Sablefish (black cod) represent a promising and high-value species for marine aquaculture in the US . Research efforts to optimize culture strategies and methods have been ongoing for more than 2 decades and t his species is commercially produced using land-based RAS in combination with net-pen grow out in Canada . To set the stage for expanded production of farmed sablefish in the US, NOAA Fisheries has prioritized research projects and partnerships to address remaining challenges. One such challenge that affects production of this species is the disease furunculosis. This appears to be the primary disease threat for sablefish and is caused by an atypical strain(s) of Aeromonas salmonicida, a gram negative bacterium . Although antibiotic treatments exist and can reduce mortality once an outbreak occurs , disease p revention through vaccination would be more desirable and has been identified as a high-priority need within the industry . Project s that are ongoing focus on vaccination methods and strategies that have the potential to prevent furunculosis or minimize its impact during an outbreak. These vaccine projects will be discussed and include an oral vaccination study that assesses the potential for utilizing a simple killed A. salmonic ida vaccine delivered orally via alginate/gelatin micro-particles to young fish as a way to minimize handling stress associated with injection vaccination. Another project that is underway is aimed at developing attenuated atypical A. salmonicida strains that could be administered via immersion during early juvenile stages. T o create attenuated vaccine candidates, a known virulent strain of atypical A. salmonicida (T30) was passaged in culture on TSA media containing increasing concentrations of the antibiotics rifampicin and novobiocin. In addition, three putatively virulent atypical strains of A. salmonicida (recently isolated from infected sablefish showing clinical signs of furunculosis) were passed in a similar manner . The resistant isolates are being tested for attenuation against their respective ‘parent’ strain s with the aim of determining if attenuated strains that are not pathogenic to sablefish were produced . If fully attenuated strains are confirmed, these strains would be considered potential vaccine candidates and their ability to elicit a protective immune response will be further assessed.