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ANNUAL PROGRESS
REPORT North Central Regional Aquaculture Center TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION The U.S. aquaculture industry continues to be one of the
fastest growing sectors within U.S. agriculture, although at a lesser rate than what
occurred during the 1980s. Production in 1990 reached 861 million pounds and generated
approximately $762 million for producers. The impact of U.S. aquaculture in 1990 was
substantial: final sales value totalled $4.75 billion; direct and indirect economic impact
was estimated to be $8.0 billion. Yet, anticipated growth in the industry, both in
magnitude and in species diversity, continues to fall short of expectations. Much of what is known about aquaculture science is a result
of institutional attention given to our traditional capture of wild fisheries with the
goal of releasing cultured fishes into public waters for enhancement of declining public
stocks. Despite extensive efforts to manage wild populations for a sustained yield, as a
nation we consume substantially greater amounts than we produce. Much of the United
States' demand for seafood has been met by imports. The U.S. imports over 40% of its fish
and shellfish and, after Japan, is the world's second largest importer of seafood.
Fisheries imports---some $10.6 billion per year---are the largest contributor to the U.S.
trade deficit among agricultural products, and third largest overall after petroleum and
autos. The value of imported fisheries products more than doubled during the 1980s. In
1993, the trade deficit was $3.7 billion for all fisheries products, $2.8 billion of which
was for edible fish and shellfish. In fact, foreign-grown aquaculture products constitute
some $800 million of our fisheries imports. Landings for most commercial capture fisheries species and
recreational fisheries of the United States have been relatively stable during the last
decade, with many fish stocks being overexploited. In this situation, aquaculture provides
an opportunity to reduce the trade deficit and meet the rising U.S. demand for fish
products. A strong domestic aquaculture industry is needed to increase U.S. production of
fish and shellfish. This can be achieved by a partnership among the Federal Government,
State and local public institutions, and the private sector with expertise in aquaculture
development. Congress recognized the opportunity for making significant
progress in aquaculture development in 1980 by passage of the National Aquaculture Act
(P.L. 96-362). Congress amended the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113) in Title XIV of the Agriculture and Food Act of
1981 (P.L. 97-98) by granting authority to establish aquaculture research, development,
and demonstration centers in the United States in association with colleges and
universities, State Departments of Agriculture, Federal facilities, and non-profit private
research institutions. Five such centers have been established: one in each of the
northeastern, north central, southern, western, and tropical/subtropical Pacific regions
of the country. The 1990 Farm Bill (Food, Agriculture Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
- P.L. 101-624) has reauthorized the Regional Aquaculture Center program at $7.5 million
per annum. As used here, a center refers to an administrative center. Centers do not
provide monies for brick-and-mortar development. Centers encourage cooperative and
collaborative aquaculture research and extension educational programs that have regional
or national application. Center programs complement and strengthen other existing research
and extension educational programs provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and other public institutions. As a matter of policy, centers implement their programs by
using institutional mechanisms and linkages that are in place in the public and private
sector. The mission of the Regional Aquaculture Centers (RACs) is
to support aquaculture research, development, demonstration, and extension education to
enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture production which will benefit consumers,
producers, service industries, and the American economy. The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) was
established in February 1988. It serves as a focal point to assess needs, establish
priorities, and implement research and extension educational programs in the twelve state
agricultural heartland of the United States which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin. NCRAC also provides coordination of interregional and national programs through
the National Coordinating Council for Aquaculture (NCC). The council is composed of the
RAC directors and USDA aquaculture personnel. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Michigan State University (MSU) and Iowa State University
(ISU) work together to develop and administer programs of NCRAC through a memorandum of
understanding. MSU is the prime contractor for the Center and has administrative
responsibilities for its operation. The Director of NCRAC is located at MSU. ISU shares in
leadership of the Center through an office of the Associate Director who is responsible
for all aspects of the Center's publications, technology transfer and outreach activities.
At the present time the staff of NCRAC at MSU includes Ted R. Batterson, Director and Liz Bartels, Executive Secretary. The Center Director has the following responsibilities:
At the present time the staff of NCRAC's Office for Publications and Extension Administration at ISU includes Joseph E. Morris, Associate Director and Glenda Dike, Secretary. The Associate Director has the following responsibilities:
The Board of Directors (BOD) is the primary policy-making
body of the NCRAC. The BOD has established an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and
Technical Committee (TC). Membership of the BOD consists of two persons from the IAC (the
chair and an at-large member), a representative from the region's State Agricultural
Experiment Stations and Cooperative Extension Services, a member from a non-land grant
university and representatives from the two universities responsible for the center:
Michigan State and Iowa State. The IAC is composed of representatives from each state's
aquaculture association and six-at-large members appointed by the BOD who represent
various sectors of the aquaculture industry and the region as a whole. The TC is composed
of a sub-committee for Extension (TC/E) and a subcommittee for Research (TC/R). Directors
of the Cooperative Extension Service within the North Central Region appoint
representatives to the TC/E. The TC/R has broad regional make-up and is composed of
scientists from universities and state agencies with varied aquacultural expertise who are
appointed by the BOD. Each sub-committee of the TC has a chairperson who serves as an
ex-officio member of the BOD. NCRAC functions in accordance with its Operation Manual
which is periodically amended and updated with BOD approval. It is an evolving document
that has changed as the Center's history lengthens. It is used for the development of the
cooperative regional aquaculture and extension projects that NCRAC funds. ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS Since inception of NCRAC February 1, 1988, the role of the
Administrative Center has been to provide all necessary support services to the BOD, IAC,
TC, and project work groups for the North Central Region as well as representing the
region on the NCC. As the scope of the NCRAC programs expand, this has entailed a greater
work load and continued need for effective communication among all components of the
Center and the aquaculture community. The Center functions in the following manner.
To date, the Center has funded or is funding 36 projects
through 207 subcontracts from the eight grants received. Funding for all Center supported
projects, except for Publications and a development of an Aquaculture Situation and
Outlook Report, is summarized in Table 1 below (pages 7-8). During this reporting period, the Publications Office at
ISU produced and distributed a number of publications including fact sheets, technical
bulletins, videos, and two issues of the Centers newsletter, the NCRAC Journal. A
complete list of all publications from this office is included in the Appendix under
Extension. Other areas of support by the Administrative Office during
this reporting period included: monitoring research and extension activities and
developing progress reports; preparing a compendium progress report for all five RACs;
developing liaisons with appropriate institutions, agencies and clientele groups;
preparing, in coordination with the other RACs, both written and oral testimony for the
U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies hearing in Washington, D.C.; participating in the
NCC; numerous oral and written presentations to both professional and lay audiences; and
working with other fisheries and aquaculture programs throughout the North Central Region.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT A joint Program Planning meeting of the BOD, IAC, and TC is
held every year in the early winter. The IAC, with input from the TC, generates a list of
priority areas for consideration by the BOD. Using their recommendation as guidelines, the
BOD then selects priority areas for which project outlines will be developed. The BOD also
specifies a maximum funding level for each priority area. Problem statements and
objectives are then developed for each priority area by IAC and TC members at the Program
Planning meeting. For projects with more than one objective, the IAC ranks the objectives
by priority. The problem statement and objective(s) are then included in a workshop
announcement that is broadly distributed throughout the North Central Region. The
workshops are one-day events to establish a work group that will develop a project outline
over the summer months. Work group members will be those who have demonstrated that they
have the expertise and facilities for undertaking the proposed work in regard to a
particular objective or objectives. The proposed work cannot deviate from the objective or
objectives included in the workshop announcement. The work group elects a chair and
secretary. The chair is responsible for submitting the project outline to the NCRAC
Director; the secretary is responsible for preparing minutes from the workshop that are
distributed to all attendees. All project outlines are peer reviewed. The reviewers'
comments are used by the BOD in making the final selection of projects and level of
funding at the following year's annual Program Planning meeting. All work group members
are apprised of the BOD decisions. Revisions of projects approved by the BOD are submitted
by the work group chair to the NCRAC Director. The revised project outlines are then
included in a POW that is submitted to USDA. Upon approval by USDA, the Center issues
subcontracts to the funded work group members. TIME FRAME Program Planning meeting: early winter. Workshops: late-spring, early summer. Project outlines developed over the summer by work group members who participated in the workshops. These project outlines are then submitted to the Center in the fall and peer reviewed. The Board of Directors at the following year's Program Planning meeting selects the projects to be funded. Project outline revised and submitted to the Center by May. Revised projects are then submitted in June as a POW to
USDA for approval. Once approved by USDA subcontracts are let by the Center with a start
date of September 1. By following this procedure, it takes approximately 18
months from the time of identifying a priority area until inception of a project to
address the issue in question. WORKSHOPS The purpose of the workshops is to bring together those who are best qualified to work on project objectives by virtue of a demonstrated record of expertise and access to facilities required in the project. These people form a work group for the purpose of writing a project outline to address the problem in question. The following criteria typically apply to those projects that are funded by NCRAC. Involves participation by two or more states in the North Central Region; requires more scientific manpower, equipment, and facilities than generally available at one location; approach is adaptable and particularly suitable for inter-institutional cooperation resulting in better use of limited resources and a saving of funds; will complement and enhance ongoing extension and research activities by participants, as well as offer potential for expanding these programs; is likely to attract additional support for the work which is not likely to occur through other programs and mechanisms; is sufficiently specific to promise significant accomplishments in a reasonable period to time (usually up to 2 years); can provide the solution to a problem of fundamental importance or fill an information gap; can be organized and conducted on a regional level,
assuring coordinated and complementary contributions by all participants. The NCRAC program pays no overhead to participating
institutions nor tuition remission, has no brick-and-mortar money, and relies on in-place
salaried personnel, equipment, and facilities to carry out the projects. Due to the
collaborative and cooperative nature of these regional projects, no one individual or
institution receives a significant portion of the total project funds. PROJECT REPORTING As indicated in Table 1, the Center has funded a number of
projects for many of the project areas. For example, there have been five separately
funded projects in regard to Extension and six for Walleye. Project outlines have been
written for each separate project within an area, or the project area itself if only one
project. These project outlines have been submitted in POWs or amendments to POWs for the
grants as indicated in Table 1. Many times, the projects within a particular area are
merely continuations of previously funded activities; while at other times they are
addressing new objectives. Presented below are Progress or Termination Reports for all
projects that were underway or completed during the period September 1, 1994 to August 31,
1995. All publications, manuscripts, or papers for the different project areas are listed in the Appendix. Table 1. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center funded projects.
PROJECT TERMINATION OR PROGRESS REPORTS EXTENSION Progress Report for the Period May 1, 1989 to August 31, 1995 NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $311,848 (May 1, 1989 to August 31, 1995) PARTICIPANTS:
PROJECT OBJECTIVES (1) Strengthen linkages between North Central Regional
Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) research and extension work groups. (2) Enhance the North Central Region (NCR) aquaculture
extension network for aquaculture information transfer. (3) Provide in-service training for Cooperative Extension
Service (CES) and Sea Grant personnel and other landowner assistance personnel. (4) Develop and implement aquaculture education programs
for the NCR. (5) Participate in development of NCRAC publications. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS The NCRAC Extension Work Group will promote and advance commercial aquaculture in a responsible fashion through an organized education/training outreach program. The primary benefits will be: increased public awareness through publications, short courses, and conferences regarding the potential of aquaculture as a viable agricultural enterprise in the NCR; technology transfer to enhance current and future production methodologies for selected species, e.g., walleye, hybrid striped bass, yellow perch, salmonids, and sunfish, through hands-on workshops and field demonstration projects; improved lines of communication between interstate aquaculture extension specialists and associated industry contacts; and enhanced legal and socioeconomic atmosphere for aquaculture
in the NCR. PROGRESS AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OBJECTIVE 1 Due to the efforts of aquaculture extension personnel in
the NCR, NCRAC's Board of Directors formally adopted guidelines for Extension's
involvement in all Center funded projects. These guidelines integrate research and
extension activities so that Extension service personnel can better serve their clientele
groups. In addition, aquaculture Extension Work Group members have: Helped conduct a survey of crayfish producers in the NCR and completed a report on Orconectes immunis for inclusion in the Crayfish Work Group report. Provided the NCRAC Economics and Marketing Work Group with information relevant to that group's efforts to develop cost of production budgets and expected revenues for the commercial production of food-sized hybrid striped bass, walleye, and yellow perch in the NCR. Assisted in writing and developing the NCRAC Walleye
Culture Manual that is being edited by Bob Summerfelt of Iowa State University. OBJECTIVE 2 The demand for aquaculture extension education programs
cannot be met by the few specialists in the NCR (4.0 FTE). Networking of specialists and
CES designated contacts has maximized efficiency of education programs and minimized
duplication. The NCRAC Extension Project is designed to assess and meet the information
needs of the various clientele groups through cooperative and coordinated regional
educational programming. Aquaculture handbooks have been developed and distributed
to each NCRAC designated aquaculture extension specialist and selected CES and Sea Grant
field staff. As with any organization, there have been changes in NCRAC
extension personnel since the inception of the project. Landkamer was the primary
aquaculture extension contact for Minnesota. However, he left the university and
Kapuscinski became the primary contact person. Recently, Gunderson has assumed that
responsibility. Two other individuals, who had served since the outset of the project as
their state's aquaculture extension contact, were replaced in 1994. In Kansas, Neils
replaced Henderson and in Illinois, Kohler replaced Selock. OBJECTIVE 3 In-service training for CES and Sea Grant personnel and
other landowner assistance personnel have been held in most of the states in the region.
Training has been in the areas of basic aquaculture and safe seafood handling including
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). OBJECTIVE 4 A number of workshops, conferences, videos, field-site
visits, hands-on training sessions, and other educational programs have been developed and
implemented. There have been workshops on general aquaculture, fish
diseases, commercial recirculation systems, aquaculture business planning, crayfish
culture, pond management, yellow perch and hybrid striped bass culture, rainbow trout
production, and polyploid induction in sunfish held in the region. Two North Central Aquaculture Conferences (NCAC) have been
held. The first in Kalamazoo, Michigan was held in March 1991. The second was held in
February 1995 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These regional meetings were attended by hundreds
of individuals including persons from Canada. On April 10, 1993, over 700 viewers from 35 states and
Canada watched the first national interactive teleconference on aquaculture,
"Investing in Freshwater Aquaculture" that was broadcast from Purdue University.
It was a televised satellite broadcast for potential fish farmers. The program consisted
of 10 five- to seven-minute video tape segments which addressed production aspects of
channel catfish, crayfish, rainbow trout, hybrid striped bass, tilapia, yellow perch,
baitfish, and sportfish. A set of course materials was available prior to the program.
Three times during the program, a question and answer period was available to the audience
through a toll free telephone number. Questions not answered during the program were
answered by mail afterwards. The entire teleconference is available as a videotape from
NCRAC's Publications Office as well as two other videotapes by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln that are reprises of the broadcast. OBJECTIVE 5 Numerous fact sheets, technical bulletins, and videos have
been written or produced by various participants of the Extension Work Group. These are
listed in the Appendix. WORK PLANNED Efforts will continue in regard to strengthening linkages
between research and extension work groups as well as enhancing the network for
aquaculture information transfer. Participants will also continue to provide in-service
training for CES, Sea Grant, and other land-owner assistance personnel. Educational
programs and materials will be developed and implemented. This includes a workshop on
hybrid striped bass (proceedings and videos), a walleye culture manual, yellow perch
culture guide and videos, a marketing video for aquaculture products, and a production
guide and videos about sunfish. Additional workshops developed and hosted by state
extension contacts will be advertised in surrounding states to take advantage of the NCRAC
extension network and the individual expertise of Extension Work Group participants. Several NCRAC fact sheets, technical bulletins, and videos
will be developed by various Work Group members. IMPACTS In-service training for CES and Sea Grant personnel has enabled those professionals to respond to initial, routine aquaculture questions from the general public. Development of aquaculture education programs for the NCR has provided "hands-on" opportunities for prospective and experienced producers. Approximately 5,000 individuals have attended workshops or conferences organized and delivered by the NCRAC Extension Work Group. Clientele attending regional workshops learned of aquaculture development strategies in other areas of the country and acquired information which was of direct use to their own enterprises. Education programs also created situations where problems encountered by producers were expressed to extension personnel who later relayed them to researchers at NCRAC work group meetings for possible solutions through the research effort. Fact sheets, technical bulletins, and videos have served to inform a variety of clients about numerous aquaculture practices for the NCR. For instance, "Making Plans for Commercial Aquaculture in the North Central Region" is often used to provide clients with initial information about aquaculture, while species specific publications on walleye, trout, and catfish have been used in numerous regional meetings and have been requested by clients from throughout the United States. Publications on organizational structure for aquaculture businesses, transportation of fish in bags, and others are beneficial to both new and established aquaculturists. In a 1994 survey, NCRAC extension contacts estimated that NCRAC publications were used to address approximately 15,000 client questions annually. NCRAC extension outreach activities have helped to foster a
better understanding and awareness for the future development of aquaculture in the
region. PUBLICATIONS, MANUSCRIPTS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES See Appendix. SUPPORT
ECONOMICS AND MARKETINGProgress Report for the Period September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995 NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $40,000 (September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995) PARTICIPANTS:
PROJECT OBJECTIVE Develop cost of production budgets and expected revenues
for the raising of food-sized walleye, yellow perch, and hybrid striped bass on farms in
the North Central Region (NCR). ANTICIPATED BENEFITS The overall goal of this collaborative project is to
enhance walleye, yellow perch and hybrid striped bass production by developing enterprise
budgets for production of these species in the NCR. This supports the mission of NCRAC,
especially by conducting research "for the enhancement of viable and profitable
commercial aquacultural production in the United States for the benefit of producers,
consumers, and the American economy." The cost of production or budgeting components of this
project offers the potential to help in identifying production systems for walleye, yellow
perch and hybrid striped bass which are most likely to be commercially viable. Information
on production costs is quite limited for these species, especially walleye and yellow
perch. Enterprise budgets will enable producers to access the needed budget costs for
comparisons for their own operation, for a new enterprise, or for increased production in
their present facility in comparison to reasonable expectations about market prices. This project will benefit the aquaculture industry in the NCR in several ways, even though there are some limitations of these budgets given the "emerging" status of the industry and given the nature of budgets. First, objectively developed cost information is typically more accurate than subjectively developed cost information or no information on costs at all. These budgets will give producers an idea of how enterprise budgets should be organized, what types of data need to be collected, and why good record keeping is essential. The production values and relationships upon which the cost structure is based, while not standardized in the industry, should serve as a rough rule-of-thumb by which aquacultural producers can gauge their management skills. Second, enterprise budgets are an excellent management tool for producers. If the publication of these budgets stimulates potential and current aquacultural producers to put together budgets that reflect their unique enterprises, then the industry will be much better off. Third, enterprise budgets are the cornerstone for all different types of financial analysis of aquaculture operations. The budgets will allow more economic research into financial aspects of aquaculture and enable those producers who are spurred on to put together budgets to push on into their own financial analysis (another management tool). Fourth, enterprise budgets are also the cornerstone for sensitivity analysis (yet another management tool). Undertaking sensitivity analysis will enable economists and producers to better understand the relative importance of cost and production items in the budget and to explore the boundaries of enterprise profitability. Finally, realizing that the budgets produced under the
auspices of this project will not be the final, definitive budgets for aquaculture
production in the NCR, they will serve as a solid starting base from which to update
information and expand into alternative species, production systems, life stages, etc. In a more indirect way, the enterprise budgets will accomplish two other important things. One, the budgets may help guide research and extension decisions by NCRAC work group participants, the Industry Advisory Council, the Board of Directors, and the supporting committees. Second, the budgets will provide an opportunity for the
economists and other personnel developing the budgets to interact with aquaculture
producers, researchers, and extension personnel in the NCR. This type of interdisciplinary
interaction is vital for the improved understanding and communication of all vital aspects
of aquaculture in the NCR. Economic feasibility analysis will help producers evaluate
technical advances in fish production. This contribution is critical as a guide to future
research funding in the various species and production systems suitable for commercial
production. The distribution of research results from this project through the
publications of the Economics and Marketing Work Group and through the Extension Liaisons
using computer budget software will provide a structured and informed dissemination system
which is credible with producers, financial institutions and others. PROGRESS AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS HYBRID STRIPED BASS Kohler has compiled a review of the literature on hybrid
striped bass (HSB) production and production costs. The literature reviewed is summarized
in an annotated bibliography. This bibliography will be available to anyone needing the
information. HSB cost of production estimates were developed from six
published reports on HSB production. These estimated costs will be presented at the NCRAC
HSB Workshop in November 1995 and will be submitted for possible release as an NCR
publication. WALLEYE O'Rourke and Illinois State University (ISU) graduate
students have completed an extensive walleye production/culture literature review. The
primary focus of the literature review was to find any research findings that might be
useful in ascertaining the cost of production for walleye fingerlings and food-sized fish
under intensive and extensive culture regimes. Very little economic research was found and
even less was found that was documented well enough to be useful. The second source of information was a survey of research
experts and hatchery personnel familiar with walleye culture. The ISU investigators were
surprised that many of the "experts" were as reluctant to share information as
were most entrepreneurs/producers. The experts were selected and queried using a modified
Delphi approach for both the fingerling and food-sized studies. This stage of the research
was completed in 1995 with additional follow-up questions and identification of a broader
group of "experts." Work has advanced on identifying and analyzing the cost of
production for advanced walleye fingerlings and food-sized walleye in intensive and
extensive culture systems. The first Master's thesis was finished in December 1994. It is
an economic feasibility analysis of a tank based intensive walleye fingerling production
system. The second Master's thesis, an economic feasibility analysis of a tank based
intensive food-sized walleye system, was finished in August 1995. YELLOW PERCH Riepe submitted a manuscript to NCRAC for publication as an
extension technical bulletin. This publication reports the results of her research into
the costs of culturing yellow perch. The manuscript is based on cost estimates for growing
out advanced fingerlings within one growing season. Cost estimates were generated for two
types of production systems: cages and levee ponds; and two sizes of operations: 2,268 kg
(5,000 lb) and 22,680 kg (50,000 lb). Sensitivity analysis also was conducted to test the impact
of alternative budget parameters (production values and individual cost items) on the
overall break-even price. A Master's graduate student was assigned to conduct research in
costs of producing perch in recirculating tank systems and a thesis was completed in 1995.
Costs of growing out yellow perch in recirculating tank systems were analyzed for two
sizes of operations: 1,588 kg (3,500 lb) and 2,268 kg (5,000 lb). While developing cost estimates for yellow perch
aquaculture, Riepe investigated feed and fingerling prices and procurement with various
suppliers. Riepe used this information to develop tables estimating delivered prices for
feed and fingerlings at five hypothetical producer locations around the North Central
Region. Following the technical bulletin, Riepe developed a fact
sheet focusing on pond production costs and a fact sheet focusing on managing feed costs.
The fact sheet on costs of pond production was a simplified, extension version of the pond
enterprise budgets and discussion included in the technical bulletin. The fact sheet on
managing feed costs was developed based on Riepe's conversations with feed manufacturers
as well as the price and transportation data they provided. WORK PLANNED The distribution of research results from this project
through various publications and through the Extension Liaisons using computer budget
software will provide a structured and informed dissemination system which is credible
with producers, financial institutions and others. Kohler will submit the annotated bibliography on hybrid
striped bass for publication. The HSB production cost estimates, which were developed from
the literature review and farm visits, will be presented at an NCRAC HSB workshop in
November 1995. O'Rourke will continue economic analysis of walleye
fingerling and food-sized fish production systems. Results from the two Master's theses
studies will be submitted for technical bulletin and/or fact sheet publication through
NCRAC and professional presentations. Riepe received comments back from NCRAC reviewers on all
three submitted manuscripts in mid-October 1995. She plans to revise manuscripts and
submit them for publication in October - December 1995. IMPACTS Extension Liaison Don Garling hosted a yellow perch aquaculture workshop in June 1995. The results of Riepe's work on perch production costs
were presented at that workshop. Attendees indicated that they were considering the types
of systems modeled by Riepe. O'Rourke presented the preliminary results of the work on
walleye fingerling tank based system cost of production at the Combined North Central and
Ninth Annual Minnesota Aquaculture Conference in February 1995. Finally, Kohler will
present the results of the review of HSB production costs at the NCRAC Hybrid Striped Bass
Workshop in November 1995. The information developed and presented for the three
species is anticipated to be directly useful to the attendees as they consider their own
operations and intentions in light of the cost data presented. This project has already benefited the aquaculture industry
in the NCR through the workshop presentations. As a result of this project, economists
have been able to develop and deliver presentations on economic issues in aquaculture
production to current and potential aquacultural producers. These presentations and the
publications which follow may reduce the impacts of uninformed investment decisions by
current and potential aquaculture entrepreneurs. PUBLICATIONS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND PAPERS PRESENTED See Appendix.SUPPORT
YELLOW PERCH Progress Report for the Period September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995 NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $150,000 (September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995) PARTICIPANTS:
PROJECT OBJECTIVES (1) Determine the commercial scale feasibility and improve on the best intensive tank and pond culture practices for the production of yellow perch fingerlings. (2) Determine the commercial scale feasibility of raising
food-size yellow perch in flow-through raceways or tanks, open ponds, and large net-pens,
comparing the best available formulated diets. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS At the 1992 Program Planning Meeting of the North Central
Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC), the NCRAC Industry Advisory Council advanced the
position that the primary emphasis of research projects proposed for the 1993-1995 funding
period should be on the demonstration of commercial-scale feasibility of the best
available research-based production technologies, working in collaboration with private
fish producers. The NCRAC Board of Directors supported that position, and the NCRAC Yellow
Perch Work Group responded by developing a project centered largely on conducting such
demonstrations. This project is aimed at providing much needed information on the
practical feasibility and costs of employing, on a commercial-scale, selected fingerling
production and grow-out strategies that were initially developed and/or tested on a small
(laboratory) scale. In addition, this project will develop improved technologies for
certain key facets of yellow perch aquaculture. Finally, the results of experiments
incorporated into this project will immediately help fish farmers improve the production
efficiency of both fingerling and food-size yellow perch. PROGRESS AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS As an integral component of much of this project, private
producers were to provide the requisite facilities, fish, feed, day-to-day husbandry, and
routine data collection. At its inception, this project included the participation of
eight different private fish farms in various parts of the North Central Region (NCR).
Participating university researchers were to provide project oversight on experimental
design, advice or direct assistance with the technical set-up of any specialized
experimental systems, supervision and assistance on critical end-point data collection,
and analyses of results. In Year 1 of the project (September 1, 1993 to August 31,
1994), significant progress was made at certain sites at testing selected research-based
production technologies. Accordingly, from an extension perspective, the project is
successfully building and/or expanding working relationships between NCRAC researchers and
certain regional fish farmers, testing various research-based technologies under practical
production conditions, transferring knowledge from academia to the private sector, and
identifying private producers who are both capable and willing to sustain a collaborative
technology evaluation and demonstration effort. Several of the original private-sector
collaborators have either met or have worked hard to meet their project commitments. However, from the research perspective, the likelihood of
the project generating significant amounts of comprehensive feasibility-assessment data
that will be publishable in peer-reviewed journals seems low, based on Year 1 results. One
primary reason for this development is that several private-sector collaborators who had
initially agreed to participate in the project have either partially or totally pulled
back from their original commitments. The reasons for these pullbacks range from initially
exaggerated claims of facility and other resource capabilities, to lack of sufficient
technical competence or experience, to a belated realization of the potential risks
involved. To deal with this problem, in some instances alternate private sector
collaborators were sought for studies conducted in Year 2 (September 1, 1994 to August 31,
1995), and in other cases feasibility assessments will be conducted under laboratory
conditions rather than under field conditions as originally proposed. OBJECTIVE 1 Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
(UW-Milwaukee) directed their efforts during the first year of the study at improving the
intensive culture technology for yellow perch. In part, these results were applied to a
commercial production operation using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology. In January 1995, Alpine Farms installed a 29,000 L (7,661
gal) Aqua-Manna type RAS and is using it to demonstrate the grow-out of fingerling perch
to market size. In February 1995, this system was stocked with approximately 10,000 (50-75
mm; 1.97-2.95 in) yellow perch fingerlings (total 14 kg; 30.9 lb). Following stocking,
some initial mortality occurred due to inadequate preconditioning and maturation of the
biofiltration system and entrainment of small-sized fish on the clarifier filtration
mechanism. A surplus of perch fingerlings was used to stock the tank to its original
number of fish. Un-ionized ammonia levels during this period necessitated periodic water
exchanges. By March, the fish were feeding and ammonia concentrations had stabilized as
the biofiltration system matured. Mean water quality parameters (and range) from 228 days
of operation were 22.0C (17.8 - 24.4; 71.6F, 64.0 - 75.9; N = 210), 6.0 mg
dissolved oxygen/L (5.2 - 9.0, N = 207), pH 7.0 (6.1 - 8.1, N = 197),
0.003 mg/L NH3 (0 - 0.156, N = 194), and 0.165 mg/L NO2 (0
- 0.8, N = 93). Feeding was continually adjusted based on food acceptance and
variations in water quality. Ration levels eventually stabilized at 1.0 to 2.0% of body
weight. Perch were periodically subsampled from the RAS for growth and food conversion
estimates. Overall growth in length was between 0.5 and 0.6 mm (0.020 and 0.024 in) per
day as would be expected for perch reared at these temperatures. Overall food conversion
was 0.9 kg feed (dry): kg perch gain (wet). Similar conversions have been obtained in
other intensive flow-through tank rearing units with similar feeds. Further trials at
higher densities are needed to fully evaluate the rearing performance of yellow perch in
this type RAS system. Studies on pond fingerling production by the University of
Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) were conducted using ponds of various sizes at Coolwater
Farms, LLC and the Lake Mills State Fish Hatchery. These studies evaluated the use of (1)
selected high fry stocking densities and early pond harvest to maximize pond fingerling
production, and (2) underwater lights and vibrating feeders to habituate perch fingerlings
to formulated feeds while they remain in ponds. The production of 17-22 mm (0.67-0.87 in) total length (TL)
fingerlings (the smallest size at which perch can be habituated to conventional starter
feeds) not habituated to formulated feeds in ponds with high initial fry stocking
rates (e.g., 1,000,000 fry/hectare; 404,700 fry/acre) averaged 375,000 fingerlings/ha
(151,763 fingerlings/acre). Other studies showed that feed training of fingerlings at this
size in tanks resulted in about 60% survival. Accordingly, the maximum production of
feed-trained perch fingerlings using the best available tandem pond/tank methods was about
225,000 fingerlings/ha (375,000 × 60%) (91,058 fingerlings/acre). The production of feed-trained fingerlings from ponds
equipped with underwater lights and automatic feeders was as follows: (1) ponds stocked at
1,000,000 fry/ha (404,700 fry/acre) averaged 320,000 fingerlings/ha (129,504
fingerlings/acre) (i.e., a 32% return); (2) ponds stocked at 2,000,000 fry/ha (809,400
fry/acre) averaged 400,000 fingerlings/ha (161,880 fingerlings/acre) (i.e., a 20% return);
and (3) ponds stocked at 3,000,000 fry/ha (1,214,000 fry/acre) averaged 76,000
fingerlings/ha (30,757 fingerlings/acre) (an average 2.5% return). The poor survival of
fingerlings in ponds stocked at 3,000,000 fry/ha (1,214,000 fry/acre) apparently resulted
from high starvation rates of fish prior to the habituation to feeding formulated feeds.
This starvation, in turn, resulted from a decline in the natural forage base caused by
excessive fish densities. All ponds were harvested shortly after large numbers of fish
exhibited an aggressive feeding response, at which time the fingerlings were 30-45 mm
(1.18-1.77 in) TL. Based on tests conducted in tanks, virtually all of the fingerlings
harvested were habituated to formulated food. The wide size range among harvested
fingerlings suggests that feeding methods and strategies have a profound effect on the
survival and growth of fingerling perch habituated to formulated feeds in ponds. To address this latter problem, UW-Madison investigators
developed and began preliminary tests of an improved pond light and feeding system. The
new system is designed to address the problems of reliability and limited feed
distribution that were inherent with the original design. Initial indications are that the
new system is durable, has a wide feed distribution pattern, and requires less manpower
for operation and maintenance. University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) efforts in Year 2 were
focused on pond-production field trials conducted at Pleasant Valley Fish Farm, McCook,
Nebraska. Particular emphasis was placed on replicating and improving on results obtained
in Year 1 from field trials aimed at enhancing procedures for the commercial-scale
production of yellow perch fry and fingerlings - including the habituation of advance fry
to formulated feed and grow-out to advanced fingerlings in ponds. About 200,000
(2,500,000/ha; 1,011,750/acre) eyed-eggs or fry were stocked into two 0.08-ha ×
1.5-m-deep (0.20-acre × 4.92-ft-deep) rectangular ponds which are drainable and can be
supplied with groundwater to moderate temperature extremes. Both ponds were fertilized
during the early fry production period (about 3 weeks) and were continuously aerated as
described in the original proposal. After that, automatic vibrating feeders equipped with
underwater lights and controlled by an electronic timing system were added to the ponds to
habituate the fish to a starter trout diet (Sterling Silver Cup, Sterling H. Nelson &
Son, Inc., Murray, Utah). Two changes in procedures from those used in Year 1 were:
(1) the number of feeding stations in each pond was increased from five to seven; and (2)
in one pond, some advanced fry were concentrated in a net-pen around one of the feeders.
Spring and early summer in Nebraska in 1995 were characterized by unseasonably cold
weather, much more so than 1994. To compensate in part for the difference between years, a
decision was made to delay the harvest of the two ponds from late September (as in 1994)
to late October (1995). Because of this, specific numerical findings on growth and other
production parameters have not yet been fully analyzed, and therefore are not available
for this report. However, visual observations suggest that the percentage of large versus
small perch harvested was significantly improved by the addition of more feeders to each
pond. Also, the perch concentrated in the net-pen appeared to habituate to feed much more
readily than fish ranging free in the ponds. No field trial to habituate young perch to
formulated feed in tanks was done at the Pleasant Valley Fish Farm in 1995 because of a
lack of sufficient time and funds to set up the necessary tanks and feeding systems. Following the procedure developed during the first year of
research, Ohio State University (OSU) researchers manually spawned yellow perch brood
stock (2 year olds) during the months of April, May, and June 1995. Due to an unseasonably
warm winter and cold spring and perhaps nutritional deficiencies, the egg quality was very
poor with extremely low hatching rates and survival. A limited number of eggs were
incubated and eyed-staged embryos stocked out into two 0.1 ha (0.25 acre) research ponds
on May 15, 1995 at a density of approximately 100,000 embryos per pond. The ponds were
fertilized weekly with 3 L (0.79 gal) 28-0-0 and 300 mL (0.36 gal) 10-34-0 inorganic
fertilizer to stimulate and maintain algae and zooplankton production. Ponds were sampled
at night with lights and small nets, but low survival rates prevented harvesting of
sufficient numbers to repeat the Year 1 experiment. Both ponds were harvested after 9
weeks yielding approximately 5,500 fry with an average mean weight of 1.7 g (0.06 oz).
These fry were used in a habituation study, to examine density effect of conversion to dry
feed and survival rates. Yellow perch fry with an initial mean weight of 1.7 g (0.06
oz) were stocked at four densities (7.7, 11.5, 15.4, 18.5 g/L) into 25-L (6.6-gal) round
fiberglass tanks at 21C (69.8F) and were initially fed Zeiglers Brothers crumbles #2 via
automatic feeders at a rate of 7% body weight . Water flow was maintained high enough to
ensure good water quality and adequate dissolved oxygen levels. The yellow perch fry had
been starved for one week prior to the start of the feeding trial which lasted for 28
days. During this time, almost no mortalities were observed in any of the tanks and growth
rates were not significantly different for the four densities. OBJECTIVE 2 The principal accomplishments for this project were
introduction of yellow perch aquaculture to three new aquaculturists, and identification
of feeds that when fed to advanced fingerlings results in maximum weight gain. The UNL focus on this objective, in cooperation with
Pleasant Valley Fish Farm, was to evaluate under commercial conditions the feasibility of
rearing age-1 yellow perch fingerlings to market size in aerated ponds supplied with
groundwater to maintain water quality and moderate pond water temperature. As noted under
Objective 1, spring and early summer in Nebraska in 1995 were unusually cold. The cold
period was followed by very hot weather from midsummer through early autumn. Because of
these climatic extremes plus some marketing decisions by Pleasant Valley Fish Farm, a
decision was made to defer harvest of these production ponds from mid-October to
mid-November So, as with Objective 1, specific numerical findings on
growth and other production data are not yet available for this report. One major change
in procedure from Year 1 was that instead of comparing two sinking diets (one formulated
specifically for perch by Purdue University versus Sterling Silver Cup trout feed), a
single floating trout feed (Sterling Silver Cup) was evaluated. Visual observations to
date indicate that perch can be readily trained to a floating feed and appear to grow as
well or better on it than on nutritionally similar sinking diets. Regardless, the field
trials conducted at Pleasant Valley Fish Farm unequivocally confirm that yellow perch can
be reared from egg to market size within two growing seasons - a time frame similar to
catfish production in the South. Established producers in Nebraska and new producers in
Indiana participated in an evaluation of feeds for yellow perch. Those feeds were from
established fish feed companies or feed mills located in the region exploring the
possibility of expanding their product line. Producers in both states reported fish fed
diets from the established feed mills grew better and converted feed more efficiently than
fish fed diets from local mills. Additional research is underway with local mills to help
them upgrade their manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of the developing perch
industry. A controlled study was conducted at Purdue University in
which advanced fingerling fish (mean average weight = 50 g; 1.76 oz) were fed a series of
experimental and commercial diets. Two experimental diets were identified that, when fed
to fish, resulted in weight gains of 84 or 103% of the weight gain of fish fed the best
commercial diet. Several commercial diets were fed to perch in the same study, four of
which were formulated to meet the requirements of rainbow trout. Fish fed one of the trout
diets gained 63% more weight over the course of the study than fish fed the poorest trout
diet. Fish fed either of two types of diets formulated for catfish grew significantly
worse than fish fed the trout diets. WORK PLANNED A NCRAC grant entitled Advancement of Yellow Perch
Aquaculture has been funded for the 95-97 biennium. Objectives of this project are
designed to continue work to improve larval rearing techniques by developing and
evaluating starter diets in relation to size at transfer to formulated feeds under
selected environmental conditions, improve pond fingerling production through examination
of in-pond feeding using physical/chemical attractants and improved harvesting strategies
for different sized fingerlings from various types and sizes of ponds, and develop
extension materials and workshops emphasizing techniques. However, work on this project
will continue as described below. OBJECTIVE 1 UW-Milwaukee will conduct a workshop that demonstrates the
intensive culture of yellow perch fingerlings using a recirculating system and establish
the production costs for this type of rearing unit. Publications describing all completed
studies are currently being prepared. UW-Madison researchers will continue to study the
production of feed-trained and advanced yellow perch fingerlings using in-pond feeding
techniques as detailed under Objective 2 of the NCRAC grant funded for the 95-97 biennium
entitled Advancement of Yellow Perch Aquaculture. The analysis of the data collected by UNL investigators
from the field trials on yellow perch fingerling production conducted at Pleasant Valley
Fish Farm will be completed and the findings submitted for publication, probably as a
communication or note in The Progressive Fish-Culturist, or possibly as a NCRAC
technical bulletin. OBJECTIVE 2 The UNL field trials at Pleasant Valley Fish Farm on the
production of food-size yellow perch will be completed in mid November 1995; the fish will
be harvested for sale in Wisconsin; the production data analyzed by UNL investigators, and
the findings submitted for publication, probably as a communication or note in The
Progressive Fish-Culturist, or possibly as a NCRAC technical bulletin. IMPACTS The preparation of a summary of production cost information
by UW-Milwaukee investigators for the intensive culture of yellow perch fingerlings in
tanks will provide the necessary framework for writing a business plan for private sector
producers who intend on using this fingerling production strategy. In addition, the
continual refinement of intensive fry culture protocols will improve the production
efficiency of this method. Information was developed on the physical, chemical and
biological aspects of yellow perch production using RAS technology. Studies on pond fingerling production by UW-Madison, UNL,
and OSU researchers have shown that research-based production strategies can be used on a
commercial scale to produce large numbers of perch fingerlings at a relatively low cost.
The most promising of these strategies include the use of high fry stocking densities
coupled with either (1) early pond harvest, for the subsequent habituation of fingerlings
to formulated feeds in tanks; or (2) systems using lights and automatic feeders for
habituating fingerlings to formulated feeds while they remain in ponds. Studies at OSU have shown that pond produced yellow perch
fry of 15-17 mm (0.59-0.67 in) in total length can be effectively weaned to practical
trout diets at water temperatures of 21C (69.8F). Larger yellow perch fry (1.5-2.0 g;
0.05-0.07 oz) can also be weaned to trout diets following an initial period of starvation.
This latter procedure reduces the mortalities due to stress and handling at a small size
and allows for net harvesting or drain harvest of ponds. The Nebraska field trials done collaboratively by the UNL
and Pleasant Valley Fish Farm have clearly demonstrated that procedures developed or
derived from earlier research projects can be utilized under commercial production
conditions. Pleasant Valley Fish Farm, a major regional producer of yellow perch
fingerlings, has benefited directly from new knowledge gained by participating in a NCRAC
Yellow Perch Work Group project. At least one new fish farmer in Nebraska has begun
producing food-size perch and is presently exploring market opportunities. Recently, a
long-established Nebraska fish farmer has significantly increased his emphasis on the
production of yellow perch. The number of inquiries about yellow perch aquaculture from
Nebraskans and others in the NCR and Canada has increased noticeably in the past year. The results of yellow perch research funded by NCRAC was presented at a workshop hosted at Spring Lake, Michigan in June of 1995. Presentations were made by four NCRAC researchers and two cooperators. The workshop was attend by over 50 prospective perch culturists from five States and one Canadian Province. PUBLICATIONS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND PAPERS PRESENTED See Appendix.SUPPORT
aWisconsin Sea Grant/USDC/NOAA bUSDI, Bureau of Indian Affairs cUSEPA HYBRID STRIPED BASS Progress Report for the Period September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995 NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $168,000 (September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1995) PARTICIPANTS:
PROJECT OBJECTIVES (1) Develop larval diets and economically feasible
techniques to convert hybrid striped bass young from zooplankton prepared diets. (2) Develop intensive hatchery production techniques for
white bass and to "domesticate" white bass by producing brood stock originating
from induced spawns. (3) Improve methods for storage and transport of striped
bass and white bass gametes. (4) Perfect cryopreservation techniques for white
bass/striped bass semen and to demonstrate feasibility of hybrid striped bass production
using "stored" semen in industry-type settings. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS The development of intensive larval culture techniques for
white bass will allow for its full domestication, and will preclude the initial need for
outdoor ponds. Because reciprocal cross hybrid striped bass are the same size as white
bass at the swim-up stage, the results of this work will be directly applicable to their
culture. Conversion of larval fish to formulated feeds is one of the
most difficult aspects of hybrid striped bass culture. Typically, high mortality and
nonuniform acceptance of feed results. Thus, if flavor additives can be identified that
entice consumption of feed, conversion to formulated feeds would be more uniform and lead
to higher survival rates. Higher survival rates would result in higher profits for
aquaculturists. Development of efficient and reliable techniques to store,
cryopreserve, and transport gametes (eggs and sperm) would improve breeding and production
capabilities for culture technology of hybrid striped bass. Specifically, the development
of these techniques will allow: (1) a continuous supply of gametes, (2) year-round
production, (3) facilitation of selective breeding, and (4) more efficient use of
available gametes. Although such methods need to be perfected for both semen and eggs, it
is more likely that studies on semen will result in rapid development of technology for
use in the aquaculture industry. By working closely with a commercial producer in the
region, it is hoped to directly transfer the developed semen storage technologies to the
private sector, as well as satisfy future research objectives. This work, coupled with the
out-of-season spawning work being conducted in our region and elsewhere, should greatly
assist commercial producers to economically produce their own seed stock. Commercial
producers would only need to maintain female brood stock of one of the species used in the
cross. Sperm from the other species could be obtained elsewhere, stored until needed, and
then used. PROGRESS AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Research at Purdue University was designed to formulate and
mix dry dietary ingredients, and facilitate manufacturing small pellets with the help of
colleagues at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish Technology Center, Bozeman,
Montana. Three diets were formulated in the first year of this project that contained two
distinctive flavor additives that would be considered legal to use. That task was
accomplished and diets were sent to colleagues at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
(SIU-C) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee). In a comparative study conducted at SIU-C, hatching rates
for embryos incubated in Heath trays (28.2%) were equivalent to tannic acid-treated (150
mg/L water) embryos incubated in Heath trays (22.9%) or McDonald jars (22.4%). Facilities to intensively rear larval white bass were
established at Ohio State University (OSU) , SIU-C, and UW-Milwaukee. White bass larvae
from three separate spawning trials were shipped by overnight freight to OSU and
UW-Milwaukee. Attempts to rear larval white bass were minimally successful. Less than 1%
survival rates were obtained by day 122 at UW-Milwaukee, day 45 at OSU and day 24 at
SIU-C. A group of white bass sac-fry shipped from SIU-C to
UW-Milwaukee was introduced evenly by volume into twelve 60-L (15.8 gal) flow-through
aquaria. Each aquarium contained approximately 300 sac-fry. These fish were offered
"green tank" water and the three experimental diets that were provided by Purdue
University. The length of the cylindrical food particles ranged from approximately 0.5 mm
to 1.7 mm (0.02-0.07 in) and the diameter was 420-595 m. White bass sac-fry are
approximately 3.5 mm (0.14 in) in total length. The cross sectional diameter of the feed
approximated the width of the entire head (550-630 m) of white bass sac-fry, and was
outside of the range of the width of the mouth. UW-Milwaukee researchers ground portions
of the diets in a mortar and pestle and sieved it through a 150 m mesh to obtain more
suitable-size particles. From May 26-31, 1995, each of the three ground and sieved diets
was offered to fry in triplicate aquaria along with "green tank" water. The
controls received only "green tank" water. No feeding activity or interest by
the fry in the formulated diets was observed. Mortality of the sac fry was heavy in all
the tanks and by May 31 (within 6 days), less than a dozen fry were observed in any of the
aquaria and more than half of them had only one or no living fry. At this point the trial
was terminated. Past studies at Iowa State University (ISU) and SIU-C have
allowed for evaluations of a number of semen extender and cryoprotectant solutions, and
freezing and thawing methods. It was found that cryopreserved sperm showed promise for
providing a cost-effective method for striped bass culturists to obtain seed stock.
Studies at SIU-C showed that good fertility can be achieved in white bass eggs using
cryopreserved spermatozoa. Average fertility in several tests using white bass eggs
fertilized with cryopreserved white bass sperm ranged from 22 to 48% of fertility with
fresh, control semen. However, fertility was highly variable, and considerable motility
was lost upon thawing frozen spermatozoa. Results with frozen striped bass spermatozoa and
white bass eggs were better, but were also variable; average fertility for frozen striped
bass spermatozoa ranged from 45 to 100% of control values. Studies of sperm morphology at ISU indicated that some
cryopreserved seminal samples (about 20% of those evaluated) showed clumping. Samples
which exhibited clumping and adhesion showed no motility upon thawing, whereas samples
where sperm morphology was normal and no clumping occurred became motile upon thawing.
These results could explain much of the variability that has been observed in fertility
tests, but it cannot be explained at this time why some samples undergo these adverse
changes while others do not. Studies at ISU also showed that best motility was routinely
obtained when samples were activated with water prior to being completely thawed. This
agrees with the results of fertility tests conducted at SIU-C; better fertility has
routinely been obtained when cryopreserved semen is only partially thawed when combined
with eggs. In summer, 1995, Mississippi Fisheries, Inc. in Greenville,
Mississippi, had a complete hybrid striped bass production failure, apparently due to the
use of a new disinfectant. This company was supplying a major portion of the hybrid
striped bass fingerling industry. Aquafutures, Inc., a Boston firm which annually raises
over 1 million pounds of food-size hybrids, was not able to obtain sufficient numbers of
fingerlings this year. In July 1995, a multi-state, interregional collaboration was
initiated among SIU-C, University of Maryland and Aquafutures, Inc. SIU-C shipped white
bass semen in extender solution to Dr. Zohar, University of Maryland. Dr. Zohar
successfully induced a female striped bass to spawn and several million embryos were
produced. Fertilization was over 70%. However, due to a severe heat wave which hit
Baltimore two days later, all developing embryos were lost. Had fry been produced, Keo
Fish Farm, in Keo, Arkansas, had agreed to rear the fry to fingerlings, and then to ship
them to Aquafutures, Inc. An additional attempt will be made to accomplish this goal in
November 1995. Aquafutures, Inc. is currently making arrangements with Florida producers
to rear the larvae to fingerling size. This project clearly demonstrates the advantages of
photothermal manipulation of spawning time in fishes, as well as the use of stored semen.
Had it not been for an untimely heat wave, a major inter-regional, university/industry
success story would have occurred. WORK PLANNED The last spawning/larval rearing trials will be conducted
in November 1995. A hybrid striped bass workshop is planned for November 4, 1995, at
Champaign, Illinois. A termination report for these project objectives will be submitted
in winter, 1996. IMPACTS The potential impacts of intensive larval rearing and
larval diet research are increased profitability. If flavor additives can be identified, a
higher percentage of larvae can be trained to accept the feed and more juveniles can enter
the food fish production cycle. Related to this domestication of brood stock, is the
availability of suitable gametes for successful fish reproduction. Because striped bass
are typically difficult to obtain, it would be highly advantageous for the aquaculturist
to have access to gametes without the difficulty of collecting or transporting the parent
fish. The successful induction of white bass spawns and subsequent storage and
transportation of Morone species gametes should go far in advancing the hybrid
striped bass industry in the North Central Region. These technological advancements,
combined with the cooperation of a regional commercial producer, will be transferred to
the private sector in the form of fact sheets, videos, and workshops. PUBLICATIONS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND PAPERS PRESENTED See Appendix. SUPPORT
WALLEYE Progress Component Termination Report for the Period September 1, 1989 to August 31, 1993 NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $321,740 (May 1, 1989 to August 31, 1993) PARTICIPANTS: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||