Aquaculture in the West: A WRAC Perspective (and other stuff too)

Gary Fornshell

University of Idaho Extension

Introduction

• WRAC trout research• US trout industry• Seafood• USTFA

Ron Hardy

WRAC Trout Research

• Phosphorus reduction• Immunological

mechanisms of rainbow trout

• Live haul• Cutthroat trout• Proposed projects

Ron Hardy

Phosphorus Reduction

• Shulin Chen, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Raul Piedrahita, Ron Hardy, Rick Barrows, John Colt, Gary Fornshell

• Investigate the fate of P and solids between point of particle introduction and the point of removal

Ron Hardy

Effluent P Characteristics

• Overall mean P concentrations• TP 0.09 ± 0.01 mg/L• SP 0.04 ± 0.01 mg/L• DP 0.06 ± 0.01 mg/L

• Percent P by mass• 3.40 ± 1.08% of TSS• no statistical difference per particle size class

• Percent SP/DP in discharge• SP 40%• DP 60%

Effluent TSS Characteristics

• Median volumetrically weighted effluentparticle size of 250 microns

• 76% of particles discharged > 105microns

• Mean solids settling velocities were 0.16 cm/s and 2.31 cm/s for particles smallerand larger than 814 microns, respectively

Phosphorus Partitioning

• Differences in effluent phosphorus partitioning seen between these two sites

– Site 2 lower cleaning frequency and corresponding longer particle residence times

– Site 4 higher cleaning frequency and lower particle residence times

• Illustrates importance of particle residence times and transport as related to phosphorus effluent characteristics

51%

32.5%

49%

67.5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

P Partitioning

Solid DissolvedSite 2

Site 4

What Does This Mean?

• Results suggest removal of effluent particles > 100 microns could result in about a 20% reduction of total phosphorus

• This may determine whether you’re in or out of compliance

Immunological Mechanisms of RBT

• Develop assays to quantify specific immune responses

• Effects of hatchery practices on immune function

• Assess immune response followed by a novel method of mass immunization

Live Haul: Maintaining Healthy Fish

• Objective of this research is to improve fish health and survival of transported fish

• Includes tilapia and trout

• Formulate hauling criteria for long-haul conditions

Starter Diets & Culture Conditions Cutthroat Trout & Gila Trout

Rio Grande cutthroat Rio Grande cutthroat trouttrout ((Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus

clarki virginalisclarki virginalis))

Chris Myrick

Participants

• Chris Myrick – CSU• Ken Cline – Cline Trout

Farms• Greg Kindschi –

Bozeman Fish Technology Center

• John Seals – Mora Fish Technology Center

• Chris Nelson – Nelson & Sons, Inc.

• Richard Kolecki – Colorado Division of Wildlife

• Rick Barrows – USDA/ARS Hagerman

• Gary Fornshell - UI

Project Objectives

• Measure trout survival, growth, and quality as a function of:– Feed texture and formulation - Year 1– Diet and water temperature - Year 2– Rearing density - Year 3

• Conduct production-scale evaluations of the best diet temperature density combinations - Year 3/4

– Product quality– Economic viability

• Develop outreach products to disseminate information on diets and culture conditions for inland trout species

Species of Interest

Colorado River cutthroat trout

Gila trout

Snake River cutthroat trout

Yellowstone cutthroat trout Chris Myrick

WRAC Pre-Proposals For Trout

• 3 vaccine related pre-proposals ( 1 CWD, 2 oral delivery)

• 2 proposed aeration studies

• 1 economic impact of aquaculture-based recreational fishing

Economic Impacts of Private Sector Aquaculture-Based Recreational Fishing in the Western USA

• Craig Bond (PI) CSU• Steve Davies (Co-PI)

CSU• John Loomis (Co-PI)

CSU• Doug Larson (Co-PI)

UC-Davis• Andrew Seidl

(Outreach) CSU

• Cline Trout Farms (Industry Advisor)

• Collaborators– Fred Conte UC-Davis– Jon Boren NMSU– Amalia Davies CSU– Gary Fornshell UI– Kevin Fitzsimmons UA

Economic Impacts of Private Sector Aquaculture-Based Recreational Fishing in the Western USA

• In 2001 approximately 5.6 million people recreationally fished freshwater fish in the western U.S.

• 71.8 million trips, 88.8 million days (16 days per angler)• $716 per angler per year• Direct economic expenditures of over $4 billion

for the region

Objectives

• Collect primary data from three distinct subpopulations (ASRF producers, their direct customers, and recreational anglers) and prepare an economic report quantifying the magnitude and value of the economic contributions of the ASRF industry

• Provide an appropriate sampling frame for tracking and documenting trends over time in the ASRF industry for use in subsequent economic analyses

• Generate primary research about the impacts of the regulatory and competitive environment on the aquaculture industry, including the relationships between private and public hatcheries, interstate trade regulations, and Native American reservation policies

U.S. Trout Industry 2005

• Total value $74.2 M• Trout >12 inches: 59.7

M lbs. production• Trout >12 inches: by

value 67% to processors; 19% fee & recreational fishing

• 346 operations selling trout

U.S. Trout Industry 2005

• 6-12 inch trout sold 4.79 M fish (↓13%)– 51% sales to fee & rec., 20% to govt.

• 1-6 inch trout sold 7.06 M fish (↑27%)– avg. value per 1,000 fish $187

• Trout eggs totaled 307 M (↑6%)– avg. value per 1,000 eggs $16.70

• Losses: 51% disease; 19% drought; 21% other

Seafood

• Seafood At Its Best• NOAA pre-proposal• Seafood Watch U.S.

Farmed Rainbow Trout• U.S. Organic

Aquaculture Standards

USTFA Cookbook

Seafood At Its Best Curriculum

• Lesson 1: What is seafood?• Lesson 2: Health benefits of seafood• Lesson 3: Seafood borne illnesses and

risks of seafood consumption• Lesson 4: Seafood tips – purchasing,

handling, storing and cooking seafood

Curriculum Objectives

• Increase knowledge of seafood

• Informed consumer

• Increase seafood consumption

Sunburst Trout Co

Target Audience

• Family and Consumer Sciences Educators• Nutritionists• Dieticians• Food Service Workers• Other Nutritional Outreach Professionals

Attitudes and Beliefs About Eating Fish

• 66% heard something about health benefits• 43% recall negative news• Most do not understand FDA/EPA mercury

advisory• 43% eating seafood less often and 35%

reduced portion size

University of Maryland – Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy

NOAA Marine Aquaculture Program

• Improve Public Literacy on the Health Benefits and Risks of Consuming Aquatic Foods with an Integrated Science and Education Approach

• To develop educational materials that target the general public and media and provide a clear, concise, easy-to-understand message on the benefits and risks involved in consuming farm-raised and wild-harvested seafood.

• To provide Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant specialists and educators with science-based information and materials on the benefits and risks of eating farm-raised and wild-caught seafood.

• To increase knowledge of the general public and media on benefits and risks involved in eating farm-raised and wild-caught seafood.

Seafood Watch

• Monterey Bay Aquarium• http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp• In 2003 Seafood Watch listed farmed rainbow trout as

Best Choice• Currently updating report• Moderate concern about use of marine resources and

risk of disease/parasites to wild fish

U.S. Organic Aquaculture Standardshttp://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/TodaysNews.html

• Only major food category not eligible under the current USDA regulations for organic agriculture

• Email comments to: NOSB.Livestock@usda.govor fax:(202) 205-7808

• Comments due April 10Ron Hardy

USTFA

• http://www.ustfa.org/• September 20-23 2006

Harrisburg PA• Penn Aqua Conference

PA Dept. of Ag, PA Fish and Boat Commission

Ron Hardy

Questions?

Ron Hardy