Dr. Jeff Silverstein - Current Status of U.S. Aquaculture Research

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NIAA 2013 Annual Conference Aquatic Livestock Committee

Current Status of U.S. Aquaculture

Research

Jeffrey Silverstein, PhD USDA-Agricultural Research Service National Program Leader, Aquaculture jeff.silverstein@ars.usda.gov 301-504-5925

Capture and Aquaculture Production

FAO 2012

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Do we need aquaculture research in

the United States?

Aquaculture

S  Extremely efficient animal protein production system-(Conservation International 2011)

S  High in protein, healthful omega3 fatty acids, essential vitamins and minerals

S  Create jobs in coastal communities and agricultural heartland

US Seafood Trade Deficit 1977 - $2B; 2011 - $10.4B

Over 86% of our seafood is imported

Chamberlain 2011

Key Elements of Research System

S  Resources S  Human S  Financial Academia, Government, Industry, Farmers, NGOs

S  Idea development and application S  Fundamental S  Applied S  Problem Solving

S  Transfer and extension

S  Integration across these domains

ARS Locations =

Auburn, AL

Stuttgart, AR

Oxford and Stoneville MS

New Orleans, LA

Leetown, WV

Hagerman, ID& Aberdeen, ID

Newport, OR

Franklin, ME

Milwaukee, WI

Regional Aquaculture Centers (RACs)= ¶

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¶

¶

¶

¶

=O

O

O

O

O

O

Federal Aquaculture Research

Private and NGO driven Valella Project

Hubbs Sea World

Mote Marine Lab

USB, QSSBs, SAA

Resource constrained Do more with less Do less-better

• Focus on key problems • Concentrate resources

• Push success

• Integrate across domains-multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, multi-stakeholder

Integration

Key Production Challenges under research

S  Reduce costs of production S  Faster growth S  Lower feed costs S  Better control of reproduction

S  Reduce loss to disease

S  Improve production systems

S  Generate product variety

Bright Spots in US Aquaculture-with a role for research

S  Molluscan Shellfish

S  Salmon

S  Catfish

S  Marine fish*

S  Recirculating systems

S  Feeds development

S  Broodstock (genetic) development-build on terrestrial experience

Ingredient Evaluation; Nutritional and Economic Value

1) Compositional analysis •  Nutrients; protein, energy, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. •  Anti-nutrients; evolved in a protective or developmental role

2) Palatability; Effect on feed intake 3) Digestibility; Apparent Digestibility Coefficients 4) Functionality; durability, expansion, oil absorption, water stability 5) Growth; gain, FCR, fecal prod. product quality laboratory, pilot scale, 3rd party, production scale

Duniella Winter crop Oil source

Spirulina Summer crop Protein source

Effect of base formula and added spirulina meal on growth of white sea bass; 8 weeks

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0 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 MGFish meal base Fish meal Free

% g

ain

from

initi

al

Skretting

Hubb’s Sea World Research Institute

Effect of base formula and added spirulina meal on survival of white sea bass; 8 weeks

0102030405060708090100

0 10% 20% 30% 0 10% 20% 30% MGFish meal base Fish meal Free

Sur

viva

l, %

Skretting

Hubb’s Sea World Research Institute

Improved Genetic Lines of Soybeans;

Soybeans; Lipoxygenase High protein Lectins, mg/kg Oligosaccharides; Stachyose, Raffinose Trypsin Inhibitor Activity, mg/g Phytate P34 allergen

All non-GMO

USB-Aquaculture Coalition Meeting Alternative Ingredients for Aquafeeds

Summary and Conclusions

-  High value alternatives are being developed and are currently available for testing or production. - All characteristics of alternative ingredients must be considered to determine nutritional/economic value.

Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center

A multi-disciplinary, research and extension program for warmwater

aquaculture

Mississippi State University Agricultural Experiment Station College of Veterinary Medicine

Extension Service

United States Department of Agriculture

Craig Tucker Les Torrans Brian Bosworth Nagaraj Chatakondi

US Farm-Raised Catfish Production

Catfish Production Problems S  Competition

S  Feed costs

S  Fuel costs

S  High Mortality

S  Long production cycles

S  Poor Feed Conversion

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Production of hybrid (blue x channel) catfish- <10 million in 2003 to over 150 million in 2012

Catfish Genetics Research Unit Stoneville, Mississippi

Blue

Hybrid

Channel

Advantages  :  Increased  growth  rate  Lower  feed  conversion  Be6er  Survival  Improved  disease  resistance  Be6er  tolerance  of  low  DO      Disadvantages:  Produc?on  is  labor  intensive  

Oxygen and Feed

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Average minimum dissolved oxygen (ppm)

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ativ

e Fe

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onsu

mpt

ion

(%)

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Data from Les Torran’s pond studies

ü  Higher D.O. in morning

ü  More feed consumed

ü  Higher net production

ü  Less tractor use for emergency aeration

ü  Less electricity use for routine aeration

New aerator placement strategy could reduce aeration costs by 15-20%

2.6

1.2

2.2 0.3

0.2

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0.1

5-acre conventional pond

wastes pumped out

oxygen pumped in

3.9

4.8

3.7

4.4

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Split-Pond Technology

Tucker et al. 2012

Return flow

Paddlewheel pump

Fish side Waste side

Aerators

Commercial-Scale Split-Pond

Fish weight (lb/fish) Initial Final Survival Harvest (lb/ac) FCR

Hybrid catfish stockers, 10,000 per acre 0.11 1.78 98% 17,700 1.83 0.12 1.70 90% 14,900 1.85 0.09 1.73 89% 15,500 1.78

Hybrid catfish stockers, 15,000 per acre

0.10 1.61 91% 21,100 1.80

• Hybrid Fish

• Oxygen levels- Better aeration strategy (grow fish rather than keep alive) Easier to maintain in split ponds

• Feeding- Better feeding by hybrid catfish, fish not scattered over large area

• Fish Health-Hybrid more resistant, easier to treat in split pond

• Harvest-Smaller area, more efficient in split pond

• Predators-Smaller area to protect in split ponds

All work done in conjunction with producers-step by step to integrate into improved system

Integrated Solutions

• There is a critical role for research in aquaculture development in the United States

• Focus on a few key industries, technologies adaptable across species

• Integration of research through extension and working with farmers is essential-no silver bullets

USDA (ARS-NIFA) Stakeholder Meetings upcoming Summer 2013-plan joint with NOAA Joint Subcommittee for Aquaculture, National Aquaculture Strategic Research Plan due out in 2013

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Thank you!

Vegetable Oil to Fish Oil

• Fish oil (EPA, 20:5 n-3/DHA, 22:6 n-3) mainly derived from marine algae, in fish through feed

• Dietary requirement for fish not well defined

• May be variation between fish in ability to convert linoleic (18:2 n-6) to EPA and DHA

• 44 full-sib families evaluated after 70 days of feeding diet high in vegetable oil (13%), low in fish oil (1.5%)

Overturf et al., Aquaculture 2013

Difference in FA conversion and deposition

S  Significant differences between families in deposition of EPA and DHA

S  Highly heritable (can modify through selective breeding)

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Low Medium High

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TFA

Relative fatty acid level of families

% TFA EPA

% TFA DHA