fitting an 80-foot converted trawler, 

 the Seahawk, with a decompression 

 chamber and other diving equipment. 

 "We're putting together an experi- 

 enced diving crew and we've already 

 received about 30 proposals for 

 research," Dubach said. Proposals for 

 underwater research are unlimited, he 

 said, and include questions about 

 marine medicine, underwater 

 archaeology, fish populations, ocean 

 pollution and underwater geology. 



During Phase I of the SURF 

 program, plans are for divers to study 

 and conduct experiments at depths of 

 90 feet in a wet diving bell. Later in 

 Phase II, researchers will be able to 

 descend to depths of 200 feet in a dry 

 or closed diving bell. Eventually, plans 

 are to develop a mobile underwater 

 habitat. 



SECURE is the fourth undersea pro- 

 ject to be funded by NOAA. Others are 

 located in Hawaii, California and the 

 Virgin Islands. 



Homegrown tomatoes 

 and cucumbers certainly 

 are a delicious reward 

 from your backyard gar- 

 den, but what about 

 largemouth bass? That's 

 right, largemouth bass, 

 and it's just one of the species suitable 

 for water gardening, says John Foster. 



Foster works with water gardening, 

 or aquaculture, at the North Carolina 

 State University (NCSU) Eel Culture 

 Project in Aurora. Home aquaculture 

 as a hobby, he says, is one of the 

 cheapest and most efficient methods of 

 producing meat. And, North Carolina 

 has an abundant groundwater supply 

 and excellent climate. 



For the interested gardener, there 

 are several methods of cultivation: in 

 ponds, creeks or rivers; in an indoor 

 greenhouse, or in a basement tank. 

 Pond aquaculture generally requires an 

 area drainable by gravity (no pumps), 

 three to five feet deep. It should not 

 flood, and it should have an efficient 

 soil lining to hold water. A small gar- 

 den pool or cages set in flowing water 

 are other alternatives for outdoor 

 aquaculture. 



Indoor aquaculture involves more 

 control over the environment, Foster 

 says, and "absolutely requires recir- 

 culation or filtering of the water." 

 Tanks can be constructed of concrete 

 blocks, waterproofed and sealed, or 

 swimming pools with plastic linings are 

 acceptable. A combination greenhouse- 

 aquaculture system provides benefits 

 to both plant and fish cultivation, of- 

 ten stabilizing the environment's tem- 

 perature and eliminating the need for a 

 heater. Even edible plants, such as 

 watercress, can be grown in the tank's 

 ecosystem. 



For warm water systems, the follow- 

 ing species are recommended: catfish, 

 bullheads, crayfish, prawns, 

 largemouth bass, eels, tilapia, bluegills 

 and Chinese carp. Cold water species 

 require more oxygen in the water and a 

 much greater flow, but rainbow trout, 

 yellow perch and coho salmon are 

 suitable for this type of cultivation. 



For the beginning aquaculturist, it is 

 important, Foster says, to be familiar 

 with the lifestyle and needs of the 

 species stocked, in addition to the 

 maintenance and most efficient use of 

 the aquaculture system. For more in- 

 formation, contact John Foster at the 

 NCSU Eel Culture Project, Route 2, 

 Box 305, Aurora, N.C., 27806, or 

 telephone 919/322-4054. 



Coastwatch is published monthly 

 except July and December by the Uni- 

 versity of North Carolina Sea Grant 

 College Program, 105 1911 Building, 

 North Carolina State University, 

 Raleigh, NC 27650. Vol. 7, No. 8, Sep- 

 tember, 1980. Dr. B.J. Copeland, 

 director. Written and edited by Neil 

 Caudle, Kathy Hart, and Cassie Grif- 

 fin. Second-class postage paid at 

 Raleigh, NC 27611. 



COASTWATCH 



Second-class postage paid 



105 1911 Building at Raleigh, NC 27611 



North Carolina State University (ISSN 0161-8369) 



Raleigh. NC 27650 



