46 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG by an external panel of experts, and new projects will be initiated in late 2024/early 2025. Each project will include a title, objectives, experimental approach, and milestones that will document progress. Each project will include the goal of achieving at least one accomplishment in 5 years that results in technology transfer and industry adoption. The National Program for Aquaculture reported 191 Accomplishments from 2018 through 2022, along with 405 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 book chapters, 11 new databases/datasets, 1 patent application, 10 popular press articles, 4 proceedings, 5 review articles, and 18 trade journal articles. Other forms of technology transfer included 1 cooperative research and development agreement, 39 Material Transfer Research Agreements, 57 Material Transfer Agreements, and 7 invention disclosures. Research Capacity In 2023, NP106 conducted research at 12 main ARS laboratories on 14 project plans that were conducted by approximately 67 ARS scientists and university or private cooperators on 15 cooperative agreements. Freshwater or marine research is conducted in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Primary species of interest include catfish and their hybrids, striped bass and their hybrids, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, shrimp, pompano, red drum, tilapia, Pacific and Eastern oysters, and systems research in aquaponics, recirculating aquaculture, and split-pond systems. Aquaculture research is also conducted in other ARS National Programs. This includes the conservation of aquatic genetic resources, which is conducted at the National Animal Germplasm Program in Fort Collins, CO; food safety research in shellfish in Dover, DE; postharvest quality and value-added products in New Orleans, LA; seaweed-based packaging in Albany, CA; evaluating the incorporation of seaweeds in livestock diets in Madison, WI; and utilizing plant-based ingredients in fish feeds in St. Paul, MN. Partnerships ARS scientists are encouraged to collaborate with colleagues from academia, industry, or other government agencies, and from 2018 through 2022, ARS established 155 agreements with scientists from more than 40 institutions that added aquaculture research expertise and capacity to the ARS portfolio. Similarly, scientists obtained extramural funding for 51 research partnerships with 38 institutions to add value to research outlined in project plans. Recently, critical collaborations have been established with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USDA NIFA, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to establish the Aquaculture Information Exchange,11 an online platform to find, connect, and establish collaboration across the aquaculture community, and with NOAA and the East Coast Shellfish Growers12 to establish the Northeast Oyster Breeding Center, which will provide regional industry partners with genetically improved oysters for production.13 Federal Aquaculture Activities ARS takes an active role in aquaculture leadership within the federal government, working with colleagues from other Departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate efforts to meet the needs of the aquaculture community while providing subject matter expertise to Congress and the Administration. Examples include: • Leadership in the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA) provided by an ARS Co-Chair and Executive Secretary;14 • Chairing the SCA Science Planning Task Force on developing and reporting progress towards the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Research;15 • Assisting USDA APHIS towards the development of the National Aquaculture Health Plan and Standards; • Collaborating with NOAA, which has the lead in organizing the United States-Japan Natural Resources Aquaculture Scientific Symposia,16 on a bilateral exchange of scientific information and opportunity to develop collaborations; • Leading the Interagency Working Group for Farming Seaweeds and Seagrasses, which explores opportunities for reducing ocean acidification through the farming of seaweeds and seagrasses; • Chairing the USDA Working Group on Aquaculture, and co-organizing the 2020 Aquaculture is Agriculture Colloquium,17 providing the domestic aquaculture industry an opportunity to communicate on how USDA can best serve this farming community; and Representing USDA on the Office of Science and Technology Policy/Council on Environmental Quality Ocean Policy Committee and contributing to the Ocean Climate Action Plan.18 As has been demonstrated in other agricultural commodities, U.S. capacity for innovation and technology development will
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