Engineering and Production Strategies for Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

SCIENTISTS:

Marty Riche, Fish Nutritionist, Lead Scientist

Timothy Pfeiffer, Aquaculture Engineer

Charles Weirich, Early Development Biologist

OBJECTIVES

Objective 1:Develop feeding management strategies and diets for optimal growth, efficiency, and reproductive success of high-value marine finfish reared in low salinity re-circulating systems.

Objective 2: Develop year-round spawning strategies for captive broodstock and larviculture methods for sustainable seed production of high-value marine finfish species.

Objective 3:Develop engineering processes and sustainable effluent technologies to enhance water and energy utilization and reduce environmental impacts within, and discharged from, low-salinity re-circulating aquaculture systems.

NEED FOR RESEARCH

Description of Problem to be Solved

With increasing seafood demand in the U.S.and declining capture fisheries, U.S.marine aquaculture must increase to meet demand. The U.S.aquaculture industry is principally based on the production of freshwater finfish such as channel catfish. However, marine aquaculture comprises one-third of global aquaculture production by weight; and cultivation of marine aquatic animals is the fastest growing segment within aquaculture. Despite this trend salmon are the only marine finfish species produced by the U.S.to any notable extent. Development and expansion of the U.S. mariculture industry is challenged by the high cost and limited availability of coastal land and water resources, effluent concerns, high production costs, restricted growing seasons, lack of sufficient quality seedstock, and a general lack of knowledge regarding reproduction, larviculture, husbandry and production strategies.

Many of these challenges can be addressed through research to advance intensive re-circulating or water reuse aquaculture systems. Re-circulating system technologies allow intensive production of fish with minimal effluent. Rearing marine species that can be adapted to low-salinity or freshwater environments will reduce the need to be located near coastal land and reduce saltwater effluent. Research focused on nutrition, health management, reproduction, and fingerling production will ensure that high-value warm water marine species can be cultured year-round. The development of low-cost, energy efficient systems and production strategies for sustainable marine aquaculture in low-salinity environments will reduce the U.S.trade deficit, increase job market opportunities for inland rural sectors and displaced farmers, increase crop diversity, and enhance food biosecurity.