“Comparisons of Possible Sites for Two Aquaculture Species in the San Juan Island Area” Meadowdale Middle School Spring, 2014

Ryan Kennedy, Raina Shaw, Aryella Barribeau, Shana Prine, Ethan Sargent, Jocelyn Needham Our Mission: Mr. Clams 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  Name means “dig to market size deep” (Nisqually tribe)  1.5-3 inches long  Siphon can be 3-6 ft,  $10/pound value up to 15 pounds!  98% of world’s oyster  Among oldest living production! animals (168 years old!)  Generally do not produce pearls.  $10/pound in US, $40/pound in China Sample Sites

Obstruction Island

Pelican Beach

Spencer’s Spit

Huckleberry Island

East of Lopez

Cool science materials we used: Plankton Nets Sediment Sifter Niskin Bottle

Colorimeter Bucket-ometer Graduated Cylinders Methods/Procedure

 Sailing team navigates to deployment site  Deploy plankton nets at surface and at 20 meters for a 5 minute tow.  Collect water sample with bucket at surface and using niskin bottle at 20 meter depth.  Settle plankton to measure biomass.  Use colorimeter to measure salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature.  Collect and sift a sample of the sediments.  Record all data on “Motherboard”

Temperature Data

70

F

60 deg 50

40 Temperature Surface Temp 20 Meters 30 Ideal Geoduck 20 Ideal P. Oyster

10 Temperature of water in in water of Temperature 0 Huckleberry Pelican Obstruction Spencers East of Island Beach Pass Spit Lopez

RECOMMENDATIONS: Huckleberry Island and Pelican Beach best for Pacific Oyster, Spencer’s Spit and Obstruction Pass best for Geoducks.

Salinity Data 70

60

ppt 50 40 30 20 salinity surface 10 salinity 20 meters Salinity in 0 ideal Geoduck Ideal P. oyster

Recommendations: The best places to farm Geoducks would be Huckleberry Island and Pelican Beach at 20 meters. For Pacific Oysters, East of Lopez, Spencer Spit, and Obstruction Pass (all at 20 meters in depth). Acidity of Water

8.25 8.2 8.15

8.1 8.05 8 pH Surface 7.95

pH Level Level pH 7.9 pH 20 Meters 7.85 Ideal P. Oyster 7.8 Ideal Geoduck 7.75

Recommendations: Obstruction Pass and East of Lopez best for both species (Pacific Oyster and Geoduck).

Dissolved Oxygen

) 14 ppt 12 10 8 6 DO Surface 4 DO 20 M 2 Ideal Geoduck

0 Ideal P. Oyster D.O. in parts ( thousand per D.O.

Recommendations: East of Lopez at 20 meters and Obstruction Pass at surface best for Pacific Oyster. Spencer’s Spit at surface best for Geoduck.

Amount of Plankton

35 30 25 20 Plankton Tow at Surface 15 Plankton Tow at 20 10 Meters 5 0

Plankton mass collected in tow (ml) in tow collected mass Plankton Huckelberry Pelican Obstruction Spencers East of Island Beach Pass Spit Lopez

Recommendations: Since the more food the better, Pelican Beach at 20 meters and East of Lopez would be the best places to farm both species. Location Sediment Ideal Geoduck Ideal Pacific Oyster Huckleberry Gravel Sand, Mud Rock Island Pelican Beach Gravel Sand, Mud Rock Obstruction Gravel Sand, Mud Rock Pass Spencer Spit Sand, Gravel, Sand, Mud Rock Shell East of Lopez Rock Sand, Mud Rock

Recommendations: Spencer’s Spit best for Geoducks, East of Lopez best for Pacific Oysters. Overall Best Location for Pacific Oyster Farm

Location Temp Salinity Amount Dissolved Water Sediment of Oxygen Acidity Plankton (pH) Huckleberry Pacific Island Oyster Pelican Pacific Geoduck or Beach Oyster Pacific Oyster Obstruction Pacific Pacific Geoduck Pass Oyster Oyster or Pacific Oyster

Spencer’s Pacific Spit Oyster

E. Lopez Pacific Geoduck or Pacific Geoduck Pacific Oyster Pacific Oyster or Pacific Oyster Oyster Oyster

Overall Best Location for Geoduck Farm:

Location Temp Salinity Amount Dissolved Water Sediment of Oxygen Acidity Plankton (pH) Huckleberry Geoduck Island Pelican Geoduck Geoduck or Beach Pacific Oyster Obstruction Geoduck Geoduck Pass or Pacific Oyster

Spencer’s Geoduck Geoduck Geoduck Spit E. Lopez Geoduck or Geoduck Pacific or Pacific Oyster Oyster

Overall Best Sites

Spencer’s Spit Geoducks

East of Lopez P. Oyster

ANY QUESTIONS?

Pic raina shaw here