Principal Investigator(s): Richard Langan, Rolland Barnaby and Forbes Horton

I. Accomplishments

A. Scheduled Tasks
1. Continue to help mussel growers maintain, harvest, and market their first crop.
2. Develop a strategy for processing mussels for market
3. Identify new growers and possible sites.
4. Produce and distribute a report on the “Status of Open Ocean Aquaculture in 2005.”

B. Progress on Tasks
1. Project personnel worked with Andy Lang to deploy six additional lines, bringing his total to 10 longlines at the Boar’s Head site. Project personnel also worked with Mr. Lang to teach him techniques for line tending, adding buoyancy, monitoring growth and estimating inventory, and harvesting and bulk processing mussels. Project personnel also assisted Mr. Lang with deployment of seed collection lines and monitoring spat settlement. Lang began harvesting in the fall of 2006 and will continue to place small amounts (200-400 lbs/week) on local market throughout the winter and spring of 2007

2. Project personnel arranged a trip to Maine to familiarize Mr. Lang with harvesting and processing techniques and equipment. They also conducted research on the latest equipment available on the market and presented this information to Mr. Lang with recommendations for equipment purchases. The project also developed a method for declumping mussels using existing equipment and purchased a used debyssing machine and had it refurbished for use by Mr. Lang. This equipment and methods developed by the project were used to harvest mussels for commercial sale. Mr. Barnaby was instrumental in introducing representatives of the Donner Foundation to the aquaculture research program and to Mr. Lang’s commercial enterprise. The Foundation has promised funding to outfit Mr. Lang’s fishing vessel to bulk process mussels and to install new longlines.

3. Informal meetings were held in northern New England to stimulate interest in offshore mussel culture. Presentations were also given at workshops such as the Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo and the Milford Aquaculture Seminar. The project hosted offshore demonstrations of mussel culture for prospective farmers from Maine, New Jersey, California and Massachusetts. A presentation by project Director Richard Langan has generated interest in mussel culture by fishermen in Martha’s Vineyard and a proposal to the state of Massachusetts for pilot studies will be submitted in 2007.

4. The report developed by Mr. Barnaby was completed and distributed in 2006. Key findings included in the report are:

• All the farms are using the SeaStation cage, which is the same cage that UNH engineers tested in the wave tank and then tested again using computer modeling programs years ago. It is also the cage currently being used by UNH.
• The mooring system that all the farms are using is the one designed by UNH engineers. Two of the farms have modified it by shortening up the lines inside the grid so that the cages have to be submerged at all times.
• All the farms are using the venturi system that UNH helped develop years ago for feeding fish and are waiting for the automatic feeder issues to be resolved. All the farms are in need of some kind of automatic feeding system. They are looking to UNH to solve this problem.
• The method that the farms use to observe their fish is to dive down and enter the cages.
• The remote cameras that UNH has installed would help the farmers by reducing the amount of diving time.

C. Important Results or Findings
Technology Transfer is a full contact sport, and successful transfer to the fishing industry requires continued technical and logistical support

D. Difficulties Encountered
Successful transfer of mussel culture technology requires more effort than originally anticipated. Mr. Horton’s departure from the project leaves a considerable void in transfer activities.

E. Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in the Scheduled Project Period
Prospects for successful technology transfer are good, however, time, personnel, and resources are needed to maintain this effort.

F. Reports, Manuscripts, and Presentations Resulting from the Project
Presentations:
Barnaby, Roland “Permitting commercial offshore mussel farms in NH state waters”. Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo, Groton, CT, December 2006.

Langan, Richard. “Opportunities for ocean mussel culture in New England”. Chilmark Public Library, Martha’s Vineyard, MA. November 2006.

II. Tasks and activities for next reporting period
The following tasks will be undertaken in fulfillment of NOAA grant # NA04OAR4600155
A. Tasks for the next reporting period
1. Continue to help mussel growers maintain, harvest, and market their first crop.
2. Develop a strategy for processing mussels for market
3. Identify new growers and possible sites.
4. Produce a report on the “Status of Open Ocean Aquaculture in 2005.”

B. Brief work plan to accomplish tasks
1. Project personnel will work with Andy Lang to deploy and seed six additional lines and to harvest market ready mussels.
2. Project personnel will continue to research equipment and work with other growers to come up with an optimal strategy for the near term and long term
3. Informal meetings and presentation will be scheduled throughout northern New England to stimulate interest in offshore mussel culture
4. The report will be completed in early 2006

III. Expenditures
Expenditures were commensurate with the tasks and activities conducted during the reporting period.