Enhancing the production of hybrid striped bass through improved genetics, nutrition, production management, and fish health

Authors: Green, Bartholomew - Bart

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Farm-raised hybrid striped bass, specifically sunshine bass (white bass female x striped bass male), is a rapidly growing sector of the domestic aquaculture industry. However, the industry faces multiple challenges to continued expansion and profitability. Development and implementation of technologies that maintain an optimal culture environment during the entire production cycle will allow management, nutritional, health, and genetic improvements to manifest themselves fully. Production intensification, nutritional, health maintenance, and genetic approaches will be used to attain project objectives. To meet the growing demands of the hybrid striped bass industry, ARS researchers will implement a three-objective strategy addressing the needs for improved nutrition and production efficiency, disease management, and genetics throughout HSB aquaculture. New production systems (split-ponds and biofloc technology production system) that will allow farmers to produce more fish using less water will be developed and the performance of fishmeal-free and plant-based diets in intensive production systems will be evaluated. Improved diets based on alternative ingredients and supplemental exogenous enzymes that will increase nitrogen and phosphorus retention and reduce environmental impacts will be formulated. Live larval feeds, feed ingredients and feeding protocols will be optimized to maximize fry survival and health outcomes for broodstock development. Emerging diseases identified throughout hybrid striped bass production will be quantified, and new methods of prevention and control will be developed. Genomic tools and genetic resources will be developed to improve production traits in hybrid striped bass aquaculture including the characterization of a genome sequence for parental white bass combined with a broodstock development program as well as improving methods for the induction of triploidy.