Science Centres: Fisheries

NIWA scientist Stephen Brown inspects heavily fouled floats and mussel lines.

NIWA is helping marine farmers to get more value out of existing aquaculture space. Organisms that foul mussel farms are currently a waste of space, and a costly nuisance for marine farmers.

Sealord Shellfish Ltd commissioned NIWA to investigate the potential for developing bioactive products from fouling organisms growing on their mussel farms in Pelorus Sound.

NIWA surveyed eight of Sealord’s mussel farms, scattered from the inner to the outer reaches of Pelorus Sound. We found great potential in terms of the diversity and quantity of fouling organisms growing there, particularly in winter. In all, we identified 85 species, with seaweeds, sponges, and sea squirts growing in abundance.

Seaweeds showed the most promise for product development, being abundant and relatively easy to collect. We identified a broad range of products that could be derived from the seaweeds present. These include anti-inflammatory creams, flavour-enhancing salts, and extracts to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system.

Samples of the fouling organisms have been kept for possible future screening in NIWA’s bioactives laboratories. Here, biological samples can be tested for specific properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, or UV-protection properties.