Honors Theses
Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
BS
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor
Carlos Montalvo
Advisor(s)
Amy Sprinkle, Joseph Richardson
Abstract
This project encompasses the design, fabrication, and testing of a cage-integrated reeling system aimed at reducing the physical labor required in oyster aquaculture at Bama Bay Oyster Farm, the last operational oyster farm in Mobile Bay. The proposed system includes two primary components: lightweight, modular oyster cages and a dual-winch reeling device for automated retrieval. Three cage prototypes—rectangular, oval, and hexagonal—were evaluated for structural performance and fabrication feasibility. The oval design was ultimately excluded due to practical fabrication limitations. The rectangular and hexagonal designs were fabricated using recycled materials and tested under the most extreme environmental conditions derived from years of regional weather data. Both prototypes withstood tension and compression loads beyond necessary thresholds. The reeling device consisted of a dual-winch system powered by marine-grade batteries enabling both horizontal and vertical reeling. Based on hydrodynamic performance and handling, the hexagonal cage is recommended, though both remaining designs are viable. This project demonstrates a scalable, sustainable solution which supports small oyster farms with limited resources, while minimizing ecological impact.
Recommended Citation
Bryant, Felicity, "Design and Optimization of Aquaculture Gear: Development of a Cage-Integrated Reeling Mechanism for Oyster Farming" (2025). Honors Theses. 114.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_theses/114
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Construction Engineering and Management Commons, Dynamics and Dynamical Systems Commons, Engineering Mechanics Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Other Engineering Science and Materials Commons, Other Mechanical Engineering Commons
Comments
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