Infrastructure Integrity Assessment of Floating Oyster Farms in the Northern Gulf of America

Arash Pashazadeh1*, Zhilong Liu2, Haifei Chen3, Shenghua Wu1 and Brian Dzwonkowski2,4

1Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36608

2Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36608

3Interdisciplinary Science Co-operative, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM, 87131

4Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory, Dauphin Island, AL 36528

ap2329@jagmail.southalabam.edu

Abstract

Floating cage oyster farms are a dominant form of aquaculture production in the Gulf of America due to their advantages of operation, related economies, and environmental attributes. Their susceptibility to extreme weather events, hurricanes exacerbate critical threats to infrastructure integrity and farm viability. This research offers a comprehensive approach to evaluate and optimize the floating cage oyster farm structural resilience in the      northern Gulf coast. A three-dimensional high-fidelity fluid–structure–mooring interaction model is developed to capture dynamic oyster cage responses to concurrent wave-storm loading conditions. Flume experiments are conducted to validate the model. The validated model is employed for scenario studies, e.g., the analysis of emergency mitigation measures like cage submergence for their efficiency. Sensitivity studies are performed to investigate material degradation, farm configuration, and orientation on farm survivability. With partner oyster farmers, real farm layouts are incorporated into analysis, and design advice is given based on performance results. The work contributes to a set of practical guidelines for increasing the floating oyster farm infrastructure resilience.