Omics is one of six US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science and Technology focus areas that were introduced in 2020, resulting in the implementation of the NOAA ‘Omics 2021-2025 Strategic Plan (https://tinyurl.com/ycxt6ekx). Investment in ‘omics is motivated by a need to increase operational efficiency for a broad suite of activities under NOAA’s mission, including ecosystem and fisheries assessments, understanding the impact of climate change, and contributions to the US Blue Economy, including aquaculture. The overarching goals of the Omics Strategic Plan are focused on enhancing infrastructure for the collection and analysis of ‘omics data; targeting research in marine forensics, sustainable aquaculture, biosurveillance, bioprospecting, and for protected resources; accelerating transitions of ‘omics into regular operations; expanding partnerships and funding for ‘omics work; and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce for ‘omics work. One of the goals listed in the strategic plan is to foster the development of aquaculture by using ‘omics to optimize animal health, yield, and product characteristics while supporting safe and sustainable farming practices. The utility of environmental DNA (eDNA) in the NOAA ‘Omics Strategic plan and across ongoing research within the agency is diverse, and ranges from evaluating biodiversity and abundance of marine microbial, invertebrate, and vertebrate communities in regular assessment and exploration surveys, to evaluating ocean change and human impacts on local and regional scales. These and other activities are relevant to a number of international and bilateral activities, including the All-Atlantic Declaration, UN Decade of Ocean Science Endorsed Programs, and Collaborations with DFO
We present herein an overview of these activities that use eDNA as a tool within the NOAA ‘Omics community, in particular focusing on aquaculture applications. NOAA uses ‘omics tools to address a broad range of mission applications, including development of eDNA for monitoring microbes through marine mammals. For example, We are using eDNA analysis to understand the impacts of netpen and other types of in situ aquaculture on ecosystem diversity, fate & transport of eDNA, and the microbiome characteristics related to the health of aquacultured plants and animals. Efforts include development of autonomous methods to collect eDNA samples and transition to operations.