Tuesday, December 10, 2013

10/12/13: Harvesting the power of sea squirts; ongoing fish-pen development; aggressive Asian paddle crab

A few years ago, Christofer Troedsson, a researcher from the University of Bergen, Norway saw the potential of the slimy tunicates which have always been a nuisance for boat owners, including shellfish growers.

Found in all the world's oceans, when their water content is removed, tunicates consist of 55% protein, and are the only animals that produce cellulose. They could therefore in the long term be used for both feed and biofuel.
Full news available here...

Mesh manufacturer Banker Wire has partnered with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, both of the USA, to design and weave copper-alloy 'fish pens'. 

The Institute deployed the copper-net pens back in July 2013. Hubbs scientists are now comparing the development of juvenile white seabass living in copper-net pens with that of fish in traditional nylon cages.
Full news available here...

A non-native crab species is causing chaos in Australia.

According to the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, the Asian paddle crab (Charybdis japonica) could spread devastating disease to prawns, crabs and lobsters.

Victoria Aitken, biosecurity section leader said the crab, which is not currently established in Australia, has the potential to become a major marine pest.
More information available here...




English: Tunicate colony. (Clavelina moluccensis)
Blue bell tunicate colony (Clavelina moluccensis) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)





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