The Ocean’s Friend:

Biofloc In Action Ashtyn Reed Chen

Biochemical Engineer & Co-Owner

June 9th 2018

TOF Aquaculture

• Founded in June 2015 in Gratiot [Gray-shot], Ohio (Zanesville)

• Young aquaculture farm focused on marine species

• 1st Saltwater Shrimp Farm in Ohio (according to ODNR)

• Currently has 13,248 sf of production space

• 34 grow-out, 4 intermediate, 4 nursery tanks

• Harvest 5-6 tanks per month, 1250-1425 lbs of shrimp

• Initial stages of producing Aussie Red-Claw, sea asparagus, and Florida Pompano

TOF Aquaculture on the MOVE!

• 60 lbs of Aussie Red-Claw / month

• 15 lbs of Sea Asparagus / month

• 3-5 Pompano fish / 2 weeks

• Moved Gratiot operation (and all 35,000 gallons / 305,000 lbs of biofloc saltwater) to our secondary Pataskala facility

• We have two Pataskala facilities, neither of which have an address yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• Much more planning and efficiency with the new Pataskala facilities, of which 1 will be open to the public late summer.

Marine Shrimp & Biofloc Symbiosis

• Biofloc are congregates of mostly heterotrophic bacteria (11 million microbes/ mL of solution)

• 2-20% actual bacteria, 60-70% organic matter

• Feed on organic substances and waste

• Acts as dynamic biofilters in tanks

• Up to 1/3 of shrimp food source

• In reality, the shrimp are “just” a by-product of this system that revolves around the biofloc

What Do You See?

• A complex, but reasonably

comprehensible system

Is Biofloc a “Perfect” System?

Advantages • Boosts Feed Conversion Ratio

• Less Mechanical Maintenance

• Cost-Effective

• Higher Survival Rates (Mostly)

• Faster Growth Rates (Theoretically)

• Quick Ammonia/Smell Control

• Good Mistakes/Disease Buffer

Disadvantages • Daily Testing Required

• Visually-Impaired

• Limited in Species Flexibility (Thus Far)

• Quick Mortality W/O Mutual Host

• Constant Suspension

• Able to Tip Dissolved Oxygen Scale

Shrimp and Biofloc Interaction

• Shrimp consume it as a significant food

source

• Shrimp are “advanced biofloc farmers”

• Biofloc can act as bandages?

• One is happy to eat the other while the

other is happy until it’s for dinner!

“Farmed” Responsibly Vs. Unsustainably

Future of the System

• Species Diversification

• Better Understanding/Knowledge

• More Precise Manipulation

• Methods to Speed Up Growth

• Continued Expansion of US Aquaculture

The Elephant in the Room: Why Are Shrimp

Farms Closing?

• NOT Biofloc’s Fault

• Unrealistic Expectations

• Marketing Issues

• Subpar Planning

• Financial Problems

• Lack of Knowledge

• Too Big, Too Fast, Too Many Hands in the Pot

What’s In the Works for TOFA?

• Working on the Pataskala facilities and opening one to the public as a seafood store by late Summer 2018

• Increasing production of all current species produced along with adding other products (both as buy-n-resell, production, cooperative works)

• Researching more seafood species to add, focus on marine species

• Working with other Ohio seafood producers to provide fresh, sustainably, American-grown seafood options through the Ohio Aquaculture Cooperative

• Helping jumpstart the aquaculture industry, which has a lot of interest in it right now (rightfully so) but actually starting (and then succeeding) is another story because of the challenges involved.

Questions/Comments/Concerns?

Thank You!