The World is Your Oyster
Developing Seafood Culture in Florianopolis
By Matthew Brown
Florianopolis, the state capital of Santa Catarina, Brasil is blessed with prime geographic location and calm cold water rich with the phytoplankton necessary to sustain a bounty of seafood cultivation. With several generations of fishing families dependent on the sea to maintain their traditional lifestyles, the fishing and shellfish industries have been complimented by the cultivation of seafood in marine farms.
The University Federal Santa Catarina in Florianopolis has programs that aid in the creation and maintenance of a healthy seafood culture which provides the Brasilian economy with approximately 80 percent of its oyster production. To help the mariculture return to the island of Florianopolis, UFSC has two major programs, the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio in Barra de Lagoa where they breed the larvae for the marine farmers and the Laboratorio de Virologia Aplicada which maintains a laboratory on campus which tests the farms monthly for bacteria and viruses. The work associated with the development of seafood culture involves the professionals of more than 20 departments of the university.
Headed by Dr. Jaime Fernando Ferreira, the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio has been essential in the recuperation of the traditional local fishing culture, being recognized for its achievements over the last 15 years. The volunteer work of students such as Simone Suhnel and Fernanda Campello in aquaculture has helped raise the production of oysters on Florianopolis up from 2 million to 40 million since 1991.
“We help ensure a high quality of a variety of Japanese and Brasilian oysters, mussels, scallops and fish for the producers from the coastal villages.” Fernanda Campello says. On a tour through the facilities in Barra de Lagoa, Fernanda Campello pointed out the resourceful techniques used in the breeding process to produce disease free larvae and the nutrients necessary for the spawning process as well as the utilization of solar power in the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio.
At the Laboratorio de Virologia Aplicada, Dr. Claudia Simoes and Dr. Celia Barardi work together with the students testing the water and seafood for contaminates which may be dangerous to the health of the community, ensuring the quality and safety for the livelihood of producers. In the waters where only 20 percent of the raw sewage is treated, testing for bacteria such as salmonella and viruses like hepatitis A is crucial to the maintenance of the seafood culture of Florianopolis.
“Some of the people are afraid that our testing destroys the local oyster business, but we work to ensure the quality for a healthy community.” Dr. Celia Barardi says. Dr. Barardi has been dedicated to the department for 16 years and has spent time in Australia and Spain working on her post doctorates in the field. The work at UFSC helps to qualify the seafood with certifications ensuring the quality of the seafood necessary to gain access to markets in Brasil and abroad.
PhD student Caroline Rigotto Borges and Masters student Adriana Correa work with technologies provided by Blue Water Aquaculture to carry out the tests. Along with a team of other students, they work in the development of the process where they test the digestive systems of the seafood and the purity of water for contamination.
In an effort to improve the work of the university towards cleaner water and quality, Dr. Claudia Simoes explained her work representing Brasil in creating a network of Latin American countries involving CYTED and working towards eradicating diarrhea causing bacteria and viruses in the waters of South America. A visiting professor from Argentina and former employee of the CDC in Georgia, Prof. Alejandro Castello praised the work of UFSC and , Dr. Claudia Simoes in forming the network and sharing technology and information.
“Together with the other South American nations, we are seeking investment from Spain and other European nations for the technology and funding necessary for a successful network to share and implement our findings and ideas.” Prof. Alejandro Castello says.
The world is your oyster in Florianopolis as the seafood culture continues to evolve and make Brasil poised for the global market. With annual events such as Fenaostra now being held in November in Florianopolis since 1999, UFSC works hard to maintain the quality of the seafood to make the local market the pearl in the world of oysters.
Developing Seafood Culture in Florianopolis
By Matthew Brown
Florianopolis, the state capital of Santa Catarina, Brasil is blessed with prime geographic location and calm cold water rich with the phytoplankton necessary to sustain a bounty of seafood cultivation. With several generations of fishing families dependent on the sea to maintain their traditional lifestyles, the fishing and shellfish industries have been complimented by the cultivation of seafood in marine farms.
The University Federal Santa Catarina in Florianopolis has programs that aid in the creation and maintenance of a healthy seafood culture which provides the Brasilian economy with approximately 80 percent of its oyster production. To help the mariculture return to the island of Florianopolis, UFSC has two major programs, the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio in Barra de Lagoa where they breed the larvae for the marine farmers and the Laboratorio de Virologia Aplicada which maintains a laboratory on campus which tests the farms monthly for bacteria and viruses. The work associated with the development of seafood culture involves the professionals of more than 20 departments of the university.
Headed by Dr. Jaime Fernando Ferreira, the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio has been essential in the recuperation of the traditional local fishing culture, being recognized for its achievements over the last 15 years. The volunteer work of students such as Simone Suhnel and Fernanda Campello in aquaculture has helped raise the production of oysters on Florianopolis up from 2 million to 40 million since 1991.
“We help ensure a high quality of a variety of Japanese and Brasilian oysters, mussels, scallops and fish for the producers from the coastal villages.” Fernanda Campello says. On a tour through the facilities in Barra de Lagoa, Fernanda Campello pointed out the resourceful techniques used in the breeding process to produce disease free larvae and the nutrients necessary for the spawning process as well as the utilization of solar power in the Moluscos Marinhos Laboratorio.
At the Laboratorio de Virologia Aplicada, Dr. Claudia Simoes and Dr. Celia Barardi work together with the students testing the water and seafood for contaminates which may be dangerous to the health of the community, ensuring the quality and safety for the livelihood of producers. In the waters where only 20 percent of the raw sewage is treated, testing for bacteria such as salmonella and viruses like hepatitis A is crucial to the maintenance of the seafood culture of Florianopolis.
“Some of the people are afraid that our testing destroys the local oyster business, but we work to ensure the quality for a healthy community.” Dr. Celia Barardi says. Dr. Barardi has been dedicated to the department for 16 years and has spent time in Australia and Spain working on her post doctorates in the field. The work at UFSC helps to qualify the seafood with certifications ensuring the quality of the seafood necessary to gain access to markets in Brasil and abroad.
PhD student Caroline Rigotto Borges and Masters student Adriana Correa work with technologies provided by Blue Water Aquaculture to carry out the tests. Along with a team of other students, they work in the development of the process where they test the digestive systems of the seafood and the purity of water for contamination.
In an effort to improve the work of the university towards cleaner water and quality, Dr. Claudia Simoes explained her work representing Brasil in creating a network of Latin American countries involving CYTED and working towards eradicating diarrhea causing bacteria and viruses in the waters of South America. A visiting professor from Argentina and former employee of the CDC in Georgia, Prof. Alejandro Castello praised the work of UFSC and , Dr. Claudia Simoes in forming the network and sharing technology and information.
“Together with the other South American nations, we are seeking investment from Spain and other European nations for the technology and funding necessary for a successful network to share and implement our findings and ideas.” Prof. Alejandro Castello says.
The world is your oyster in Florianopolis as the seafood culture continues to evolve and make Brasil poised for the global market. With annual events such as Fenaostra now being held in November in Florianopolis since 1999, UFSC works hard to maintain the quality of the seafood to make the local market the pearl in the world of oysters.
posted by Brasilian_Brown | 2:20 PM
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