The researchers are experimenting with natural light and natural light augmented with artificial light for either 12 or 24 hours a day. Artificial lighting may compensate for a period in late fall when there isn't enough light to maintain full red seaweed production and provide enough food for the abalone. A major cost of land-based abalone aquaculture is pumping water from the sea. The researchers are testing varying water flow rates to determine if abalone can flourish when water flow is reduced. The use of red seaweed has another advantage in that the plant can remove waste products such as ammonia from culture water and improve water quality.
Ammonia is one of the most toxic waste products that accumulates in intensive aquaculture systems.
Artificial illumination of the seaweed at night will facilitate removal of the ammonia during darkness when abalone feed most actively. Results to date have been encouraging, according to Langdon. Artificial light has improved red seaweed production by a factor of three. The project will continue for 18 months in Newport. After that, Evans will spend six months in California trying to apply the lessons of the laboratory to abalone farms in that state.