The special issue: Status of Marine Fish Species for Domestic Aquaculture – edited by Martin Riche and Megan Davis – provides by far the most comprehensive and up-to-date review of the development of the thirteen featured species towards production in the American marine aquaculture. The articles highlight decades of laboratory research on closing life cycles, rearing larvae, and feeding to growth requirements. The authors identify future research needs to achieve commercialization of the species covered. Bottlenecks are identified and discussed and the potential of each species is estimated by the main authors involved.
Generously sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, this special open-access issue is available to all.
The status of spotted sea trout (Nebulous Cynoscion) as a technologically feasible species for US marine aquaculture.
Blaylock, R., Saillant, E., Apeitos, A., Abrego, D., Cason, P., & Vega, R.
Blaylock et al. summarize the nearly 50 years of research into life cycle closure, culture systems, and proposed commercial production of spotted sea trout in their review of this technologically feasible species for US marine aquaculture. The review not only covers early advances in broodstock rearing, spawning, and the extensive development of larval rearing during the 1970s, but also details studies applying intensive closed-system rearing. These have been successful in reducing cannibalism and bringing fish grow-out from 500g to less than a year of total production time. Pond production remains economically unfeasible due to the inability to control cannibalism and other management issues. The authors emphasize the need to address economic issues, optimize feed and transfer technology to improve production and before commercial production can begin.
[Full Article]
Advancing U.S. Marine Fish Production: Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, aquaculture.
Stieglitz, JD, Hoenig, RH, Baggett, JK, Tudela, CE, Mathur, SK, & Benetti, DD
Olive flounder or Japanese flounder is a candidate species for aquaculture in the United States, but it is also produced on a large scale in Asia, including Korea and the People’s Republic of China. Its extremely high value as a food species has already led to its international commercialization, as has its relatively simple production during growth. In their study by Stieglitz et al. examine the practical economics of production in the United States, particularly in recirculating saltwater (RAS) aquaculture systems and discuss the efficiency of not only olive flounder production, but also marine RAS in the USA. They identify positives for olive flounder production in aquaculture, as landings of wild flatfish have declined. The authors identify olive flounder as a prime candidate for land-based marine finishing production in the United States in terms of economic potential and environmental and social acceptability. The need for cost-effective production facilities is tied to the availability of underutilized waterfront properties and facilities and the current ability of US suppliers to provide seed and production information is highlighted.
[Full Article]
Florida pompano status, Trachinotus carolinus, as a commercially ready species for US marine aquaculture.
Weirich, CR, Riley, KL, Riche, M., Main, KL, Wills, PS, Illán, G., Cerino, DS and Pfeiffer, TJ
Florida pompano aquaculture has developed over two distinct periods since the 1950s in the United States. Early attempts in the 1950s-80s were made using a variety of holding facilities including ponds, shore pens, tanks, and even floating cages to grow wild-caught juveniles. Hormone-induced spawning was introduced in the 1970s and larval culture began. However, most efforts have failed to achieve growth of any merit beyond 200g due to numerous nutritional and production system limitations. In the 2000s, there was a resurgence of interest in pompano aquaculture in which larval breeding and laboratory rearing were successfully refined to allow mass production of juveniles in a variety of different laboratories. With the simplification of the production of juveniles, new challenges have arisen related to rearing and growth, although the production of around 500 g of fish in 12 months is now possible. Future research should focus on refinements that improve overall economic feasibility. These include the development of broodstock through selective breeding, the optimization of production and feed supply to ensure optimum growth, as well as the optimization of health, improved commercialization and well-founded economic studies to support accelerated commercialization.
[Full Article]
