World Aquaculture December 2020

56 DECEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG and seafood products, especially those imported. The Seafood Analytics CQR is a handheld device that measures the resistance and reactance of a sample that determines the overall quality of the sample. By comparing fresh tilapia fillets to fillets that had been frozen and then defrosted, and examining the differences between the four distinct fillet portions that can be found on the olive flounder, changes in flesh quality as time elapses were measured. This type of research should aid in improving assessment and objectivity of quality control in the seafood industry in the future. Researchers at UMwill be further examining the use of BIA in yellowtail snapper as part of an expansive research project centered around this high-value species. Seafood market analysis and marketing strategies are key to realizing the potential of any species being introduced. In this area, collaboration is critical in the industry and, in addition to the well- established Beaver Street Fisheries in Florida and Tropic Seafood in the Bahamas, we are collaborating on seafood market and marketing efforts with MarePesca LLC in Puerto Rico to commercialize farmed red snapper raised at UMEH as part of the NOAA-Sea Grant funded project. The red snapper is a species in great demand in North America and the Caribbean region, and Puerto Rico has a large latent market for this fish. Recent trials in Puerto Rico testing the market acceptance of this product indicated that plate-size farmed red snapper were very well received, scoring above snapper currently found in the market in all criteria, including overall impression, ease of preparation and taste. Furthermore, 93 percent of surveyed establishments expressed a strong desire to consume this product. With commitments from restaurants and distributors to purchase whole, plate-size farmed red snapper, MarePesca LLC is enthusiastic about facilitating commercial farming operations in the region. This illustrates how research and development activities can translate to real-world benefits in commercial farming sectors. Upcoming market analysis and marketing trials with olive flounder in the Atlantic States region, as part of a research project centered around this species, will continue our work in this sector and will help establish effective strategies for development of economically viable aquaculture production of such species. Collaborations – A Global Network The UMAquaculture Program thrives on collaborations with a number of universities and research institutions, government agencies and the private sector. We have a long list of partners and collaborators from the private and public sector with a solid track record of success and aim to continue to directly address industry needs through advanced research and development activities. Our expertise and experience in the field has led to numerous collaborations and consulting arrangements with private and public sector operations throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. As aquaculture continues to expand throughout the world, we will continue to assist in advancing technologies for marine finfish aqaculture globally. Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge continuous funding support through a collaborative research agreement with Open Blue Sea Farms and Cuna Del Mar over the years. We also acknowledge funding support fromNOAA- Sea Grant, NOAA-NMFS / Saltonstall-Kennedy Program. Open Blue and NOAA have been our major supporters over the years, and we would not have been able to succeed in our research, technology development and academic endeavors without their ongoing support. We also acknowledge funding from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United Soybean Board, the Illinois Soybean Association, US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and multiple private funding agreements. Such funding sources have been instrumental in supporting our program, forming and training a large qualified labor source to work in aquaculture. These are good examples of successful partnerships among industry, government and university sectors resulting in a talent pipeline and technology development to support aquaculture development. Notes * Daniel Benetti, PhD, Professor and Director of Aquaculture, dbenetti@miami.edu John Stieglitz, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Aquaculture, jstieglitz@miami.edu Jorge Suarez, PhD, Aquaculture Nutrition Program Leader, \jsuarez@ rsmas.miami.edu Ron Hoenig, MA, UMEHManager, rhoenig@miami.edu Carlos Tudela, MA, UMEHAssociate Manager, ctudela@rsmas.miami.edu Zack Daugherty, PhD student, zdaugherty@rsmas.miami.edu Charles James McGuigan, PhD student, cmcguigan@rsmas.miami.edu Julio Camperio, PhD student, jcamperio@rsmas.miami.edu Jia Geng, PhD student, jgeng@rsmas.miami.edu Yole Buchalla, MS, ybuchalla@rsmas.miami.edu ShubhamMathur, MS, s.mathur@umiami.edu Luiz Anchieta, MBA, MPS, luiz.anchieta@rsmas.miami.edu * Corresponding author We have published over 200 scientific articles in aquaculture technology, production, reproduction, physiology, nutrition, environmental issues, toxicology and systems operation and management. References about most topics covered in this article are available upon request directly from the authors. Operating the University of Miami Experimental Marine Fish Hatchery is a team effort, with many past and current collaborating partners.