MARINE FINFISH HATCHERY DESIGN: DESIGN APPROACH AND RESULTING BEAD FILTER APPLICATIONS

In 2015 HTH engineering was hired to design a phase-one marine finfish hatchery for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in the U.S. state of Florida. These species are among the most important recreational fishes in the Gulf of Mexico and have been the subject of decades of aquaculture and stock enhancement research. However, rather than simply reinventing the wheel, we instituted a de novo design process that operated within the context of Florida's Aquaculture Best Management Practices to achieve our client's objectives.

With no preconceived notions, the design process found an experience-based design approach in the work at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, the Florida Stock Enhancement Research Facility, and USM's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory which resulted in the application of floating-bead, bead filters. These R&D facilities focused on the application of the right marine technology for robust and efficient RAS based operations. The RAS approach was also strongly encouraged by Florida's Aquaculture Best Management Practices developed by various Florida Agencies to encourage the development of Aquaculture in the State and to streamline the environmental permitting process.

Performance objectives include: limited effluent discharge conducive to operation using artificial seawater, low maintenance costs, small footprint, efficient filtration of fine particles, resistance to corrosion, and low pressure - low energy operations.

The design includes seawater pumping, water treatment and recovery for operating quarantine, broodstock, live feeds, and larval rearing systems. The design incorporates Polygeyser Drop Bead Filters and Bubble Wash Bead Filters for mechanical and biological filtration in Pre-treatment, Quarantine and Broodstock Holding/Conditioning RAS. Bubble Wash filters are also used for bay seawater and recovered seawater filtration, and for larval rearing RAS upstream of moving bed bioreactors.