WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 45 Plan 2023-2026: Finding Solutions to Agricultural Challenges with Agility, Innovation and Relevance.10 The components of the next Action Plan are: 1. Improving the Efficiency and Sustainability of Catfish Aquaculture 2. Improving the Efficiency and Sustainability of Salmonid Aquaculture 3. Improving the Efficiency and Sustainability of Bass and Baitfish Aquaculture 4. Enhancing Molluscan and Crustacean Aquaculture 5. Developing Marine Finfish Seedstocks 6. Developing Sustainable Aquaponic Production Systems 7. Enhancing Tilapia Aquaculture Production This plan describes the continuation of some research already in progress, and new directions compared to the previous plan, including: • Developing data management and bioinformatic applications to aid in the genomic selection of channel, blue, and hybrid catfish for improved growth and carcass yield traits. • Developing ante- and postmortem strategies that improve processing efficiency and the quality and consistency of catfish products. • Implementing precision agriculture technologies to quantify new fish metrics associated with growth, disease status, and/or wellbeing in aquaculture production systems, and to increase efficiencies and profitability by defining phenotypes contributing to performance, developing methods for monitoring them, and defining strategies to improve performance through breeding and management practices. • Determining the susceptibility of select lines of North American Atlantic salmon to new and emerging pathogens and developing strategies to improve their health. • Optimizing production efficiency in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) by developing breeding strategies and management practices that ensure the productivity and profitability of raising fish in RAS while maintaining high standards of animal well-being. • Reducing or eliminating off-flavor in salmonids. • Developing genetic improvement strategies for largemouth bass. • Developing strategies to remove pests from baitfish harvests. • Improving prevention and control strategies for diseases of crawfish and shrimp. • Applying genome-enabled selection to breed Pacific oysters for resistance to the oyster herpes virus microvariant-1. • Integrating quantitative genetics, molecular biology, and physiology to advance genetic improvement in Eastern oysters produced on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. • Developing year-round spawning strategies for captive broodstock, larval culture methods for seed production, and genetic improvement technologies to optimize production efficiency. • Optimizing the integration of plant and fish production in aquaponic systems. • Breeding tilapia for disease resistance and characterizing their pathogens. After the Action Plan is posted, ARS scientists will develop and implement 5-year multi-investigator projects that are reviewed (CONTINUED ON PAGE 46)
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