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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Leetown, West Virginia » Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341877
Research Project: Developing and Refining Technologies for Sustainable Fish Growth in Closed Containment Systems

Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research

Title: Aquaculture research at the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute

Author
item SUMMERFELT, STEVEN - Freshwater Institute
item GOOD, CHRISTOPHER - Freshwater Institute

Submitted to: Aquaculture Magazine
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2016
Publication Date: 10/10/2016
Citation: Summerfelt, S.T., Good, C. 2016. Aquaculture research at the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute. Aquaculture Magazine. 42(5):32-37.

Interpretive Summary: This article summarizes the history, physical and human resources, objectives, and outcomes of The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute's aquaculture research program. Scientists and engineers at the Freshwater Institute develop technologies and practices that allow the use of water for human purposes, particularly in agriculture, in a manner that conserves and protects our water resources. The aquaculture technologies and practices that have been developed are beneficial for the environment, consumers, and American business alike. Working primarily under cooperative agreements with the USDA ARS, over the last 3-decades the Freshwater Institute has become a global leader in research and development of land-based closed-containment aquaculture systems that use water recirculating aquaculture system technologies that help to overcome barriers to domestic aquaculture expansion, as well as enhance the sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of the modern fish farming industry. These technologies are now used at numerous commercial fish farms and state, tribal, and federal fish culture facilities across North America.

Technical Abstract: The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute (TCFFI), working through cooperative agreements with the USDA Agriculture Research Service, has become a global leader in research and development of land-based closed containment water recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) following three decades of applied research and consultation with industry. Areas of focus have included culture tank design, gas conditioning, biofiltration optimization, waste treatment technologies, testing novel protein feeds, and assessing the health and welfare of aquatic animals in RAS. Most recently, focus has been applied to raising Atlantic salmon to market size in a land-based, semi-commercial scale RAS. Overall, TCFFI's mission is to develop and refine technologies that can help overcome barriers to sustainable domestic aquaculture expansion, and this article summarizes the history, physical and human resources, objectives, and outcomes of TCFFI's aquaculture research program.