Aquaculture America 2026

February 16 - 19, 2026

Las Vegas, Nevada

Add To Calendar 18/02/2026 13:45:0018/02/2026 14:05:00America/Los_AngelesAquaculture America 2026MICROALGAE: WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? AN INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS OF NUTRIENT REMOVAL AND BIOMASS ACCUMULATION IN ALGAL TURF SYSTEMS FOR AQUACULTURE PRACTICESConcorde AThe World Aquaculture Societyjohnc@was.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYanrl65yqlzh3g1q0dme13067

MICROALGAE: WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? AN INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS OF NUTRIENT REMOVAL AND BIOMASS ACCUMULATION IN ALGAL TURF SYSTEMS FOR AQUACULTURE PRACTICES

Kayla N. McKinley*, G. Ozbay,

College of Agriculture, Science & Technology, Delaware State University, Dover, DE 19901

Knmckinley20@students.desu.edu

 



Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS) technology offers a promising nature-based solution for mitigating excess carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in wastewater, thereby improving water quality and enabling resource recovery for agricultural irrigation and industrial applications. This study investigates the deployment of ATS systems within aquaculture environments to assess their dual capacity for biomass generation and nutrient remediation. Particular attention is given to temporal patterns of algal productivity and nutrient removal efficiency, with preliminary findings indicating that elevated hydraulic flow rates enhance biomass yield and significantly improve phosphorus sequestration. Beyond productivity metrics, this research will examine community composition, chlorophyll dynamics, and the biochemical attributes of harvested biomass, with an emphasis on lipid and fatty acid characterization to evaluate potential applications in aquafeeds. The broader implications of biomass valorization—spanning biofertilizer, bioenergy, and sustainable aquaculture inputs—will also be explored. By integrating ecological engineering with practical resource management, this project seeks to provide Delaware farmers with actionable strategies to adopt ATS technology, advancing wastewater treatment practices and contributing to resilient, circular agricultural systems.