Title:

Shrimp Happens: Engineering a Polyculture Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in the US and makes up over 30% of the $20.3 billion seafood trade deficit. Wild fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic landed 11,717,000 lbs of shrimp in 2023 compared to 1.7 bil. lbs imported in the same year. Aquaculture development will be required to close this gap while reducing reliance on international imports. The objective of this project is to design and build a prototype recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) to grow Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), edible seaweed (Gracilaria) and Sea beans (Salicornia) that could be expanded for commercial purposes and supply local markets. The design considers a polyculture concept with shrimp and Gracilaria in the main culture tank and Salicornia plants incorporated above the sump. Main components of the RAS were specified based on required flow rates and system loading to include a flow separator, biofilter, UV filter, and column aerator. Gracilaria and Salicornia remove nitrogenous wastes from the shrimp while providing an edible product usable by restaurants. The system was successfully stocked with shrimp and Gracilaria. Continued operation should be scaled up and designed to utilize renewable energy sources to reduce energy costs and meet the needs of local restaurants.

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