Optimizing the spatial configuration of scallop suspended cultivation net cages by leveraging seston flux variables based on the lattice Boltzmann hydrodynamics

Abstract

Suspended scallop farming using cultivation net cages in long-line cultivation structures is a common aquaculture activity. However, cultivation net cages in scallop production lines form obstacles that block currents. The hydrodynamic characteristics of an individual cultivation net cage, as well as the distance between net cages, can influence natural current circulation, further affecting food distribution and solute transport in the scallop farming environment. One of the challenges in scallop farming is to configure farms to optimize total scallop production and individual scallop quality under different environmental conditions. In this study, the appropriate spatial configuration of scallop farms was evaluated through the seston flux distribution characteristics of individual cultivation net cages under different environmental current speeds. A lattice Boltzmann model was established and validated. Then, this model was used to simulate the flow field and seston concentration around a cultivation net cage. The minimum seston flux disturbance of the cultivation net cage is taken as the criterion of the net cage distance. The longitudinal distance of the net cages was determined based on an 80% recovery of seston flux and a transverse distance of less than 5% flux disturbance. The results indicated that the longitudinal distance between net cages decreases with an increasing background flow velocity, and the transverse distance between net cages has little correlation with the background flow velocity. Thus, this study has potential applicability to improve the reforming and planning aquacultural sites.