Session: 06-11-01 Ocean Engineering Technology

Submission Number: 157570

Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment of Long-Line Oyster Farming Systems 

Long-line farming is a popular aquaculture technique for oyster cultivation. In the Republic of Korea, more than 70% of oysters are farmed using long-line farming systems located in the southern seas of the Korean Peninsula. This system consists of long lines, buoys, droppers, and mooring lines, and it helps facilitate the growth of oysters by attaching juvenile oysters (spat) to the droppers. As the oysters grow, additional buoys must be added to increase buoyancy to accommodate the increased weight of the oysters. Since the movement of these numerous buoys is one of the primary reasons for the detachment of attached oysters, scientific research is needed to prevent this detachment problem.  According to fishermen's experience, the detachment rate of oysters is around 30% during strong gusts and 70-80% during storm conditions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, studies aimed at reducing the global motion of long-line farms are rare, despite their potential to improve the safety of these farming systems.

 This study aims to determine the optimal layout of long-line farms to minimize the detachment rate of oysters. A numerical model is developed using potential flow theory and a lumped-mass line model. The study evaluates the effects of various factors, including the number of buoys, the distances between buoys, the weight of oysters attached to the droppers, and the specifications of the mooring lines, on the overall dynamics of the system. Additionally, the structural safety of the long lines and mooring lines is assessed based on the ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) guidelines. The results of this study provide valuable insights and guidelines for the optimal design of long-line oyster farming systems.

Presenting Author: Sung-Jae Kim National Institute of Fisheries Science

Presenting Author Biography: Sung-Jae Kim received his B.S. degree from the School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea, in 2011, and his Ph.D. degree from the same department with the dissertation titled “Numerical Study on Floating Wave Energy Converters with a Nonlinear PTO System” at the University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, in 2018. Following his Ph.D., he worked as a postdoctoral researcher for about four years at Texas A&M University, USA. He is currently a researcher at the National Institute of Fisheries Science, Korea (ROK). His current research interests include wave-body interaction, hydrodynamics, aquaculture structures, and fishing vessels. He is a member of the Korea Society of Ocean Engineers.