Seaweed cultivation systems suitable for offshore and exposed locations have the potential to enable expansion of global seaweed production to levels capable of substantially supplementing or offsetting terrestrial agriculture. A demonstration scale, experimental seaweed cultivation system (farm) intended to withstand exposed ocean environments was designed, deployed, planted with kelp (a type of seaweed), monitored and decommissioned. Objectives for the field program included: [1] observation of the farm’s behavior and survivability in exposed ocean conditions, [2] demonstration of novel farm system design features and component technologies, and [3] evaluation of farm operability. Novel design features included a lattice mooring system geometry, multi-shaft helical anchors, and the use of fiberglass rod as a replacement for rope anchor lines and kelp growth substrate in order to mitigate the risk of marine animal entanglement. New hardware was developed for transmitting tension loads to and from fiberglass rods, enabling their use in the farm. A numerical model was used in the design stage to simulate the farm in ocean conditions. Analysis results were used to specify farm components, evaluate sensitivities to installation precision, identify potential issues with component interaction, consider operational constraints and investigate the implications of single point failures. The farm was installed at a Gulf of Maine, USA site and planted with (sugar kelp) in November 2021 through January 2022 and monitored for one growth season. Kelp was sampled 3 times and met-ocean conditions were measured throughout the season. Kelp was harvested in May 2022 and the structure was removed June 2022. Recovered components were inspected for wear. The farm survived a series of storm events with significant wave heights greater than 2 m and at least one storm with a maximum wave height of 5.9 m. The farm system experienced only minor corrosion, wear and damage. Farm operations revealed the need for improved accessibility, tension control and anchor placement accuracy. Observations and tests revealed relatively poor kelp holdfast attachment to the fiberglass rope replacement. Nonetheless, demonstration results suggest that the experimental farming system design was suitable for use in exposed settings.

中文翻译：

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实验性海上海藻养殖结构的设计、部署和运行

适合近海和暴露地点的海藻栽培系统有可能使全球海藻产量扩大到能够大幅补充或抵消陆地农业的水平。设计、部署、种植海带（一种海藻）、监测和退役一个示范规模的实验性海藻培育系统（农场），旨在承受暴露的海洋环境。实地计划的目​​标包括：[1] 观察农场在暴露的海洋条件下的行为和生存能力，[2] 示范新型农场系统设计特征和组件技术，以及 [3] 评估农场的可操作性。新颖的设计特点包括格子系泊系统的几何形状、多轴螺旋锚，以及使用玻璃纤维杆代替绳锚线和海带生长基质，以减轻海洋动物缠绕的风险。开发了新的硬件，用于将拉力载荷传递到玻璃纤维杆或从玻璃纤维杆传递拉力载荷，使其能够在农场中使用。在设计阶段使用数值模型来模拟海洋条件下的农场。分析结果用于指定农场组件，评估对安装精度的敏感性，识别组件交互的潜在问题，考虑操作限制并调查单点故障的影响。该农场安装在美国缅因湾的一个地点，于 2021 年 11 月至 2022 年 1 月期间种植（糖海带），并监测一个生长季节。整个季节对海带进行了 3 次采样并测量了气象海洋条件。海带于 2022 年 5 月收获，结构于 2022 年 6 月拆除。回收的部件经过磨损检查。该农场经历了一系列显着波高大于 2 m 的风暴事件以及至少一次最大波高为 5.9 m 的风暴。农场系统仅经历了轻微的腐蚀、磨损和损坏。农场运营表明需要改善可达性、张力控制和锚点放置精度。观察和测试表明，替代玻璃纤维绳索的海带固定装置附着力相对较差。尽管如此，示范结果表明实验农业系统设计适合在暴露环境中使用。