MBP grows a variety of algal species as food for growing larvae and spat. Care is given to keep
culture stocks healthy and free from contaminants such as ciliates and harmful bacteria. All algal
cultures are grown in either sterilized seawater or seawater filtered to 1 μm. All cultures are initially
grown in 250 ml flasks and, as the cultures grow, they are transferred to 2 liter flasks, 10 liter carboys,
200 liter cylindrical tanks and finally to 6000 liter fiberglass tanks held in a greenhouse.