How This Oyster Farmer is Reinventing Aquaculture

Key Concepts

• Microplastics: Small plastic particles (film, fragment, foam, bead, fiber) that are pervasive pollutants.
• Aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms, like oysters.
• Ecosystem Services: Benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as water filtration and habitat provision.
• Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
• Surface Cultivation: A method of oyster farming where oysters are grown in bags or ranch-type structures that float on the surface of the water.
• Plastic-free Gear: Aquaculture equipment made from materials other than plastic, designed to reduce plastic pollution.
• Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Problem: Plastic Pollution in Oyster Farming

• Ubiquity of Plastic: Abby Barrows highlights that nearly every aspect of oyster farming, both on and off the water, relies on plastic components.
• Contradiction: There's a conflict between cultivating oysters for their positive environmental impact (water filtration) and using plastic, which has negative environmental consequences.
• Microplastic Ingestion: The ingestion of microplastics has negative health effects on marine animals, including oysters.
• Global Issue: Microplastics are a pollutant of international concern, found in all of the world's oceans and continents.
• Persistence of Plastic: Every piece of plastic ever created still exists in some form.
• Climate Change Connection: Plastic production contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions at every stage, from oil extraction to landfill disposal.

Abby Barrows and Deer Isle Oyster Company

• Mission: Abby Barrows, owner of Deer Isle Oyster Company and a microplastics researcher, aims to produce sustainable seafood that actively benefits the environment.
• Plastic-Free Gear Development: The company is working on developing plastic-free gear to replace conventional plastic equipment in oyster farming.
• Personal Connection: Abby grew up on Deer Isle and returned to oyster farming after realizing the extent of plastic pollution.

Oyster Farming Practices and Ecosystem Services

• Surface Cultivation in Maine: Oysters are typically cultivated in bags or ranch-type structures that float on the surface, attached to a line.
• Water Filtration: A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing impurities and improving water clarity.
• Habitat Provision: Oyster reefs provide habitat for various marine animals and act as natural breakwaters, reducing coastal erosion.
• Combating Ocean Acidification: Oyster shells, made of calcium carbonate, can help reduce ocean acidification locally.

The Pervasiveness of Microplastics

• Five Primary Shapes: Microplastics come in five primary shapes: film, fragment, foam, bead, and fiber. Microfibers are the most common type found in the environment.
• Widespread Contamination: Microplastics have been found in air, water (including the Mariana Trench), and various food items (beer, honey, meat), as well as in human organs (testicles, brain).
• Geological Impact: Humans have created a layer of plastic on the planet in a short amount of time.

Challenges and Solutions: Plastic-Free Aquaculture Gear

• Initial Disheartenment: Abby felt discouraged when she realized that all the gear that came with the farm was plastic and there were few alternatives.
• Design Criteria: Plastic-free gear must be:
  • Financially accessible
  • Durable
  • Repairable
  • Non-toxic
  • Ecologically friendly
  • Scalable (suitable for farms of different sizes)
• Prototype Examples:
  • Welded aluminum rod frames with natural rubber bungees to hold oyster bags.
  • Micro buoys made with hemp chaff (though durability is a concern).
• Transition Strategy: The goal is to allow farmers to gradually integrate plastic-free gear into their existing systems, replacing plastic components over time.
• Material Alternatives: Replacing plastic floats, nylon ropes, PVC-coated wire, and acrylic paints with more sustainable alternatives.

Working with Family and Community

• Family Involvement: Abby works with her partner, which presents challenges but also builds on their history of working together.
• Daughter on the Farm: Including their daughter in the farming activities has been both beautiful and challenging.
• Connection to Food and Place: Abby values the connections she has with people through food and takes pride in being part of the working waterfront on Deer Isle.

Communication and Empowerment

• Avoiding Accusatory Tone: It's important to discuss pollution without blaming individuals, as the problem is overwhelming.
• Empowerment: The goal is to empower people to take action and make a difference.
• Embracing Messiness: The journey towards sustainability involves failures and challenges.

Conclusion

Abby Barrows' work at Deer Isle Oyster Company exemplifies a commitment to sustainable aquaculture. By developing and promoting plastic-free gear, she aims to reduce the environmental impact of oyster farming while still providing valuable ecosystem services and connecting with her community. The key is to find viable, accessible alternatives to plastic that can be gradually integrated into existing farming practices, empowering individuals to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.