Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

Developing Sustainable Marine Aquaculture Systems For Cost Effective Seafood Production

With funding from Congress, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Florida State University, and USDA's Agricultural Research Service have formed a world-class, research and development collaborative program to expand aquaculture opportunities in Florida and in the southeastern United States.

AREAS OF INVESTIGATION

Engineering Sustainable Production Systems - OVERVIEW

Spawning and Larval-rearing Techniques for Selected Marine Finfish Species - OVERVIEW

Nutrition and Feeding Strategies for Selected Marine Finfish Species - OVERVIEW

THE NEED FOR AQUACULTURE

With increasing seafood demand and declining wild fisheries, U.S. marine aquaculture production must greatly expand. A decade ago global fisheries reached maximum yield at 2.2 billion pounds. Aquaculture's contribution to seafood needs must rise from 30% to 50% in the next 25 years to meet the increasing seafood demand and ease harvest pressure on wild fish stocks. The expansion of the U.S. aquaculture industry is challenged by the high cost and limited availability of coastal land and water resources, environmental impact concerns, high production costs, and lack of sufficient quality fish seedstock. The goal of this cooperative research program is to design and test cost-effective, energy efficient aquaculture systems and production strategies capable of reliable year-round production of marine food fish in low salinity environments. This development will positively affect U.S. trade deficit, increase employment opportunities for inland rural sectors and displaced farmers, increase crop diversity, and enhance food biosecurity.

THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• 1) To design and operate low cost, energy efficient, zero discharge water reuse aquaculture production systems to produce warm water fish species year-round. Specific food fish species include flounder, Florida pompano, and black sea bass.
• 2) To expand use of underutilized agricultural land through the culture of salt water species that are adaptable to fresh water and low salinity environments.
• 3) To generate new aquaculture enterprises in Florida agricultural communities to diversify crops and increase employment opportunities.

THE PROGRAM'S CURRENT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH

• Winter 2004, 5,000 bass fish were stocked in production-scale water reuse systems to evaluate production efficiencies and test feed ingredient alternatives to fish meal.
• Conducting nutritional and physiological studies with salt water fish raised in low salinity waters to develop optimal feeds and health management strategies to ensure high quality seedstock for fish farmers.
• Refining breeding and larval rearing practices of important salt water fish species (Florida pompano & black sea bass) for year-round production of fingerlings for farmers.
• Conducting research to maximize water reuse and minimize environmental impacts, while refining sustainable production strategies for the culture of salt water fish in freshwater systems.
• Conducting workshops to educate and train community and scientific members about new aquaculture technologies. Providing published results for researchers, farmers and stakeholders.

THE PROGRAM'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Constructed a world class recirculating aquaculture research complex (20,000 sq. ft.) to develop new technologies for raising salt water fish in fresh water to stimulate expansion of Florida marine aquaculture.
• Developed a large-scale solar energy system for temperature control of a water reuse system to ensure year-round culture of fish.
• Determined alternative feed ingredients to reduce dependence on foreign fish meal, a major component of current fish feeds.
• Developed technology to produce juvenile flounder in indoor, water reuse systems.
• Completed market analysis for high value salt water fish that are adaptable to low salinity water.
• Organized and hosted the first International Marine Fish Culture Conference and Workshop, which was attended by 200 participants from industry, research organizations, government and universities.

THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT

This collaborative program will advance saltwater aquaculture technologies for inland locations, which will have a significant impact on the agricultural sector of Florida and the southeastern states. This technology will improve market competitiveness for domestic products while meeting the challenges that face the aquaculture industry such as negative environmental impacts, high production costs, lack of fish seedstock, and limited availability of suitable coastal lands for fish farming. Expansion of the U.S. aquaculture industry will positively affect the U.S. trade deficit, increase employment opportunities for inland rural sectors, increase crop diversity, and enhance food biosecurity.