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Cost Effective Microalgae Production for Aquaculture

Award Information
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Branch: N/A
Contract: 2007-33610-18021
Agency Tracking Number: 2007-00395
Amount: $80,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
321 State Route 129
Walpole, ME 04573
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 William Mook
 (207) 563-1456
 mooksea@tidewater.net
Business Contact
 William Mook
Title: President
Phone: (207) 563-1456
Email: mooksea@tidewater.net
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The high cost of producing microalgae as food for bivalves constrains the size to which large
quantities of bivalve seed can be grown in controlled hatchery conditions prior to transfer into a
nursery. Larger hatchery seed translates to larger juveniles planted in the fall, and dramatically
improves yields at harvest.
Based on preliminary bench-top studies conducted by Mook Sea Farm, the SBIR Phase
I objective is to develop an innovative 300 liter prototype bioreactor to produce shellfish food
(Tetraselmis sp. (MC:2)) at reduced cost in conjunction with Mook Sea Farms existing
microalgae production system. Tasks will focus on maintaining favorable culture parameters,
assessing culture yields and longevity, and verifying that oyster seed grows at acceptably high
rates when fed microalgae from the prototype.
Successful development of this improved bioreactor technology will result in, at
minimum, a 6 to 7 fold increase in cell yield per liter of culture along with a considerable
reduction of lighting and cooling costs. If successful, this research and development will
revolutionize Mook Sea Farms algae production allowing us to sell larger quantities of seed to
other farms, increase sales of market-size oysters, and to supply concentrated, low cost,
microalgae to finfish and shrimp farms.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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