1. COUPLED REMOTE SENSING AND IN SITU MONITORING TO ENHANCE SHELLFISH PRODUCTION IN MAINE
Thanks you for that introduction
Today I will be talking about our exciting research which seeks to reduce hurdles shellfish production hurdles in Maine
This research is largely funded by the University of Maine’s Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network, NSF’s largest investment in aquaculture.
So let’s talk about Aquaculture.
Matt Gray, Jordan Snyder, Teiga Martin, Breanne Whittemore, Kathleen Miller, Damian C. Brady

2. Great Potential For Shellfish Production In Maine
Several economic reports indicate Maine could be a national leader for shellfish production1,2
Farmers believe to see >51% growth in sales in next 3 years3.
New farms represent significant fraction (24%) of industry
The shellfish industry is growing and the economic outlook for growers is improving.
This positive outlook is bolstered by several market reports that indicate Maine could be a national leader for shellfish production1,2
due to it’s proximity to cities with high shellfish consumption, high product quality, high product value, and strong consumer brand affiliation with Maine products
Optimisms among Farmers is quite high as they believe to see >51% growth in sales in next 3 years3.
Due to numerous incentives and support- more fishermen are now venturing into oyster aquaculture to diversify their fishing effort.
As a result- New farms which are approximately 1-2 years old now represent 24% of all farms in ME in a recent survey.
1.Gardner Pinfold 2001, Development Potential of the Maine Scallop Industry
2. The Hale Group Maine Farmed Shellfish Market Analysis
3. Maine Aquaculture Economic Impact Report Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

3. The Damariscotta Estuary Hosts Most Of Maine’s Shellfish Aquaculture
Harvests (Pounds)
Value (Dollars)
By far, most of the industry growth in Maine has occur in the Damariscotta River Estuary which is located in Central Maine.
The Upper Damariscotta shown in yellow is highly productive and can get quite warm in the summer, helping to support fast growth in this ocean dominated estuary
Oyster sales from this estuary jumped from $3.6 to 5.6 million dollars between 2014 and 2015.
In total, production in this system represents about 60-80% of the states total annual production.
Although this is great news, Industry growth elsewhere in the state has been anemic by comparison.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

4. But Room For Aquaculture In Maine Is Immense!
>3,000 Miles of Coastline (10% of Atlantic Coast)
But Maine has plenty of potential habitats due to the highly fractal nature of it’s coastline.
For example- although the coastline is 200 miles as the crow flies
There is actually >3,000 miles of tidal shoreline.
For context and scale- The red square outlines the primary oyster cultivation are in the Upper DRE.
So what are the barriers to production in the state????
Background
Method
Results
Summary

5. Site Selection Is A Major Barrier For Industry Expansion
A major barrier for entrants and existing farmers is site selection (Ranks 3rd biggest industry barrier by Maine farmers)4
Need to ID high-growth areas
Ensure profitability
Attract investors
Aid industry expansion
A major barrier for industry growth has been site selection.
Farmers actually ranked site select as the 3rd biggest barrier to production in by Maine behind disease related barriers4
So there is a need to ID high-growth areas to ensure profitability and attract investors and aid overall industry expansion
But because Maine has so much potential habitat for aquaculture- identifying suitable habitat throughout the state requires methodology the can efficiently and reliable evaluate vast areas of coastline.
>3,000 miles of potential habitat requires efficient methodology
4. Aquaculture Research and Development Priorities Survey Maine Aquiculture Innovation Center/Aquaculture Research Institute.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

6. Remote Sensing Tools To Aid Site Selection
Remote sensors such as satellites and oceanographic buoys are powerful tools for researchers as they are capable of monitoring and characterizing vast water bodies such as Maine’s coastline.
Such monitoring is important for site selection as the physiology of oysters and other bivalves respond sharply to prevailing environmental conditions
So if you can identify environmental conditions which are favorable for growth we can use remote sensing tools to find habitats that are suitable for aquaculture.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

7. Oyster-environment interaction and habitat identification
Growth and environmental monitoring
Model environmental drivers of growth
Create model-informed site suitability maps
To better understand environmental drivers of growth we conducted studies which monitored oyster growth and environmental condition.
Data from these studies were used to create models to predict growth once drivers were identified.
We then paired model data with satellite imagery to create habitat suitability maps which evaluate the quality of habitat throughout Maine by predicting growth rates in any given water body.
This approach is rather exceptional as most habitat maps are rather qualitative and estimate habitat as either being good, fair, or poor based on information from the literature.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

8. Tools For Predicting Growth
Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) Buoys
Collect hourly physical, chemical, and bio-optical data
Available in real-time
To characterize environmental conditions in Maine’s estuaries, We deployed Land Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory buoys (or LOBOs) in the Upper and Mid Damariscotta River Estuary from April to November of 2017.
These buoys collect a wide variety of physical, chemical and bio-optical oceanographic data.
These data are collected hourly and available in real-time to the public.
And the public and industry members use them!
Bill Mook of Mook Seafarms has told me that he uses the real-time temperature and chlorophyll data to manage his crop, meaning that some growers were quick to use these tools to improve production.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

9. Highly Resolved, Real-Time Environmental Data From Upper and Mid DRE
This plot of Temperature over time demonstrates the temporal resolution of the data that we collected.
Here we can see seasonal trends across the estuary, we also observed real differences for temperature between our two study sites within the Damariscotta.
And this was true for other environmental factors as well
Background
Method
Results
Summary

10. Tools For Predicting Growth
Oysters (40 mm) were measured, weighed, tagged, and deployed in cages under LOBOs
Shell growth and weights were monitored weekly from July to November 2017.
July
August
Oct.
Nov.
Sept
On the oyster side
We measured, weighed, and tagged, and deployed small oysters in cages under LOBOs.
Oysters were monitored for growth and weight on a weekly basis from July to November
We saw significantly different growth rates among our two sites within the DRE. Surprisingly, oysters held at the mid estuary grew at a faster rate than those in the upper reaches.
This is surprising as the mid estuary section contains cooler water and is generally less productive than waters in the upper reaches.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

11. Growth Models Common Predictors Among Upper and Mid DRE Sites:
Temp
Turbidity
Chlorophyll
Good Model Strength
After collating LOBO and growth data, we constructed growth models using multiple linear regression.
Here we have Observed growth rates at each site over model predicted growth rates in mm/day- given by the linear growth rate equation here.
Predictors of oyster growth were temperature, turbidity and chlorophyll- This was a very exciting finding as each of these parameters are available as satellite products
This model is able to describe >50% the variation in the observed growth of oysters between July and November.
(Adj. R2 = 0.52)
Background
Method
Results
Summary

12. LandSat 8 High Spatial Resolution
Capable of evaluating SST, Turbidity, Salinity, Chl-α, etc.
Global surveys every 16 days
Great agreement with LOBO in situ remote sensors
I’ve been working closely with Jordan Snyder, a graduate student of Oceanographer Emmanuel Boss at University of Maine, to apply our growth model to imagery from LandSat 8.
Landsat8 images are great as updated images for are available every 16 days
But importantly- Images generated by this satellite are exceptional for their resolution; for example, temperature can be mapped with 100 m^2 resolution and 30 m^2 resolution for suspended solids and fluorescence.
This is important for evaluating the narrow and jagged estuaries, bays, and small waterway that are all over Maine’s coastline.
Landsat 8 agree well with in situ matchups provided by LOBO data.
For example- SST estimates from Landsat8 was within 1C from what our CTD on the LOBO detected.
(max absolute deviation is 0.96 NTU and relative deviation is 15% for SPM; and max absolute deviation is 3 μg Chl L-1 and relative deviation is 156% for Chl a).
Background
Method
Results
Summary

13. Updated Maps Suggest Numerous High Yielding Sites Along ME Coast
Damariscotta River
Estuary
Kennebec River
Freeport
Muscongus Bay
Portland
Predicted Growth Rate (mm day-1)
After applying growth models to Landsat8 imagery were able to generate habitat maps that predict oyster growth rates for each month of the year.
This map is the August Map, when we might expect oysters to be growing fastest.
Growth rate estimates were found to vary between -1 and 2 mm/day across the Western and Central Maine Coastline
In this Map we see there are notable hotspots and cold spots for production:
For example- very low growth would be obtained if oysters were placed in the nutrient deplete waters of the Kennebeck River
Conversely there appears to be numerous hot spots that would support oyster farms in Casco Bay or in the Muscongus Bay
Casco Bay
Background
Method
Results
Summary

14. Updated Maps Suggest Numerous High Yielding Sites Along ME Coast
Damariscotta River
Estuary
Kennebec River * * * * *
Freeport * *
Muscongus Bay
Portland
Predicted Growth Rate (mm day-1) * *
When we compare the overlap between existing farms, shown by red estrics and existing hot spots there is some overlap.
But there are still many points which would greatly support oyster growth that go unexploited in Casco Bay and Muscongus.
Furthermore, if we closely examine where some of these farms are operating…
Take Dog Head Oyster Company in Harpswell Sound for example, and we zoom in on it’s location
Casco Bay
Background
Method
Results
Summary

15. * Harpswell Predicted Growth Rate (mm day-1) Background Method Results
Dog Head Oyster Co.
Predicted Growth Rate (mm day-1)
We see that there areas nearby that would be highly supportive of oyster growth should this farm want to expand operations
Or would be a compelling site for a new farmer to test out.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

16. Additional Habitat Available Within Damariscotta*
Additional Habitat Available Within Damariscotta
Clark’s Cove
Predicted Growth Rate (mm day-1)
Similarly, If we return to the Dameriscotta, which is at the heart of oyster aquaculture in ME
We see that although current leases in the upper reaches are highly productive
there is this rich pocket in the mid estuary which is relatively unexploited
There is some aquaculture is clarks cove, but this area is very large and could accomodate more leases.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

17. Farm-Scale Resolution (30 m2)
Clark’s Cove
I want to stres that these images are so fine that not only can we identify estuaries that would support aquaculture
But that we can help direct where a farm or raft should be placed.
In fact I believe we can see a mussel raft in this picture!
Take a look in clarks cove...see the blue dots?
Background
Method
Results
Summary

18. Farm-Scale Resolution (30 m2)
So I’ve switched from Landsat8 to Google Earth and we still see this square structure in the middle of Clark’s Cove,
Which turns out to be Carter Newells Mussel Raft
(click)
Background
Method
Results
Summary

19. Summary of Research
Site Selection is a major barrier for aquaculture expansion in Maine
Remote sensing tools are useful for help growers track environmental conditions (ie.g. real-time LOBO data)
Crop growth-models can greatly improve suitability maps to aid site selection;
But Site Suitability is 1 factor among many for site consideration (e.g. Lobsters, HAB, Rec.)
In summary
Site selection is a major barrier to aquaculture expansion
But remote sensing tools can be helpful for growers to track environmental conditions and evaluate site suitability.
These suitability maps can be greatly enhanced when informed with growth-models
But there are some other factors to considered that aren't included in our maps such as:
Use of these waters by other fisheries and fishermen (i.e. lobstermen)
Harmful algal blooms, etc. is an important consideration and one that could certainly impede production
Recreational boater and stakeholders
Background
Method
Results
Summary

20. Plans For The Future and New Directions
Validation of maps and growth equations
Expand for other cultured species
Mussels
Scallops
Seaweed
Improve site selection
Current and future oyster farmers
Restoration
For now, we hope to improve upon models and maps through groundtruth testing this summer by repeating these studies within and outside of the Damariscotta Estuary.
Additionally, we hope to expand studies for other species including mussels, scallops, and seaweed.
Lastly, we feel strongly that this approach could greatly improve site selection for aquaculture but could also be an important tool for restoration inside and outside of Maine.
Background
Method
Results
Summary

21. Thank You
With that I would like to thank you and my co-authors who helped make this study happen.
I would also like to thank again the numerous funders of this research and would be happy to field any questions.
References:
1.Gardner Pinfold 2001, Development Potential of the Maine Scallop Industry
2. The Hale Group Maine Farmed Shellfish Market Analysis
3. Maine Aquaculture Economic Impact Report Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine.
4. Aquaculture Research and Development Priorities Survey Maine Aquiculture Innovation Center/Aquaculture Research Institute.