The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.
Master thesis: Testing an offshore aquaculture system for Ulva sp. cultivation

BACKGROUND

Seaweed cultivation is currently receiving abundant attention as a nature-based solution to climate change and as a tool that can provide ecosystem services to humanity and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Offshore or exposed aquaculture has been identified as a potential option for increasing seafood production due to ample space for expansion, high carrying, reduced conflict with other maritime industries, low exposure to human sources of pollution, and the potential to reduce some of the negative environmental impacts of coastal fish farming. Using currently existing maritime infrastructure for the establishment of offshore aquaculture (so called multi-use) can further reduce impacts and conflicts in the marine realm. In the OLAMUR project, commercial scale production of low-trophic organisms (i.e. mussels and seaweed) in a multi-use framework in the North Sea is being tested. One of the structures used is based on the shellfish tower design. We are looking for a Master’s Student to test the feasibility of using an offshore aquaculture tower design for Ulva sp. cultivation. The student should carry out the isolation and germination of Ulva spores in the lab, seed the spores onto nets or lines for offshore deployment, maintain the seeded nets or lines in a recirculating system untnil deployment, and support the deployment, maintenance and sampling of the structure in the North Sea wind-park.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor in Marine Biology, Biotechnology, Biology, Environmental Science, Microbiology or similar
• Willingness to travel and work on Helgoland and on sea-going expeditions on research vessels under all weather conditions
• Ability to work well in a team
• Good English communication and writing skills
• Experience in culture techniques of marine algae is desirable, but not necessary

• Conduct a direct seeding method for the offshore tower
• Develop an experimental design for the induction of fertility in Ulva in the lab
• Induce fertility of Ulva sp. in the lab for obtaining spores
• Isolate and seed Ulva spores onto ropes/nets in the lab
• Develop an experimental design for monitoring growth and chemical composition of Ulva sp. on the offshore tower
• Cultivate the seeded substrate, including seawater and media preparation and daily maintenance
• Deploy seeded substrate onto the offshore tower
• Regular seaweed sampling campaigns after deployment