Mitigating the Impact of Harmful Algal Blooms on Aquaculture. Abagold: A Case Study

Seafood, especially from the ocean, is now seen as a greener and more sustainable source of protein causing an increase in its demand. This has also led to people making choices towards seafood as a replacement of carbon intensive protein sources. As a result, the demand for seafood is growing, and the Aquaculture industry is required to increase their produce while keeping the produce safe and sustainable. There are many challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in meeting these increased demands. One such challenge is the presence of harmful algal blooms (HAB) in the ocean which can have a major impact on aquatic life. In this paper we look at the impact of this challenge on aquaculture and the mitigating strategies. We will focus on Abagold Limited, a land-based marine aquaculture business that specializes in large scale production of abalone (Haliotis midae) based in Hermanus, South Africa. HABs are considered a threat to commercial scale abalone farming along the South-African coastline and requires continuous monitoring. The most recent HAB was in February-April 2019, the area experienced a severe red-tide event with blooms of predominantly Lingulodinium polyedrum. We present some of the mitigation strategies employing digital technologies for future proofing the industry.