Growth and nutrient uptake by Palmaria palmata integrated with Atlantic halibut in a land-based aquaculture system

Palmaria palmata was integrated with Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus on a commercial farm for one year starting in November, with a temperature range of 0.4 to $19.1^{\circ}C$. The seaweed was grown in nine plastic mesh cages (each $1.25m^3$ volume) suspended in a concrete sump tank ($46m^3$) in each of three recirculating systems. Two tanks received effluent water from tanks stocked with halibut, and the third received ambient seawater serving as a control. Thalli were tumbled by continuous aeration, and held under a constant photoperiod of 16 : 8 (L : D). Palmaria stocking density was $2.95kg\;m^{-3}$ initially, increasing to $9.85kg\;m^{-3}$ after a year. Specific growth rate was highest from April to June (8.0 to $9.0^{\circ}C$), 1.1% $d^{-1}$ in the halibut effluent and 0.8% $d^{-1}$ in the control, but declined to zero or less than zero above $14^{\circ}C$. Total tissue nitrogen of Palmaria in effluent water was 4.2 to 4.4% DW from January to October, whereas tissue N in the control system declined to 3.0-3.6% DW from April to October. Tissue carbon was independent of seawater source at 39.9% DW. Estimated tank space required by Palmaria for 50% removal of the nitrogen excreted by 100 t of halibut during winter is about 29,000 to $38,000m^2$, ten times the area required for halibut culture. Fifty percent removal of carbon from the same system requires 7,200 to $9,800m^2$ cultivation area. Integration of P. palmata with Atlantic halibut is feasible below $10^{\circ}C$, but is impractical during summer months due to disintegration of thalli associated with reproductive maturation.