![\"\"](\"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/envs\/files\/2013\/05\/CCod_1.jpg\")
<\/a>See what too much fresh air can do to you?<\/p><\/div>\n
The final event of the Spring 2013 ENVS senior seminar, which focused on aquaculture, was a trip to Cape Cod to learn about shellfish production there.\u00a0 All senior ENVS majors and minors, along with ENVS professors Morrison and Gray drove to the Cape on the last weekend in April.\u00a0 Our host was Ryan Burch, a Trinity alum (\u201998) and shellfish specialist who now lives in and works for the Town of Brewster, MA.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dinner at Ryan and Juliet's house. Thank you!<\/p><\/div>\n
Upon our arrival on the Cape on Friday night, Ryan and his wife Juliet generously hosted us at their home, for a wonderful dinner of tortilla soup.\u00a0 And the fruit-dip dessert was extra special because of the secret ingredient (we know but are not telling)!\u00a0 Some of the older ENVS sleeping bags proved to be less than sufficient during our cold night at Sweetwater Forest Campground, but when we awoke, Sam and Saam quickly took care of the morning chill by successfully starting a roaring fire despite really damp wood.\u00a0 Breakfast was eagerly consumed by cold and hungry students.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Frosty breakfast at Sweetwater Forest Campground.<\/p><\/div>\n
Everyone was so efficient that we were already packed and ready to go when Ryan arrived at our campsite at 0700 on Saturday morning.\u00a0 First stop, the tidal flats at the Town of Brewster to visit the town\u2019s shellfish farm, which Ryan oversees.\u00a0 The beach and tidal flats were spectacular at that hour and given the really low tide.\u00a0 Ryan showed us the cages where larger oysters were growing out, students marveled at the variety of interesting creatures present on the tidal flats, and Ned scared us all with a giant sea worm.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Across the tidal flats.<\/p><\/div>\n
After the tidal flats the java and breakfast sandwiches at Brewster\u2019s premier coffee shop, Jomama\u2019s, were mighty welcome.\u00a0 From there we drove out of Brewster for a tour of the hatchery at the Aquaculture Research Center.\u00a0 This facility produces most of the shellfish used in aquaculture on Cape Cod, as well as the small shellfish used by towns for seeding operations.\u00a0 Manager Dick Kraus showed us tanks where oyster larvae were growing and explained how the largest and most complicated part of their business was growing the food that the shellfish larvae eat. Those little guys go through enormous amounts of diatoms and phytoplankton, daily!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Tanks with oyster larvae - Aquaculture Research Center (ARC)<\/p><\/div>\n
The sobering complexities of a local environmental issue really hit home when Dick told us about the controversy over ARC\u2019s desire to erect a wind turbine to provide power.\u00a0 A turbine would help reduce the hatchery\u2019s current $5000 per month electric bill, which Dick said is really putting pressure on their business.\u00a0 However, to date, local residents have prevented the wind turbine mostly because of concerns about having to look at it.\u00a0 Local shellfish producers are really concerned about the future of ARC as the main supplier of oyster and quahog seed on the Cape; \u201cNo more ARC would mean the end of aquaculture on Cape Cod,\u201d one local fisherman said. \u201cIt\u2019s really an essential thing for aquaculture.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Oyster food - ARC<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>on the beach again<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a>Sam taking notes for the non-existent final exam<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>oyster cages<\/p><\/div>\n
Following a short drive along the beautiful southern Cape beaches, we stopped at the harbormaster\u2019s facility in Chatham, where the Aquaculture Specialist for the Town’s Shellfish Department provided information about the next step in producing shellfish \u2013 the land-based upwellers.<\/p>\n
<\/a>upwellers<\/p><\/div>\n
After a delicious lunch of clam strips and onion rings, we visited the final stop on our tour \u2013 the Wellfleet Shellfish Company.\u00a0 There, manager Ron gave us an overview of what happens to all the clams, oysters, and scallops that are brought to his facility and amazed us with his mastery at keeping track of who brought in what, who ordered shellfish and when they wanted delivery, and the ever changing prices.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Watching shellfish in a monitoring tank - Wellfleet Shellfish Company<\/p><\/div>\n
The clam sorter was particularly cool \u2013 as random clams were fed into the contraption they were sorted, by size, by several whirling cylinders of different diameter (go figure how THAT works!) and dropped unceremoniously into various bins \u2013 little necks, cherry stones, top neck, and quahog.\u00a0 Wonder who invented that one but it sure is efficient!\u00a0 Finally, after a hard day of watching oysters grow, we made a welcome stop at Coast Guard Beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore, where students took advantage of the sun and warm sand.\u00a0 What a great trip!\u00a0 Aside from learning about all steps involved in raising shellfish on the Cape, we sure had fun!<\/p>\n
<\/a>All pooped out!<\/p><\/div>\n
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by guest blogger (novelist) Joan Morrison The final event of the Spring 2013 ENVS senior seminar, which focused on aquaculture, was a trip to Cape Cod to learn about shellfish production there.\u00a0 All senior ENVS majors and minors, along with … Continue reading