Site menu:

Marissa Gale


Marissa Gale collecting the kelp, Saccharina latissima at Maces Bay, New Brunswick (photo: Constanza Chianale Cerda).

Honours Thesis: 2014

Present Occupation: Research Assistant (Twine Wrangler) at the University of New Brunswick Saint John

Thesis: Growth and reproductive status of two kelp species (Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima) in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system)

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to characterize the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) kelp crops, Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima, at a Bay of Fundy site, and based on the information, determine the ideal harvest seasons for both species. IMTA is a sustainable solution to growing aquaculture demands and the investment of growing the kelps necessitates a characterization, for both scientific and commercial purposes. Kelps were sampled from IMTA site lines, measured in length and weighed. Based on their structures, lengths and reproductive status, they were separated into categories.

Marissa Gale measuring kelp sampled from cultivation ropes at the IMTA sites in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick (photo: Thierry Chopin).

The ideal harvest time for Alaria esculenta was determined to be the mid harvest season (May 29th) while the Saccharina latissima ideal harvest time was determined to be towards the end of the harvest season (July 12th) for the highest biomass yield and the late harvest season (June 17th) to achieve the highest number of kelps.