THE INTEGRATED CULTURE OF SEAWEED, ABALONE, FISH AND CLAMS IN MODULARINTENSIVE LAND-BASED SYSTEMS .1. PROPORTIONS OF SIZE AND PROJECTED REVENUES

Three environmentally friendly modular designs for integrated maricult ure are described. The basic design consists of modules for the cultur e of seaweed (Ulva lactuca or Gracilaria spp.) and abalone (Haliotis t uberculata). Modules for the culture of fish (Sparus aurata) and then clams (Tapes philippinarum) are subsequently connected in two progress ively complex systems. The modular design allows flexibility in the al location of resource shares to each product according to operational a nd economic constraints. Reduction in nutrient release to the environm ent results from increasing the fraction of supplied ammonia or protei n-N that ends up as commercial products relative to current monocultur e practices. As much as half or more of the nitrogen supplied to the p roposed systems is expected to be utilized by harvestable yields of se aweed, molluscs and fish. System dimensions and projections of yields and revenues allow readers to roughly estimate profitability for the t hree designs under their own conditions.