New cold water marine aquaculture center
The new research facility, which has just begun basic operations, will be staffed by ARS scientists and support personnel who will conduct a national research program to address the cold-water marine aquaculture industry's highest priority research needs and opportunities. Particular focus will be on increasing the efficiency and sustainability of Atlantic salmon farming.
It is anticipated that the NCWMAC will ultimately have 14 full-time federally supported scientists and approximately 45 support personnel. Research program areas will initially address: Genetic Improvement, Growth and Development, Health, and Sustainable Production Systems for Atlantic salmon and later for other cold water marine finfish species. As the NCWMAC design and construction moves forward, the specific research programs, target species, and discipline areas of scientists will be refined and updated.
Due to recent years' changes in policies and requirements for salmon farming, US salmon production is constrained by lack of genetic improvement, disease, and low production efficiency. US salmon producers are required to culture salmon of North American origin; however, no genetically improved native stocks are available. This requirement has necessitated the development of an applied Atlantic salmon research program to increase efficiency and sustainability of Atlantic salmon culture.
The research unit's current primary research objective is genetic improvement of Atlantic salmon utilizing a family-based selective breeding program. Economically important traits and goals will be defined; offspring from selected families will be analyzed for commercially important production traits (e.g. growth, disease resistance, fillet yield and quality), genetic and phenotypic variation estimated, and genetic analyses will be utilized to develop improved North American Atlantic salmon lines for US producers and consumers. This project has four specific objectives: 1) obtain and compare performance of selected North American Atlantic salmon stocks for utilization in an applied selective breeding program; 2) estimate genotypic and phenotypic parameters for commercially important traits and develop a selection index; and 3) evaluate specific breeding aids such as polyploidy (triploid) and sex-reversal (all-female stocks) for benefits to Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Research accomplished during this project will result in the development of genetically improved North American Atlantic salmon stocks for release to US producers and consumers, and provide information and solve problems limiting the profitability and sustainability of coldwater marine aquaculture in the US.
