OASES Aquaculture

Mission
Vision
Goals

Present Activities within OASES Aquaculture

Below is a representation of coral tanks designed by OASES for use in its proposed coral propagation facilities. The propagation facilities demonstrate the innovation that OASES was founded upon. Several of the systems employ energy scavenging techniques or alternative energy as well as a reduction in total construction materials. Additionally, the extensive use of biological filtration (not mechanical means) and a fundamental paradigm shift will allow corals to be propagated with better results. The facilities have been designed as dual use allowing both aquatic species (corals, invertebrates, etc.) and terrestrial species (mangroves) to grow in the same environment.

In the interim, the Aquaculture division has been granted space at Brevard Community College in Palm Bay, Florida to set up a small laboratory to test various new filtration methodologies as well as some new technologies developed by the R&D Division. Pictured below is the site of the future laboratory.

The Aquaculture division has received certification from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture. This certification allows the division to propagate corals using the Florida Aquaculture Best Management Practices. The OASES Aquaculture division's future intent is to perform stock enhancement of some coral species north of the Florida Keys both on natural and artificial reefs.
The Aquaculture division will engage in a joint project with the R&D division on the implementation of a new lighting technology for aquarium systems used for the propagation of photosynthetic corals. For further information on the lighting system project see the R&D division web page.

Coral Education Page

Future Activities Planned for OASES Aquaculture

Monitoring of the conditions of various reefs along the coast of Florida periodically. Many of the following parameters are of special interest to truly get an understanding of the corals and how they react to certain stimulus: temperature at various depths (single data points or thermister string), ORP, pH, salinity, photometry data, and certain trace element (i.e. iodine, strontium, molybdenum, and calcium) levels.
A living coral repository for declining species will be planned. Its purpose is to act as a coral zoo as well as a propagation stock to allow for future replenishment of declining coral species. It will also allow for the study of species interaction, nutrient uptake, bio-medical research, etc. The specific biome conditions (i.e. optical characteristics, temperature ranges, salinity variations, tidal flows, etc.) of each species will be duplicated to provide the ability for any species to be rapidly replaced in the wild. A detailed database with the specifications on the living conditions of each species will be available to a wide audience.
Continued research on propagation techniques for varied species of both hard and soft corals will be ongoing. The coral species will be propagated for replenishment in the wild, for aquarium hobbyists, for bio-medical research, and for preservation.
Reef rebuilding and coral re-attachment (both above and underwater) techniques and methodologies will be developed through scientific research.
Work with schools, institutions, and the general public to increase awareness of humankind's effect on the reef ecosystems and how each person can make a difference.