Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Open Ocean Systems Inc. (OOSI) is a small-scale, ecosystem-focused finfish aquaculture company that ispursuing expanded operations in coastal locations throughout Nova Scotia. OOSI has developed a new finfishfarming model called Balanced Ecosystem Aquafarming (BEA) that addresses many of the problems thatcurrently challenge aquaculture production (net management, bio-fouling control, environmental impact, fishhealth and suboptimal growth efficiency). Following the BEA model, farms consist of five individually mooredcages, covering less than 1 hectare and stocking 90,000 fish. The freely rotating cages use ocean currents andUV rays to keep nets clear of bio-fouling, and can be submerged to avoid severe weather, ice or biologicalthreats (algae blooms, sea lice larva). The cages therefore have specific location requirements for currents,depth, geographical size, and temperature, and the biophysical suitability of a site is the critical factor in theireffectiveness.NSCC's Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) specializes in coastal geomatics which can be applied inaquaculture site selection. Determining the location of sites is a spatial problem that can be optimized throughthe use of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based modelling. AGRG will work with OOSI to introducethem to various geomatics technologies (data acquisition, processing, analysis and modelling, and mapproducts) to enhance their site selection, management and reporting for the aquaculture site. A preliminaryhydrodynamic model to track particulate matter associated with excess fish feed and fecal matter will bedeveloped; the model will provide the basis for comprehensive planning and site management, resulting inoptimized fish production. The data and model results will be compiled in a GIS that will be provided to OOSIas well as other non-GIS formats that enable them to toggle various data layers on and off. Success with thisstyle of fish farm would develop the under-utilized aquaculture potential and contribute to growth of ruraleconomies.