Mote-Grown Plants Included in Recent Restoration... Purchase Locally Grown Seafood!

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Dr. Kevan Main of Mote helps plant salt-tolerant plants during the North Lido Restoration Photo by Sara Kane, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

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Plants grown at the state-of-the-art Mote Aquaculture Park were recently included in a restoration project at North Lido Beach in Sarasota.  The Mote-grown plants were produced through a pilot project funded by the Sea Grant program. Mote and partners, including Aquatic Plants of Florida, are growing plants for restoration projects using solid fish waste from the production of saltwater fish and the water waste from its production of freshwater Siberian sturgeon. By using this waste to feed plants — and doing it on a large enough scale to translate to commercial operations — this innovative system could serve as a model for sustainable marine aquaculture efforts across the nation and beyond.   “For years, Mote has developed recirculating aquaculture technology to reduce the environmental impact of producing seafood — but there’s still is an impact if you can’t use the solid waste,” said Dr. Kevan Main, Director of Mote’s Center for Aquaculture Research and Development.

“When I show people around Mote’s facility and point out that the saltwater is completely recirculated, some observant person will ask, ‘Where do the solids go?’ Now we’re using them up to grow plants for coastal environments.”  So far, the plant growth at MAP has “exceeded expectations,” reports Gil Sharell, founder and president of Aquatic Plants of Florida. “The growth is exceptional and maintenance is less than traditional propagation at our farm. We’re evaluating whether to expand the program later this year with Dr. Main and her team by constructing another plant production greenhouse at MAP.” Almost 200 salt-tolerant plants from MAP were used in the North Lido Restoration. The project was undertaken by members of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Bay Guardian volunteers, along with Around the Bend Nature Tours, and took place on July 9. In all, 2,065 native plants were used. Having plants grown at Mote used locally as part of an important restoration undertaking is rewarding, Main said. “The idea is to be as sustainable as possible in the production of fish for food,” she said. “Being able to grow plants for restoration and have them planted here locally in Sarasota is just an extra reward for us.