Mussel power could propel industry
Artificial Intelligence, solar power and turning greenshell mussels into a ‘‘premium product’’ are among initiatives that could boost Marlborough aquaculture, a forum has heard.
Converting aquaculture farms to solar power was one of several high-tech innovations at the fourth annual Smart + Connected aquaculture forum last week.
igenerate regional sales manager Ryan Pigou said aquaculture companies had huge areas of roof space which could be used to generate solar power, lowering costs and reducing emissions.
‘‘The sun is not going to raise its prices,’’ he told about 60 scientists, industry members, community members and Marlborough District Council staff at the forum in Havelock.
He said there were already 22 solar-powered workplaces in Marlborough.
The Government has announced plans to lift aquaculture to a $3 billion industry as part of a wider strategy released at the New Zealand Aquaculture Conference in Blenheim in September.
Wakatu¯ research and business development manager Andy Elliot said at the forum the new target of $3b by 2035 could be accomplished by ‘‘repositioning’’ greenshell mussels as a premium product.
A working group would look at ways to triple greenshell mussel returns to become a $1b industry and a strategy would be presented to next year’s Aquaculture NZ conference.
Nelson Artificial Intelligence Institute director Brian Russell led a workshop at the forum about using AI to monitor the retention of mussel spat (juvenile mussels).
Many spat were lost before they could fully grow. Russell said AI could help farmers get a better understanding of the ocean’s climate, environmental conditions, food supply and the effects of climate change which could all affect spat.
Niwa’s principal scientist for ecosystem modelling Dr Niall Broekhuizen told the forum that climate warming and the associated ocean acidification and rising sea levels would present challenges for aquaculture.
Niwa was putting a project together to measure the threats and problems so the industry could develop well-informed adaptation strategies, he said.
Smart + Connected Aquaculture was also creating a video to promote careers and recruitment across the aquaculture industry, including a workshop that could educate marine farmers to reduce their use of plastic.
The group’s value and innovation working group chairman, Zane Charman, said there would be another meeting next week to discuss the issue further.
‘‘We have now got things moving on a fresh range of initiatives which our value and innovation working group can pick up and help push along.’’