Brian Kingzett from the Centre for Shellfish Research at Vancouver Island University gave a presentation about sea cucumber aquaculture research. The CSR is exploring sea cucumber farming as an opportunity for coastal communities. Research questions need to be addressed regarding environmental impacts, tracking farmed stocks, and hatchery rearing. Sea cucumbers are important to Asian medicine, overfished globally, and have high market value, making them a potential candidate for extensive aquaculture in BC. The CSR is conducting field research and seeking industry partnerships to develop science-based policy around sea cucumber farming.

1. Deep Bay Marine Field Station
Manatee Sea Cucumber Public Meeting June 13th 2012
Brian Kingzett ,
Centre for Shellfish Research
Vancouver Island University

2. Centre for Shellfish Research at VIU
New Vancouver Island University (VIU)
as a Special Purpose Teaching University:
“University of Coastal Communities”
• VIU’s Visionary Goal: Through the promotion of excellence in learning,
we inspire our students and the people of Vancouver Island and
coastal British Columbia as a trusted educational partner in the search
for sustainable cultural, economic, environmental and social
prosperity
• >25 Year history of teaching Fisheries and
Aquaculture
• CSR created in 2002
– Land Grant College Agriculture Research Model

3. What motivates us – thinking globally
• How will we feed a world destined for
10 billion people?
• More than 85% of global fish stocks
fully or over exploited
• We require 80 MMT or another
global ocean by 2030 for future
population estimates.
• Aquaculture now 50% of all seafood
consumed - must double
• How do we meet this demand
sustainably?

4. What motivates us – thinking locally
• Supporting change from resource
“extraction” economies to
“knowledge based” resource
economy
• Supporting the 100+ year shellfish
farming industry
• Promoting industry sustainability
• Environmental
• Economic
• Social
• Preserving marine ecosystems

5. Thinking locally – drawing linkages
Healthy
Responsible
Marine
Coastal
Ecosystems
Development
High
Quality Sustainable
Food Industry

6. Phase I - Campus Research Laboratories - 2005
MV Atrevida

7. Phase II – Deep Bay Marine Field Station
Donation of 3 ha waterfront
Two shellfish aquaculture farm sites
Proximity to shellfish industry
Important ecological area
Significant development pressures
Accessible (60 min from VIU)

8. Walking the talk – Green Research Facility
• One of Canada’s greenest buildings
• Platinum LEED certification anticipated 2012
• 2011 National Sustainable Architecture and Buildings
Award and more…

9. A Public Facility - Please visit!
Email: deepbay@viu.ca
Tel: 250-740-6611
Web: www.viu.ca/deepbay

10. CSR Programs – Emphasis on Collaboration
Shellfish Health and
Husbandry Socio-Econ-Policy
Ecological Interactions
Communications
Technology Dev’t Training Conservation

11. Research and Training Farm
Research and Student Training New Raft Prototypes
Student Built Work Vessel Tours and Public Education

12. Project based funding - Who funds us?
• Government Agencies
• Environmental NGOs, Conservation Organizations
• Industry and commercial clients
• Provincial and Federal academic research grants
• Public and private donors
• Funds raised through public education and event
hosting activities.

13. Sea Cucumbers –aquaculture diversification?
• Parastichopus Californicus Giant or California Sea
Cucumber - Echinoderm (sea stars, sea urchins etc.)
• Alaska – Baja Mexico very low subtidal – 250 M depth
• Length to 50 cm
• 2011 BC Fishery 1.3 Million LBS
1st year juvenile
B. Kingzett photo

14. New species development – a process
Three requirements:
• Commercial interest
• High value species – (Market price driven ($2.50/lb in
2005 to $6.00+ in 2011)
• Policy framework to support industry development
– DFO lead agency– science based/”smart” regulation
– Re: sea cucumber aquaculture, DFO needs “regulatory
science” to guide operational policy development

15. Research questions need to be defined
Potential areas of concern:
• Environmental issues – e.g. carrying capacity; habitat,
ecological interactions
• Sea cucumber movement (how do we track and
monitor?)
• Traceability (how do we tell between wild and
“farmed” stocks)
• Other ??? – research is never done

16. CSR Sea Cucumber Research Activities (1)
• 2011 CSR hosted a meeting on sea cucumber farming at
Deep Bay – Chinese delegation presentation (on web-
site)
• Over 40 people in attendance including DFO and
shellfish industry
• DFO represented by Director, Aquaculture Management
and Head, Compliance and Enforcement plus others
• Many questions identified; science-based policy
framework is required

17. CSR Sea Cucumber Research Activities (2)
• Fall 2011 CSR researchers, DFO scientists and managers
met to discuss potential sea cucumber research plan
and needs
• CSR conducted significant literature search on sea
cucumber farming
• A prioritized list of research questions remains to be
generated
• Most research questions will be field based
• To undertake the research, juvenile sea cucumbers will
be required

18. CSR Sea Cucumber Research Activities (3)
• Research funding requires a collaborative partnership
between scientists and industry.
• Industry is required to contribute cash to research
• Anticipating the need for juvenile sea cucumbers with
which to carry out field based research, CSR
conducting investigations on hatchery based rearing of
sea cucumbers. Discussions regarding funding

19. What can we say about Sea Cucumbers now?
• Important Asian medicinal value
for 1000’s years
• Overfished in many areas globally
• Very high value for certain grades
• Increasing value for local stocks
stable TAC (total allowable catch)
• Cultured internationally,
potentially economic
opportunities for sustainable
farming in BC

20. Sea Cucumbers – in the ecosystem
Photo Ken-ichi Ueda
Flickr User Ken-Ichi

21. detritivore (d -tr t -vôr ):
An organism that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or
animal matter, returning essential nutrients to the
ecosystem.
Detritivores include microorganisms such as bacteria and protists as
well as larger organisms such as fungi, insects, worms, and isopod
crustaceans (and sea cucumbers). In a food chain, detritivores are
primary consumers.

22. Sea Cucumbers – in the ecosystem
• Will not eat live kelp or eelgrass
• Will not prey on other macrofauna (larger animals)
• Will be preyed on (food source) by other species esp.
Sea Stars
• Will recycle nutrients – may have role in bio-
remediating excess nutrients , waste and seasonal
decomposition
• Will be primarily sub-tidal

23. Intensive versus Extensive Agriculture
INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE
Source: North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station FLICKR Source: FLICKR USER Rootie-Kazootie

24. Intensive versus Extensive Agriculture
INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE
• High density - small area • Low density – large area
• Typically monoculture • Typically polyculture
(single species) (multiple species)
• Addition of external food • Natural food sources
sources (grazing)
• Containment structures • Natural features or fencing
• More chance of stress and • Less chance of stress and
ecosytem impact ecosystem impact

25. Questions regarding this presentation
Brian Kingzett, M.Sc.
Deep Bay Marine Field Station Manager,
Center for Shellfish Research,
Vancouver Island University
Mail: 900 5th St, Nanaimo. BC V9R 5S5
Field Station: 370 Crome Pt. Rd. , Bowser. BC VOR 1G0
Tel: 250 740-6399
Email: brian.kingzett@viu.ca
Twitter: @VIUDeepBay
Website: www.viu.ca/deepbay
Deep Bay updates blog: www.viudeepbay.com