Tag salmonids

The phenotypically plastic response may preadapt offspring to perform better in the expected future thermal environment. 

In the second of a two-part series, Steven Summerfelt discusses various efforts to improve knowledge of closed-containment systems, innovations in fish feed and presents comprehensive concluding remarks. 

The recent 2017 Aquaculture Innovation Workshop in Vancouver brought together numerous stakeholders involved in and interested in fish farming – particularly salmonids – in the growing industry of closed-containment systems. 

Global farmed fish production has increased from 19 million metric tons (MMT) in 2004 to an expected level of 44 MMT in 2017. Next year’s production is expected to be 46 MMT. 

The GOAL 2016 survey for global production of farmed fish shows that most major finfish groups increased their farmed production in 2015. The total production of species and countries covered by the survey is forecasted to reach 42 MMT in 2016.  

Dozens of land-based, closed-containment salmonid RAS systems are coming on line. New projects are bringing new principles into the salmon industry. Industry expansion hinges upon the development of pollution-mitigating technologies to reduce nutrients in effluents. 

The benefits realized by recirculating aquaculture systems – including enhanced fish growth, product quality and survival, as well as reduced treatment costs – have made the RAS approach an important production trend. 

The presence of compounds such as geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can result in earthy or musty off-flavors in salmonids raised in the systems. 

Advances in aquaculture research include the integration of genomics – the study of genes and their functions – into projects pursuing increased production efficiency.