“Comparisons of Possible Sites for a new Aquaculture Farm in the San Juan Islands Area” Meadowdale Middle School Spring, 2016

Presenters: Audrey Davies, Ben Hawkins, Ceclie Kinman, Hannah Singer Our Mission: Taylor’s Seafood Company has hired us to find the best site to place an aquaculture farm in the San Juan Islands area. Overview of Two Species for Aquaculture… Pacific Oyster Geoduck  Native to Japan  Native to our region  1-3 years to develop to  Name means “dig deep” market size (Nisqually tribe)  1.5-3 inches long  Siphon can be 3-6 ft, up  $10/pound value to15 pounds!  98% of world’s oyster  Among oldest living production! animals (168 years old!)  Generally do not  $10/pound in US, produce pearls. $40/pound in China

Sample Sites

Sucia Island

Prevost Harbor

Sinclair Island

Deer Harbor

Spieden Island Cool Science Materials We Used: Plankton Nets Niskin Bottle Sediment Sifter

Secchi Disk

Probes Refractometer (Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen , pH) Methods/Procedure

 Sailing team navigates to deployment site

 Deploy plankton nets at 10 meters for a 3-minute tow. Settle plankton to measure biomass.

 Collect water sample using niskin bottle at 10-meter depth.

 Deploy secchi disk to measure water clarity.

 Use probe to measure water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen of sample water.

 Use refractometer to measure salinity of water sample

 Collect and sift a sample of the sediments.

 Record all data for analysis.

Temperature Data

62

) 60

F o 58

56 Temperature 10 Meters 54 Ideal Geoduck Ideal P. Oyster

52 Temperature of Water ( Water of Temperature 50

48 Sucia Island Prevost Sinclair IslandDeer Harbor Speiden Harbor Island RECOMMENDATIONS: - Prevost Harbor is best for Geoduck. - Speiden Island is best for Pacific Oyster

Salinity Data (p.p.t.)

35

30

)

25 ppt 20

15 salinity 10 meters Salinity (in 10 ideal Geoduck 5 Ideal P. oyster

0 Sucia Island Prevost Sinclair Island Deer Harbor Speiden Harbor Island Recommendations: - The best place for Geoducks would be Speiden Island. - - The best place for Pacific Oyster would be Deer Harbor or Prevost Harbor. Acidity of Water

8.8

8.6

8.4

8.2

8 pH 10 Meters Ideal P. Oyster pH Level Level pH 7.8 Ideal Geoduck 7.6

7.4

7.2 Sucia Island Prevost Sinclair Deer Speiden Harbor Island Harbor Island Recommendations: Speiden Island and Prevost Harbor sites are best for both species (Pacific Oyster and Geoduck). Dissolved Oxygen

14

)

12 ppt

10

8 D.O. 10 M 6 Ideal Geoduck Ideal P. Oyster 4

D.O. in parts ( thousand per D.O. 2

0 Sucia Island Prevost Sinclair Deer Harbor Speiden Harbor Island Island Recommendations: Prevost Harbor is best for both Geoduck and Pacific Oyster, though most sites were close in dissolved oxygen. Amount of Plankton Plankton Tow at 10 Meters

160 140 120 100

80 Plankton Tow at 10 Meters 60 40

20 Plankton mass collected in tow (ml) in tow collected mass Plankton 0 Sucia Island Prevost Sinclair Deer Harbor Speiden Harbor Island Island Recommendations: Since the more food the better, Sucia Island is by far the best site for both species. Sediments/Substrates Location Sediment Ideal Geoduck Ideal Pacific Oyster

Sucia Island Sand and Sand, Mud Rock small rocky gravel Prevost Rocks Sand, Mud Rock Harbor Sinclair Island Fine Sand Sand, Mud Rock

Deer Harbor Fine Sand/Silt Sand, Mud Rock

Speiden Mud and Sand, Mud Rock Island Rocks Recommendations: Deer Harbor and Sinclair best for Geoducks. Prevost Harbor is best for Pacific Oysters. Overall Best Location for Pacific Oyster Farm

Location Temp Salinity Amount Dissolved Water Sediment/ of Oxygen Acidity Substrate Plankton (pH) Sucia Island x Prevost x x x Harbor Sinclair x Island Deer x Harbor Speiden x x Island Overall Best Location for Geoduck Farm:

Location Temp Salinity Amount Dissolved Water Sediment/ of Oxygen Acidity Substrate Plankton (pH) Sucia Island x Prevost x x x Harbor Sinclair x Island Deer x Harbor Speiden x x Island Overall Best Site

Prevost Harbor for Geoducks

Prevost Harbor for P. Oyster

ANY QUESTIONS?