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Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Research Facilities Database |
Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Research Summaries
The following narrative has been authored by the individual States Aquaculture Coordinators, Aquaculture Extension Agents, Aquaculture Program Directors, and University or State Researchers. The database authors are grateful for their participation and efforts and hope our edits (originally 27 pages long) have not diluted their message.
Connecticut
Connecticut supports several research and regulatory laboratories and organizations. In 1931 the NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Centers Milford Laboratory began studies on shellfish biology developing artificial methods to rear oysters, clams, and scallops, methods used today in modern shellfish hatcheries. The lab continues aquaculture research on shellfish nutrition, disease prevention and control, animal husbandry and genetics. Since 1975, the lab provides an annual aquaculture seminar to share research technology with private and public shellfish culturists and hatcheries.
The State of Connecticut, Bureau of Aquaculture operates a smaller laboratory located on the site of the Milford Laboratory, whose mission is to check for pollution indicators, shellfish disease transmission on lease sites, as well as, test shellfish for toxins related to harmful algal blooms. The University of Connecticut and NOAA Sea Grant also manage some limited shellfish research and extension at their Groton, CT location. Connecticut also has two aquaculture-themed magnet high schools, the Sound School in New Haven and the Bridgeport Regional Vocational Aquaculture School.
Shellfish research includes: description of the mechanism of cell death in P. marinus (Dermo); Biological feasibility of soft shell, Mya arenaria, aquaculture in Guilford; Oyster survey along Connecticuts shoreline; QPX-disease survey of hard clams are taken in spring-summer for pathological assessment; and the development of genetic markers to assess disease resistance in the eastern oyster.
Delaware
Delaware State University and the University of Delaware have aquaculture research facilities, consisting of several individual ponds with various varieties of fish, various sized tanks for fish, shrimp, crawfish, and a new building for aquaculture research. The two institutions have been instrumental in promoting aquaculture in Delaware through their extension efforts.
Maine
The University of Maine conducts research at its main campus (Orono) on the husbandry of marine ornamental finfish, marine finfish nutrition, value-added aquaculture food products, and the interaction between wild and cultured Atlantic salmon. At its Center for Cooperative Aquaculture on Taunton Bay, Franklin, Maine, faculty are conducting research on the hatchery culture of the green sea urchin, the design of marine aquaculture recirculation systems, and the husbandry of cultured Atlantic cod, halibut and salmon. At CCAR, the commercial culture of native strains of marine sandworms and Porphyra (nori) are also being assessed.
At its Darling Marine Center on the Damariscotta River in Walpole, researchers selectively breed improved lines of the Eastern oyster. The Maine Sea Grant Programs Marine Extension Team also is investigating the advantages of using sea fencing in the reseeding of wild scallop beds.
Programs established by the Maine State Legislature have promoted public-private research partnerships. Two programs are particularly noteworthy, the first is the Advanced Technology Development Program, better known as the business incubator program. Funds from this effort have been used to construct over 8,000 square feet of commercial space for start-up aquaculture-related businesses in Walpole in Lincoln County and Franklin in Hancock County.
The second state-sponsored program worthy of note is the Maine Technology Institute, founded in 1999. MTI makes awards to commercial ventures actively engaged in innovative research and prototype development, www.mainetechnology.org
Since 2001, the Federal governments Agricultural Research Service, http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=407978
ARS is establishing a new national research laboratory in Franklin, adjacent to University of Maines research facility, focusing on finfish industry challenges relating to genetic improvement (genetics, genomics, and breeding), growth and development (physiology and nutrition), finfish health (pathology and immunology), and sustainable production systems (engineering, sensors and containment).
Maryland
Consequently, the major objective of the University of Marylands Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB) aquaculture and fisheries biotechnology program is to apply molecular and cellular approaches to basic studies of reproduction, early development, nutrition, growth and disease in selected marine high-value finfish and shellfish, in view of developing novel and generic strategies to improve yields, performances, sustainability and competence of Maryland, US and global marine aquaculture. COMB programs also combine diverse expertise in developing a new generation of fully contained and environmentally sustainable marine aquaculture.
To enhance commercial fisheries, COMBs programs target major diseases that have caused drastic decline of important species such as the Eastern oyster, and attempt to develop novel strategies to diagnose, overcome and eliminate the disease. The programs also aim at understanding the reproductive and developmental processes and at producing healthy stocks of important fisheries species (such as the Chesapeake Bay blue crab) in an effort to replenish diminished harvests in the marine and estuarine environments.
Over the past decade, the need for research and restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed has steadily increased. In that time, the volume of research in the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point has tripled.
The new state-of-the-art building is the nation's only university research facility dedicated to restoration ecology in which aquaculture approaches are integrated with ecosystem science to produce effective and environmentally sustainable strategies to restore coastal environments such as Chesapeake Bay. Unique features of this facility include a flume for marsh and submerged aquatic vegetation research; experimental temperature, light, and carbon dioxide controls for climate change research; and a quarantine laboratory for the safe study of non-indigenous species, such as the Asian oyster.
Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts Center for Sustainable Aquaculture - Several research projects covering: Farm pond aquaculture; Vegetable-based feeds; Cage culture; and Fish health (Atlantic salmon; Rainbow Trout; Brown Trout; Largemouth Bass)Department of Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst - Research foci on ecology, evolution and behavior of fishes and benthic crustaceans. Particular interests include: the mechanisms leading to recruitment variability of marine fishes; the evolution of life history strategies, particularly with reference to the onset of piscivory in fishes; behavioral ecology of piscivorous fishes and decapod crustaceans, foraging theory specifically as it applies to prey size selection, and the allometry of animal spatial distributions.
Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory, USGS/Leetown Science Center - Research Topics include:
fishways hydraulics, biological studies of shortnose and other sturgeons, Atlantic salmon life history studies and smolt production, and genetic variability, stocking success, and habitat quality for ATS
New Hampshire
While the majority of New Hampshires aquaculture production is comprised of freshwater species grown away from the coast, most of the research is on marine fish and culture systems.
This project has been the NOAA-funded Open Ocean Aquaculture Research & Demonstration Project. For the past eight years, this large project has included research on longline culture of mussels, culture of fish in large, submersible cages six miles offshore, and engineering and design of fish cages for exposed ocean environments. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have been working with local commercial fisherman and NHs commercial marine fish hatchery.
For the past ten years, UNH researchers have also been working with aquaculture of green sea urchins. Current UNH research is examining the effect of diet on gonad taste & color in sea urchin aquaculture.
Research is also being conducted on culture methods for rainbow smelt. wild brood fish have been collected and spawned, the eggs hatched, the fry reared through the first feeding stages, and the fingerlings grown to market size in commercial ponds. Work is continuing on training the fry to accept artificial feed.
Other ongoing aquaculture research topics in New Hampshire include: improving egg quality of cultured atlantic cod and summer flounder, and the integration of fish and nori aquaculture for bioremediation and production of food & biochemicals.
New Jersey
The Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory of Rutgers University functions as the Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center in New Jersey. The Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory (HSRL), located at Bivalve and Cape Shore on the Delaware Bay, is a New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and a field station for the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences (IMCS) both located at Cook College, Rutgers University. This dual role permits HSRL to draw upon the strengths of both programs to fulfill its role in fisheries and aquaculture research. The HSRL maintains two facilities, one in Bivalve and one at Cape Shore. A third facility, being built in Cape May, will be a commercial-scale Multispecies Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (MADF). The MADF will provide a fully equipped hatchery building and nursery facility for shellfish and finfish, ponds for finfish growout and leased grounds in Delaware Bay and along the eastern New Jersey coast for shellfish growout. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County conducts research and business feasibility on 48 varieties of ornamental aquatic plants.
The Bivalve facility has well-equipped laboratories for investigations on microbiology, histopathology, shell structure, shellfish physiology and pathophysiology, analytical chemistry, cytogenetics, and biochemistry as well as a dark room, wet laboratory and docking facilities. A shellfish modeling program is also housed at Bivalve. A number of small research vessels, including the 11 m {Eddy}, 8 m {Veliger} and 7 m {Swirl} support in situ investigations and periodic surveys. Associated dormitories house 16 people.
Rutgers Cape Shore Laboratory is located on the shore of Delaware Bay. Laboratory facilities at the site include 3000 sq. ft. of quarantine hatchery space and 3200 sq. ft. of office/dry lab space. Culture systems include a 22,000 gallon land based nursery and a 50,000 gallon quarantine holding system for non-native oyster species. The recent addition of a 6,000 gallon reservoir for holding high salinity water has further expanded culturing capabilities to include high salinity species. The site also includes 5 acres of intertidal flats located in front of the laboratory which is used for field grow out of oysters and clams.
The Aquaculture Technology Program at Cumberland County Community College functions as the Aquaculture Training and Information Center. The Fish Barn at CCCC is a state-of-the-art closed aquaculture system that consists of four-18,500 gallon growout tanks, two separate 5,000 gallon quarantine/nursery tanks, storage and receiving areas. When fully operational the Fish Barn will produce 100,000 pounds of tilapia per year. A greenhouse will be added to provide hydroponic vegetable and aquatic plant production using the nutrients present in the aquaculture waters and fish wastes for improved plant production.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections (NJDEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife operates two fish production facilities. The Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center produces over 600,000 brook, brown and rainbow trout annually in flow-through raceways and indoor tanks on a spring-fed complex. The Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery produces over 15 cool water and warm water finfish species at a large state of the art fish culture facility, education center, and a 100-acre extensive pond complex consisting of more than 60 earthen ponds.
NJDEPs Bureau of Shellfisheries also conducts research on shellfish restoration.
New York
Cornell University, a leader in recirculating aquaculture system technology, is working on a variety of research topics including indoor saltwater shrimp production and the mass balances of nutrients and their fate from fish systems, particularly phosphorous loading. The department of Agricultural Engineering offers a recirculating aquaculture systems course annually which extends the results of applied research. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, while a diverse organization, the Marine Programs aquaculture program is focused on shellfish resource enhancement and runs a shellfish hatchery. A large Suffolk County-funded project is underway to reestablish bay scallop populations in the Peconic Bay system on eastern Long Island. Long Island University is a collaborator on this project. Recent applied research involved oyster nutrition, hard clam seed survival and innovative shellfish nursery systems. Aquatic Animal Health Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University is working on fish health management by developing fish serum chemistries as a means to monitor production efficiency in fish culture systems are being evaluated. The researchers utilize tilapia as a model animal and comparing the clinical chemistry data from fish maintained under different holding densities and conditions.
Marine Disease Pathology & Research Consortium, Stony Brook University is investigating the biology of the QPX parasite and the fatal disease that it causes in hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria). Topics include: resistance and susceptibility of different clam families to QPX in order to better identify clam strains to be used in clam aquaculture and restoration operations; development of new quantitative molecular techniques to allow the measurement of QPX abundance in clam aquaculture sites; investigate the environmental factors that worsen (or improve) QPX infections in clams with particular focus on factors that can be manipulated by aquaculturists to decrease QPX risk; and characterize the immune reaction of infected clams to infection which may lead to the development of tools allowing the selection of resistant strains of clams.
Additional research foci include: study the role of marine aggregates as reservoirs and vectors for the transmission of dermo to oysters, and integrate the monitoring of aggregates into the monitoring of aquaculture sites; investigate the portal and mechanisms of entry of P. marinus cells into their oyster hosts, potentially leading to a better characterization of factors affections transmissions and resistance to infection in some oyster species/families; study the role of marine aggregates as reservoirs and vectors for the transmission (and accumulation) of pathogenic vibrios in bivalves, and integrate the monitoring of aggregates into the monitoring of aquaculture sites; investigate the mechanisms of accumulation of these bacteria in their hosts, with the aim of better controlling pathogen accumulation and transmission.
The Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, Brooklyn Colleges current research projects on the physiological ecology of local bivalve species are underway with the goal of gaining new insight, which may improve aquaculture production and restoration efforts. This includes research on the over-winter mortality of hard clams, restoration of eastern oysters in New York City, and the physiology of triploid bay scallops.
Aquaculture research efforts on theproduction of horseshoe crabs has been focused on reproduction and juvenile grow-out using recirculating aquaculture systems. These studies are investigating culture techniques and optimal nutrition, including the development of an artificial feed.
Plant proteins are being tested withthe intent of replacing or supplementing animal (fish) protein and oils. Additional research includes an attempt to increase the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in tilapia muscle. Culture methods of ornamentalanimals, especially clownfish, are being defined. Technologies are being developed to permit the augmentation of aquaponics, theco-culturing of fish and plants in closed recirculating systems.
Pennsylvania
The strength of the states research, as with its industry, lies in salmonid aquaculture, but significant resources are also devoted to other species including tilapia, striped and hybrid striped bass, ornamentals, and freshwater shellfish.
There are two commercial research groups in the state: 1. Aquamarine Fish farms, Inc. under the leadership of Dr. Steven Van Gorder specializes in research revolving around recirculating system and urban aquaculture with salmonids, tilapia, and striped bass; and 2..Emperor Aquatics have been leaders in water treatment research since the early 1990s (UV sterilization and foam fractionation).
The state has two federal facilities devoted to aquaculture. The Northeast Fishery Center Complex of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is based in Lamar, specializes in culture and management techniques for threatened and endangered species as well as providing fish health services and research for both natural and aquacultured populations including river herrings, Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass, Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Likewise the U.S. Geological Surveys Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory in Wellsboro has significant resources and expertise invested in all aspects of salmonid, American eel and freshwater mussel culture.
Five universities in the state have significant investments in aquaculture research and education. The University Park campus of Penn State and the New Bolton Center Campus of the University of Pennsylvania both provide aquatic animal health research and diagnostic support to the states industry as component laboratories in the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). There is also some fish culture research carried out at the New Bolton Center which has mostly been centered around fish nutrition research. Drexel University has begun to develop a program for the culture of freshwater mussels native to the region. Mansfield University has had a strong program in aquaculture education and research for over 20 years. In 2004, Cheyney University began an aquaculture program whose main educational and research foci will be on urban aquaculture, aquaponics, fish nutrition, and aquarium fish culture.
Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island (URI) Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science department investigations include: the use of sound conditioning to indicate feeding time for Atlantic salmon, so that escapees from net pens can be lured back to a central location in the event of net pen damage; genetic regulation of muscle growth in fish, focusing on the regulatory protein myostatin, with the intention of increasing fish growth rates in aquaculture; disease-resistant strains of oysters; causative agent, Vibrio harveyi of flounder infectious necrotizing enteritis; pea crab infestations of mussels, in relation to potential mussel aquaculture; and the use of plant proteins as a substitute for fish meal in diets for summer flounder, in order to reduce production costs. The department also undertakes an annual disease survey of shellfish in RI waters.
URI Environmental and Natural Resource Economics department foci include marketing and consumer acceptance of wild vs. farmed seafood, especially regarding the value of green-labeled products; the impact of farmed shrimp on the global shrimp market; economics of marine aquaculture in the US EEZ; analysis of the economics of introducing triploid C. ariakensis in the Chesapeake Bay; and the impact of farmed salmon on the US wild salmon industry.
URI Cell and Molecular Biology department embarks on fundamental research of the microbe Vibrio anguillarum, a cause of aquaculture fish diseases, specifically regarding the regulation of secretion of a specific virulence factor by this organism.
URI Natural Resources Science department assesses the value of aquaculture gear as fish habitat, with the finding that oyster grow-out cages provide habitat for reef-associated fishes that is at least as good in quality as natural habitat.
URI Nutrition and Food Science department exams the use of squid hydrolysate made from squid processing wastes as a protein source or feeding attractant in diets for larval and juvenile fish.
URI Graduate School of Oceanography investigates the roles of cortisol and ghrelin in the regulation of food consumption by early life stages of summer flounder.
Roger Williams University (RWU) operates the R.I. shellfish hatchery in 2003. In 2005, it produced over ten million shellfish seeds including quahogs, oysters, and scallops. Projects that utilized the hatchery included: Developing disease resistant oysters for Narragansett Bay; Culturing alternative species, including surf clams and razor clams; Restoring shellfish at locations in Rhode Island; Presenting aquaculture extension and education opportunities; and Describing the environmental services provided by shellfish cultivation.
RWU contributes to a state-wide effort to expand freshwater aquaculture in Rhode Island by designing and constructing recirculating fish culture systems on two commercial farms in the State. The new recirculating systems will be stocked with fish to evaluate the feasibility of this fish farming network.
Vermont
Fish and Wildlife Departments fish culture stations (Bald Hill, Bennington, Ed Weed, Roxbury, and Salisbury hatcheries) raise fish to mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation on the spawning and survival of fish populations to: rehabilitate fish populations; re-establish fish populations that have severely declined because of social or environmental pressures; expand the range of desirable fish populations where suitable habitat exists but is limited by spawning habitat, access, or some other factor, and to provide public recreational angling. The state fish health program includes state and commercial fish culture programs, permitting, and natural fish health programs. Species Reared: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including steelhead), Lake Trout, Walleye, Sea-run and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.
West Virginia
Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences has hosted a market oriented multidisciplinary effort, Aquaculture Food and Marketing Development Project. The project seeks to focus on two economic development opportunities associated with aquaculture development in West Virginia: 1) the use of mine water for commercial production of salmonids, and 2) the use of farm raised fish in recreation. Marketing studies have been conducted to identify and assess market opportunities for aquaculture products in both recreational and food fish markets.
Economic feasibility is a key piece of the puzzle. Initially trout were examined, subsequently other species suitable for hill land e.g. hybrid bluegill were accessed. In addition, to profitability, economic risk was estimated using a combination of tools such as enterprise (or cost and return) budgets, capital investment techniques, and economic models.
The effects of water quality and stress on the consistency and quality of fresh trout fillets and value added smoked trout products have been examined. Culture conditions, post harvest handling, and antioxident feeding effects on product quality have been investigated. Additionally, the impact of varying CO2 and O2 levels on growth efficiency, nutrient utilization, and fillet attributes of Rainbow Trout and Arctic Char are characterized.
Investigators seek to characterize the impact of varying CO2 and O2 levels on growth efficiency, nutrient utilization, and fillet attributes of Rainbow Trout and Arctic Char. They are also examining the metabolic aspects of growth and efficiency of nutrient use in different strains of rainbow trout. Another experiment is evaluating the production of all-female triploid Brook Trout in an effort to produce large fish for the recreational market.
Three systems were designed and constructed using a Honeycomb Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (HFRP). This material is relatively light and stiff and is being tested as an alternative to concrete. Two pilot scale modular raceway systems have been installed for production of trout, one using treated mine water and another using spring water. In collaboration with a NRAC project, a floating raceway using HFRP material was constructed and installed. Researchers seek to optimize performance and minimize costs of HFRP raceway systems to enhance profitability of trout production and to develop HFRP tanks for field assembly from flat panels.
The objective is to provide a flexible and user-friendly software tool to help fish growers to plan, simulate, and analyze raceway systems. A generalized raceway system, consisting of any number of tanks in series with multiple parallel raceways may be modeled. The program output will document all fish movement, feed requirements, and other parameters relating to the fish growing process. Basic economic information on the cost of feed, cost of fingerlings, and revenue from sales as a function of time will be included in the output.
Determining the feasibility of growing trout in water from acid mine drainage treatment plants will be an ongoing focus of aquaculture research at West Virginia University (WVU). Following a technical assessment of impaired water resources near the WVU campus in Morgantown, a pilot scale flowing water system was designed and installed. Investigators continue to evaluate production of rainbow trout in a modular raceway system using water from an acid mine drainage treatment plant.
Horticultural objectives are to determine the efficacy of plants for removal of soluble nutrients in a flowing water system for producing trout. In collaboration with Environmental Engineers, watercress will be evaluated as a tool to recover dissolved nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous from water leaving the experimental raceway system at the Reymann Memorial Farm.
The Aquaculture Food and Marketing Development Project is a relatively new program for West Virginia University. Annual grants are awarded to the WVU Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station from the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES).
