{"id":11073,"date":"2022-05-26t16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-26t16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/kelp-is-on-the-way-scientist-uses-aquaculture-to-balance-coastal-waters\/"},"modified":"2022-05-26t16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26t16:00:00","slug":"kelp-is-on-the-way-scientist-uses-aquaculture-to-balance-coastal-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/kelp-is-on-the-way-scientist-uses-aquaculture-to-balance-coastal-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"kelp is on the way: scientist uses aquaculture to balance coastal waters"},"content":{"rendered":"
for michael doall, the salty waters surrounding long island have always harbored exploration and entertainment. growing up along the coast, doall spent countless days fishing, surfing, and swimming at the beach, partly because his mother let him skip school on especially lovely spring afternoons.<\/p>\n
\u201cfrom birth one of my passions has been the ocean,\u201d doall said, a lasting enthusiasm that ultimately led to his career in regenerative aquaculture and shellfish restoration. while his days of skipping class to bum it at the beach may be over, you can still find doall in the bays of long island, dedicating hours to researching and reviving the marine organisms that provide innumerable benefits to the ecosystem he calls home. <\/p>\n
at the beginning of doall\u2019s education in marine biology, regenerative aquaculture \u2014 the farming of marine species in open waters to bolster habitat quality \u2014 was not remotely common in the u.s., let alone something on doall\u2019s mind. but, having always had gardens growing up, doall found that the field of ocean aquaculture brought together his passions for the ocean and for growing things.<\/p>\n
doall was first exposed to regenerative aquaculture 20 years ago while managing a research service facility in long island. the nature conservancy had started a hard clam and oyster restoration program in long island\u2019s great south bay and reached out to doall for his analytic expertise. bivalves, such as clams and oysters, are essential to ocean ecosystems, because they suck up excess nutrients and sediment from waterways, improving water quality and preventing harmful algal blooms. at the nature conservancy, doall grew shellfish in cages across the bay to study how different marine environments would support these species. <\/p>\n
there, he realized how much he enjoyed growing the oysters and rebuilding marine ecosystems, so he dove deeper into open water aquaculture by establishing the first oyster restoration projects in new york harbor (nyh). while working at these sites, he aimed to use oysters as solely an environmental tool \u2014 the harbor\u2019s pollution meant organisms wouldn\u2019t be safe for consumption \u2014 but later he \u201chad the epiphany that oysters do the same thing in an aquaculture setting as they do in nature.\u201d that is, by growing oysters for human consumption, these filter feeders would naturally improve water quality by consuming excess nutrients and provide a sustainable source of fresh seafood at the same time.<\/p>\noyster reef growing in shinnecock bay, long island in february of 2021. the oysters pictured have lived through three winters, living through periodic exposure to freezing temperatures at low tide. (courtesy of michael doall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
inspired, doall started his own oyster farm in 2008: montauk shellfish company. he took a lot of pride in being an oyster farmer, stating that \u201cone of the most important activities you can do is to grow food and feed your community.\u201d and feed his community he did. doall was on the cusp of an \u201coyster renaissance\u201d and would witness montauk take off beyond his expectations. <\/p>\n
during his time as an oyster farmer, doall took a trip up to maine and was introduced to a new sea crop that would later inspire his research: kelp. doall was interested in crop diversification for his farm and learned from some of the first u.s. kelp farmers that this sea veggie is a great complement to shellfish because of their opposite growth seasons (kelp in the winter, shellfish in the summer). <\/p>\n
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