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

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 22, 2011
Publication Date: February 6, 2012
Citation: Riche, M.A., Pfeiffer, T.J., Wills, P.S., Amberg, J.J., Sepulveda, M.S. 2012. Inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems. Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Agency. 35:65-75.

Technical Abstract: 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 with inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating 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. This approach will reduce the need to be located near coastal land, reduce saltwater effluent, and reduce the carbon footprint of marine finfish production.