Scientists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are partnering with future US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to help boost the nation's aquaculture industry.
FAU's Harbor Branch project will initially focus on Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) as model species for improvement.
FAU's Harbor Branch will host three new USDA scientists on its campus who have expertise in genetics, fish nutrition and health to develop novel technologies designed to provide a steady supply of warmwater marine fish seed stocks optimized for commercial production.
The key objective of the project is to develop year-round spawning strategies for captive broodstock and larviculture methods for seed production of marine finfish. In addition, the scientists will develop methods for genetic improvement of warmwater marine finfish for optimum production efficiency.
