ARS | Publication request: Inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems

Submitted to: United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 27, 2010
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Citation: Riche, M.A., Pfeiffer, T.J., Wills, P.S., Amberg, J.J., Sepulveda, M.S. 2010. Inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems [abstract]. The Present and Future of the Aquaculture Industry. 39th United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). 38-40.

Technical Abstract: A growing and increasingly health-conscious population, coupled with declining capture fisheries is driving an increased global demand for farm-raised seafood that can only be met through expansion of aquaculture. In 2007, aquaculture represented 33% of total global seafood production and is projected to increase to as much as 71% by 2030. The U.S. aquaculture industry represents a $1.0 billion/year industry, but is principally based on production of freshwater finfish. In contrast, on a global scale marine aquaculture comprises one-third of farmed production, and cultivation of marine aquatic animals represents the fastest growing segment within aquaculture. This suggests tremendous potential for growth of a developing U.S. marine aquaculture industry. However, development and expansion of marine aquaculture 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 quality seedstock, and inadequate regulatory and permitting processes. Many of these constraints can be addressed using inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems as a production model. We describe recent and ongoing development of technologies in four principal areas: 1) engineering and system design; 2) year-round production of seedstock; 3) diet development; and 4) physiological adaptation of marine fish to low-salinity environments using genomic approaches. It is anticipated these technologies could find application for rearing euryhaline marine fish throughout approximately 2/3 of the U.S. where lightly saline groundwater is available. Development of technologies for rearing marine species that can be adapted to low-salinity or freshwater environments in recirculating systems will reduce the need to be located near coastal land, reduce saltwater effluent, and reduce the carbon footprint of marine finfish production.