The status of striped bass Morone saxatilis as a commercially ready species for U.S. marine aquaculture

Authors: ANDERSEN, LINNEA - North Carolina State University; Abernathy, Jason; BERLINSKY, DAVID - University Of New Hampshire; BOLTON, GREG - North Carolina State University; BOOKER, MATTHEW - North Carolina State University; BORSKI, RUSSELL - North Carolina State University; BROWN, TRAVIS - Brunswick Community College; CERINO, DAVID - Carteret Community College; CIARAMELLA, MICHAEL - Cornell University; CLARK, ROBERT - North Carolina State University; FRINSKO, MICHAEL - North Carolina Cooperative Extension; Fuller, Adam; GABEL, STEVE - North Carolina Cooperative Extension; Green, Bartholomew - Bart; HERBST, ERIC - North Carolina Sea Grant; HODSON, RONALD - North Carolina State University; HOPPER, MICHAEL - North Carolina State University; KENTER, LINAS - University Of New Hampshire; LOPEZ, FRANK - North Carolina Sea Grant; MCGINTY, ANDREW - North Carolina State University; NASH, BARRY - North Carolina Sea Grant; PARKER, MATTHEW - Maryland Sea Grant; PIGG, STACEY - North Carolina State University; Rawles, Steven - Steve; RILEY, KENNETH - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); TURANO, MARC - Cargill, Incorporated; Webster, Carl; WEIRICH, CHARLES - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); WON, EUGENE - Cornell University; WOODS, L. CURRY - University Of Maryland; READING, BENJAMIN - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2021
Publication Date: 5/24/2021
Citation: Andersen, L., Abernathy, J.W., Berlinsky, D., Bolton, G., Booker, M., Borski, R., Brown, T., Cerino, D., Ciaramella, M., Clark, R., Frinsko, M.O., Fuller, S.A., Gabel, S., Green, B.W., Herbst, E., Hodson, R.G., Hopper, M., Kenter, L.W., Lopez, F., Mcginty, A.S., Nash, B., Parker, M., Pigg, S., Rawles, S.D., Riley, K., Turano, M.J., Webster, C.D., Weirich, C., Won, E., Woods, L., Reading, B.J. 2021. The status of striped bass Morone saxatilis as a commercially ready species for U.S. marine aquaculture. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 52(3):1-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12812.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12812

Interpretive Summary: Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is native to the North American Atlantic Coast and it is well recognized and regarded as one of the most important recreational fisheries in the United States. Decades of research have been conducted on striped bass and hybrid striped bass (striped bass x white bass M. chrysops) and culture methods have been established, in particular for the hybrid striped bass, which is the fourth largest finfish aquaculture industry in the nation ($50 million USD). Domestic striped bass have been bred since the 1990s and are available from the government for commercial fry production using recently developed hormone-free methods along with traditional hormone-induced tank and strip spawning. No commercial scale intensive larval rearing technologies have been developed at present and fingerling production is conducted in fertilized freshwater ponds. Here we present the current status of striped bass aquaculture in the United States, including genetics, nutrition, and production parameters along with economic opportunities for breeders and producers.

Technical Abstract: Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an anadromous fish native to the North American Atlantic Coast and it is well recognized and regarded as one of the most important recreational fisheries in the United States. Decades of research have been conducted on striped bass and its hybrid (striped bass x white bass M. chrysops) and culture methods have been established, in particular for the hybrid striped bass, which is the fourth largest finfish aquaculture industry in the nation ($50 million USD). Domestic striped bass have been bred since the 1990s and are available from the government for commercial fry production using recently developed hormone-free methods along with traditional hormone-induced tank and strip spawning. No commercial scale intensive larval rearing technologies have been developed at present and fingerling production is conducted in fertilized freshwater ponds. Striped bass can be grown out in marine (32 ppt) or freshwater (< 5 ppt), however they require high hardness (200+ ppm) and some salinity (8-10 ppt) to offset handling stress. Juveniles must be 1-10 g/fish prior to stocking into marine water. Commercially available fingerling, growout, and broodstock feeds are available from several vendors. Striped bass may reach 1.36 kg/fish in recirculating aquaculture by 18 months and as much as 2.27 kg/fish by 24 months. Farm gate value of striped bass has not been determined, although seasonally available harvested striped bass are valued at about $6.50 USD/kg and cultured hybrid striped bass are valued at about $8.45 to $9.25 USD/kg whole; the farm gate value for cultured striped bass may be as much as $10.00 USD or more per kg depending on demand. The ideal market size is between 1.36 and 2.72 kg/fish, which is considerably larger than the 0.68 to 0.90 kg/fish for the hybrid striped bass market.