas plataformas, cumpliendo con las regulaciones, normas, legislaciones y evaluación de riesgos para cada misión, da como resultado un beneficio en el desarrollo de cierta actividad, el cual es medido en términos de reducción y eficiencia del tiempo de operación requerido, una disminución en los costos de operación en comparación a las aeronaves tripuladas y un mayor acceso a esta tecnología ya que para 2022 es de fácil adquisición para la población, lo que promueve a su vez que las aplicaciones varíen según la necesidad del usuario. Por esta razón, y en concordancia con el buen uso de la tecnología, el objetivo de este documento es demostrar de manera concreta el uso y aplicación de los UAS (por sus siglas en inglés Unmmaned Aircraft System), en la industria acuícola en Colombia, un complemento tecnológico a la acuicultura de precisión. Comenzando con el análisis de las actividades que se requieren en el sector que se encarga del cultivo de las especies acuáticas, vegetales y marinas (acuicultura) para posteriormente proponer el uso de las aeronaves no tripuladas reemplazando ciertas actividades del proceso de cultivo, para que al final se logre una mayor productividad, control, eficiencia y eficacia en el proceso en conjunto.To the extent that the accelerated development and evolution of drones in humanity is perceived, the increase in the application of this type of aircraft in different sectors related to the daily activities of men and women is also observed, having as main objective to benefit and streamline these activities thanks to the use of the airspace where unmanned aircraft systems operate, which generate an alternative to the solution and improvement of problems such as transportation, information collection, surveillance and a wide range of possibilities applications in different economic sectors. It is becoming increasingly evident that the safe use of these platforms, complying with the regulations, standards, legislation and risk assessment for each mission, results in a benefit in the development of a certain activity, which is generally satisfactory. It is measured in terms of reduction and efficiency of the required operating time, a decrease in operating costs compared to manned aircraft and greater access to this technology since it is currently purchased by the population, which promotes In turn, the applications vary according to the user's needs. For the above reasons and in accordance with the good use of technology, the objective of this document is to demonstrate in a concrete way the use and application of the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) for its acronym in English, in the precision aquaculture industry in Colombia. Beginning with the analysis of the activities that are currently required in the sector that is responsible for the cultivation of aquatic, vegetable and marine species (aquaculture) to later propose the use of aircraft replacing certain activities of the cultivation process, so that in the end achieve greater productivity, control, efficiency and effectiveness in the process as a whole

2020, UMaine News Press Releases

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 2, 2020 and December 15, 2020

Aquaculture Perspective of Multi-Use Sites in the Open Ocean: The Untapped Potential for Marine Resources in the Anthropocene

This volume addresses the potential for combining large-scale marine aquaculture of macroalgae, molluscs, crustaceans, and finfish, with offshore structures, primarily those associated with energy production, such as wind turbines and oil-drilling platforms. The volume offers a comprehensive overview and includes chapters on policy, science, engineering, and economic aspects to make this concept a reality. The compilation of chapters authored by internationally recognized researchers across the globe addresses the theoretical and practical aspects of multi-use, and presents case studies of research, development, and demonstration-scale installations in the US and EU

2010, UMaine News Press Releases

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 4, 2010 and December 30, 2010