COO Mike Meeker, the first Certified Finfish Farmer in the United States. Feeding the growing fish is a special process in itself. The fish are fed from a huge underwater cylinder about 23 feet in diameter and just as tall. The rate of food release is controlled via remote control, mostly by a human being (Donna prefers it that way). Across Inlet Road from the hatchery, Manna at Lobster Inn Restaurant stands behind its owner’s motto that “every dish should exceed the expectations of our guests. To achieve this, our culinary team sources only the best, freshest ingredients.” Jesse strongly believes that his customers have a right to know exactly what fish they are eating, especially since much of the seafood sold in the United States is mismarked. Since his other passion is computer technology, every fish item on the Manna menu will have a QR code, linking to a complete provenance of the fish, sometimes including video interviews with the captain of the boat who caught it. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization warns that, to maintain the current level of the world’s seafood consumption, Aquaculture must double its output by 2030. The techniques that Manna Fish Farms and the restaurant use are critical to our ability to feed future generations in a healthy and always delicious way. For more information, visit mannaoceanfoundation.com.
“Every fish item on the Manna menu will have a QR code linking to a complete provenance of the fish, sometimes including video interviews with the captain of the boat who caught it.”
helm. The property across Inlet Road would become Manna Fish Farms. “Manna” means miracle food from Heaven, in this case the finest quality fish and Donna’s goal for the fish farm. Maintaining the purity of the final product is a specialized process using complex equipment. First, fingerlings are spawned in the onshore hatchery for a year. After that time, they are be placed
in submersible cages approximately 8 miles offshore, and down to a depth of 40 to 60 feet below the surface, where ocean currents can provide constant cleaning. According to Donna, the current cage of choice is the StormSafe Submersible Net Pen, which can hold up to 300,000 pounds of fish at the time of harvest. So far, 18 of these cages are planned for Manna. The Pen was invented by Manna Fish Farms
Photo: Top by Ryan Streveler, #rsphtoworks.
60 • AFLOAT USA Hamptons May/June 2022
AFLOAT USA Hamptons May/June 2022 • 61
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker