Biofouling Detection Technologies
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Hi Everyone,
My name is Reacky Huang. I am from Sea-Gal Technologies. Our company is currently conducting a early-stage research to better understand how biofouling is detected and monitored in kelp farming community.
I am not selling anything - just learning from people in this field. Would you be open to a 15-20 minute chat? If you are interested, could you please let me know when you are available?
Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Reacky
@reacky_21 I'd be happy to chat with you. Many farmers aim to harvest their kelp before biofouling sets in and visually inspect their lines and kelp during routine maintenance operations. Most farmers also closely monitor water temperatures and other parameters that are associated with certain types of fouling. GreenWave's Guide to Common Biofouling Organisms describes some of the most common fouling organisms as well as some mutations and diseases that kelp farmers in the U.S. and Canada have encountered. @david_bailey are there any novel tools or approaches that kelp farmers in Maine or Alaska are using to track and monitoring biofouling?
@kendall_barbery Thanks for sharing Kendall! The guide is very helpful. What are the pain points that you are facing when you detect biofouling? Once you spot biofouling, what do you usually do?
@david_bailey I would love to learn from you as well. If you could let me know what kelp farmers in Maine or Alaska are using to detecting biofouling that would great! Many thanks!
@reacky_21 Hey Reacky, Biofouling is detected by pulling up lines and looking at the kelp. We are working to link observational data to sensor data, but for the time being nothing beats a trip to the farm. What you do when you spot biofouling depends on your market. If it is a food market you try to remove as much as possible before the biofouling takes over. Other markets are less sensitive to the presense of biofouling, so you can keep your crop in the water.
@reacky_21 echoing Dave here. Most kelp farmers just detect biofouling through visual inspection. For most food grade products, farmers aim to harvest before epiphytes (bryozoans, hydroids) or grazers (snails) damage the kelp blades. This might mean a farmer harvests in March, April, or early May (in the Northern Hemisphere), before a crop may reach peak biomass and/or before water temperatures increase, nutrients decrease, and competition in the water column leads to the proliferation of fouling organisms. While there might be some strategies for extending the growing cycle (such as adjusting the depth of the growlines so they are in cooler water, etc) most farmers assume that once certain organisms show up, there is no stopping them, so the best management strategy is removing the crop before it gets too fouled.
@kendall_barbery Thank you so much Kendall! I really appreciate the valuable insights you've shared.
@david_baileyThank you so much for replying to my post. I thought data transfer would be a great idea, but it doesn't look like that is the case for you. What features or capabilities do you wish your current equipment or device had?
@kendall_barbery Thanks for sharing Kendall! The guide is very helpful. What are the pain points that you are facing when you detect biofouling? Once you spot biofouling, what do you usually do?
@david_bailey I would love to learn from you as well. If you could let me know what kelp farmers in Maine or Alaska are using to detecting biofouling that would great! Many thanks!
@reacky_21 Hey Reacky, Biofouling is detected by pulling up lines and looking at the kelp. We are working to link observational data to sensor data, but for the time being nothing beats a trip to the farm. What you do when you spot biofouling depends on your market. If it is a food market you try to remove as much as possible before the biofouling takes over. Other markets are less sensitive to the presense of biofouling, so you can keep your crop in the water.
@reacky_21 echoing Dave here. Most kelp farmers just detect biofouling through visual inspection. For most food grade products, farmers aim to harvest before epiphytes (bryozoans, hydroids) or grazers (snails) damage the kelp blades. This might mean a farmer harvests in March, April, or early May (in the Northern Hemisphere), before a crop may reach peak biomass and/or before water temperatures increase, nutrients decrease, and competition in the water column leads to the proliferation of fouling organisms. While there might be some strategies for extending the growing cycle (such as adjusting the depth of the growlines so they are in cooler water, etc) most farmers assume that once certain organisms show up, there is no stopping them, so the best management strategy is removing the crop before it gets too fouled.
@kendall_barbery Thank you so much Kendall! I really appreciate the valuable insights you've shared.
@david_baileyThank you so much for replying to my post. I thought data transfer would be a great idea, but it doesn't look like that is the case for you. What features or capabilities do you wish your current equipment or device had?