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Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Environmental and Fisheries Sciences EFS - Environmental Physiology; EFS - Marine Fish and Shellfish Biology and Aquaculture

Information

Project
Sex Control in Marine Fishes
Title
Development of Methods to Sterilize Sablefish
Description
Methods for reproductive sterilization are broadly needed in marine aquaculture due to biosafety concerns associated with escapement of farmed fish and potential genetic contamination of wild stocks. Current methods for sterilization have been primarily tested in freshwater fishes and are often ineffective, particularly in males. This activity builds upon our success in producing faster-growing, monosex female stocks of sablefish for aquaculture and seeks to develop eco-friendly, non-GMO methods for reproductive sterilization. We will use sablefish as our model marine species for sterilization and continue to collaborate with University of Maryland faculty with expertise in cutting-edge techniques for sterilization. Development of sustainable marine aquaculture is a high priority at the local (NWFSC), regional (WCR), and national levels (NOAA, DOC, Congress). Our sablefish sex control/sterilization project was also highlighted as a critical priority and outstanding area of research in the NOAA Aquaculture Science Review published 28 Feb 2019. We ultimately aim to transfer a sterilization technology to the U.S. sablefish aquaculture industry and expand our methodologies to other species, with the goal of improving the sustainability of marine aquaculture and mitigating impacts on the environment.

Data Sets

no data found

Research Themes

Sustainable, safe and secure seafood for healthy populations and vibrant communities
Effective fisheries management provides economic opportunities and ensures the long-term sustainability of fisheries and the habitats on which they depend. The NWFSC seeks to improve the quality and quantity of data used in stock assessments, the methods for assessing stocks and ecosystem sustainability within the context of human modification of the environment. The NWFSC also provides state-of-the-art science and technology to support aquaculture while protecting and maintaining ecosystem health. Further, pathogens, toxins from harmful algal blooms (HABs), chemical contaminants and other stressors of marine ecosystems pose significant risks to health of both seafood resources and to humans. The NWFSC focuses on research to improve understanding of those risks, how to forecast them, and identify means to mitigate their impacts.

Research Foci

Develop research and technology to foster innovative and sustainable approaches to aquaculture
The NOAA Aquaculture Policy calls for enabling sustainable aquaculture that provides domestic jobs, products, and services and that is in harmony with healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems. To achieve these goals, NWFSC’s research examines scientific and technical issues to support aquaculture production. NWFSC research also considers potential impacts of aquaculture practices on the environment and on wild populations of fish and shellfish and methods for diminishing those impacts. Specific research objectives include (1) identify methods for reducing reliance on forage fish protein and oil in aquaculture feeds; this includes the evaluation of plant and microbe-based alternatives for fish meal and oil, because fishmeal and oil used in producing artificial fish diets is unsustainable and often a source of contaminants, (2) evaluate and model potential genetic impacts of aquaculture escapes on natural populations, (3) develop shellfish research that will support regional initiatives, such as the Washington Shellfish Initiative, especially native shellfish restoration and (4) develop new marine species for aquaculture and shore-based marine recirculating aquaculture systems.
Provide scientific support to ensure safe seafood for healthier populations and characterize how human activities and climate affect risks from pathogens, chemical contaminants, and biotoxins
The availability of nutritious and safe seafood from marine ecosystems and aquaculture are essential to maintain and maximize human health. Even though fish are known to have a variety of health benefits, some seafood (wild or farmed) may contain levels of toxic compounds (e.g., chemical contaminants, pathogens, biotoxins) from a variety of human-related and natural sources that can pose health risks to humans, especially for those groups with high rates of seafood consumption. The development of novel methods and technologies to assess seafood safety and biological effects of these toxic compounds remains a priority for commercial, subsistence and recreational consumption of seafood. For example, several species (e.g., zebrafish, sea lions, shellfish) are excellent indicators of environmental stress and potential health threats to marine species and humans. These species can serve as informative animal models for investigations of the mechanisms of toxicity or disease processes. Specific research goals include (1) improve methods for monitoring for the presence of pathogens, toxins and contaminants in seafood products, (2) characterize the environmental and climate conditions that may be favorable for potential biotoxin and pathogen outbreaks, (3) develop technologies to remove chemical contaminants from fish feed and to enhance the nutritional content of aquaculture products, (4) develop a better understanding of the net economic and health benefits of seafood consumption balanced with the risk of exposure to pathogens, toxins and contaminants, and (5) develop new mechanistic animal models for the study of infectious diseases, as well as toxicological, physiological, and biochemical processes relevant to marine animal and human health.

Keywords

gonadal sex differentiation
process of the gonads differentiating into either ovaries or testes
reproductive biology
field focusing on reproductive development, such as development of the gonads and gametes, and the process of reproduction
sablefish
common name for Anoplopoma fimbria. Other common names include black cod and butterfish.
sex control
controlling the differentiation of gonads into either ovaries or testes, or disrupting this process to induce reproductive sterility
sustainable aquaculture
farming fish in an environmentally sustainable manner

Products

None associated

Taxa

Class Actinopterygii
ray-finned fishes
Family Anoplopomatidae
sablefishes
Genus Anoplopoma
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Kingdom Animalia
animals
Order Scorpaeniformes
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Phylum Chordata
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Species Anoplopoma fimbria
sablefish

People

Adam Luckenbach
Principal Investigator
Rick Goetz
Internal Collaborator
William Fairgrieve
Co-Lead