A WASTE-TO-PRODUCT MODULE FOR MARINE RECIRCULATION SYSTEM

Hii, Yii SiangFaculty of Agrotechnology and Food

Science, University Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu

Background

• World population: 10 billion (6.6 billion July, 2007)

• Demand for seafood protein increases significantly.

• Capture fisheries at its current stage is believed to be imminent maximum sustainable yield (FAO, 2005).

Source: Pauly et al., 2000

• Aquaculture, a potential solution to cover shortage of the seafood supply.

• Aquaculture is not a totally effective solution.

• Aquaculture is reported to have potential environmental effect (GESAMP, 1996)

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs” ---

Brundtland commission, 1983

United Nation, 1987

Sustainable aquaculture should cover at least four major aspects:

• Environment • Economics • Food safety• Technical viability

(NACA/FAO, 2001)

• Most of the aquaculture activities; especially in Asia are not in a "sustainable" manner.

• Aquaculture nowadays focuses on production methods those independent from the influences of external factors

• Marine recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) is environmental friendly, free from the external influences and bio-secured.

•High cost

•Immature system development

•Fluctuating market price

•Risk of Investment

Need for a technically viable technology for

sustainable aquaculture

Project Scope & Objectives

• The principle of the

module is to utilize

excessive nutrients for

cultivation of high value

marine microalgae

• The microalgae are

confined in immobilized

beads which comprises

of immobilized

microbes.

The immobilized microbe utilized excessive nutrients from the marine recirculation system and converted the waste into biomass. The immobilized cells could be harvested and processed to become nutrient supplementary

Nutrients

Nutrients

Objectives

• The objectives of the module are:

• To remove excessive nutrients from the marine RAS and hence stabilized water quality of the system

• To recycle waste from the RAS for production of

high value microalgae.

• To produce high quality microbes within the immobilized cells

System Design & Activities

• This module is an add-on module

• It does not require re-engineering of the RAS.

• The immobilized beads will be installed at the pre-biofiltration

culture vessels(fish, shrimp, oyster,

etc)

Ornamental as well as food fish

waste and solid removal

Biological filtration

Aeration and oxygenation

Disinfection

Gas-exchange unit Proposed

module

The viable cells will be captured inside polymerized capsules and packed in a handling cartridge. The handling cartridge with water driven force for re-suspension of the polymerized capsules maximized total reaction area of the capsules.

Preliminary Results

The microbe is able to grow and survive in the polymerized capsules. The microbes utilized excessive nutrients from the water under simulation.

Results revealed that the immobilized cell is able to stabilize water quality and production high omega-3 cell.

Polymerized capsules with viable cell at day-0.

Polymerized capsules with viable cell at day-3

Project Milestones Duration

01. Stabilizing immobilized cell for industrial exercise: Cell stability and enhancement

6 month

02. Prototype and in-situ examinations: efficiency assessment, cost-effectiveness, return of investment

4 month

03. Module moderation & pre-commercialization assessment

2 month

Project Milestones

PARTNERSHIP• Underwater World

Langkawi is one of the largest marine and fresh water aquaria in South East Asia. The gigantic 15-meter long walk-through tunnel consisting of 500,000 liter seawater is ideal for in-situ assessment of the module for marine ornamental aquaria.

• Kembang Subur Sdn. Bhd. is one of the largest shrimp PL (post larvae) suppliers in Malaysia. The 3 hectares hatchery situated at Pantai Berserah, Kuantan provides an ideal testing venue for the add-on module in a food-fish production system.

Financial Needs

• Financial supports is needed for pre-protoytpe optimization.

• Duration of project: 1 year

Budget details Amount requested by applicant

Research Materials & Supplies (including Animals, Disposables, etc.)

15,000

Maintenance and Minor Repair Services

10,000

Professional services & other services inclu-ding printing & hospi—tality, honorarium for subjects)

10,000

Equipments (Accessories) 25,000

TOTAL AMOUNT 50,000

Concluding Remarks

• Marine recirculation system is one of the potential solutions for sustainable aquaculture.

• The add-on module provides not only extra incomes but also diversify the risk of investment in the RAS.

• Removal of the excessive nutrients from the marine RAS enable longer water residential time in the system. In other words, less water usage for the system (sustainable usage of water resources).

• On top of that, the module also reduces nutrients load from the culture system on the environment.

THANK YOU

“ The Earth Charter is important as an expression of the commitment of people throughout the Earth to ensure a

sustainable future for those who inhabit the Earth now and those who will follow us on the Earth ... ”

Maurice F. Strong