Our facility at the Cawthron Aquaculture Park produces most of these algae in continuous culture. This is a cost-effective way of growing food algae for our shellfish larvae, but it can also be used to grow algae for other purposes, such as production of useful biochemicals.

We carry out R&D on the continuous production of fastidious micro-algae species. For example, we have succeeded in the continuous culture of Chaetoceros calcitrans, a very small diatom that is an important diet component of many shellfish larvae. This work requires the combination of microbiological, chemical and process engineering expertise.

We also apply the continuous culture principle in larval rearing. Our flow-through system accommodates larvae at the hundred-fold concentration of common batch systems. We have plans to extend this skill platform into the continuous production of other small marine organisms, for example zooplankton.

Our strength is in the application of simple and affordable technology suitable for the bulk production of small to microscopic organisms that present no environmental hazard.

We grow toxic micro-algae in batch culture. The toxins are extracted from these algae and then refined and sold as certified reference standards, mainly for toxin analysis. Further information can be found at the CRC-CRM Website.