Browsing by Author "Baptista, Tiago Miguel Paiva"
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- Internship Report at Oceano FrescoPublication . Baptista, Tiago Miguel Paiva; Baptista, Teresa Maria CoelhoThis internship report, developed over a one-year period from June 19, 2023, to June 19, 2024, documents the operational workflow and improvement opportunities identified in a commercial bivalve hatchery, with emphasis on Ruditapes decussatus and Venerupis corrugata. The internship covered all production stages, from broodstock conditioning to larval, post-larval, and seed rearing, providing a comprehensive understanding of hatchery routines and biosecurity practices. Daily, weekly, and monthly operations were followed in detail across each production unit, consolidating technical skills in husbandry, feeding, monitoring, and microbiological control. A central component of the internship was a pilot project addressing one of the most pressing bottlenecks the hatchery was facing at this period: the shortage of microalgae for feeding. Spare 3000 L seed tanks were repurposed for large-volume batch production of diatoms. Over successive production cycles, different configurations were tested, adjusting working volume, nutrient dosages, aeration systems, CO₂ supplementation, and lighting. Results demonstrated that aeration efficiency, nutrient balance, and carbon regulation are critical for sustaining high cell densities and culture stability. The introduction of CO₂ markedly improved performance, and batch-to-batch inoculation proved feasible, improving efficiency of operations and reducing dependence on the Upright Bag room. By the end of the project, daily harvests of several thousand liters of clean culture were achieved, significantly alleviating the feed shortage and supporting hatchery production. The internship also highlighted areas for further optimization, including broodstock quarantine and gonadal monitoring, continuous larval water quality monitoring, optimization of setting system configurations in the post-larval room, refinement of seed feeding and shipment protocols, and reinforcement of hygiene practices across transversal operations. A cross-cutting improvement identified was the digitalization of operational records, which would enhance traceability and predictive capacity. In conclusion, the internship achieved its dual aim: consolidating technical and scientific skills through full integration into hatchery operations, and successfully achieving the project through an industrial-scale trial that evolved into a viable production strategy. The experience provided not only practical expertise but also insights into the potential for continuous improvement and innovation in bivalve aquaculture.