Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States

To meet growing seafood demands, the US aquaculture industry will need to consider farming the open ocean in a responsible manner. However, offshore environments can be energetic (seas > 8 m) making it difficult to maintain surface cage systems. To minimize potential storm damage, submerged c...

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Main Authors: Michael Chambers, Michael Coogan, Michael Doherty, Chris Rillahan, Pal Lader, Willaim H. Howell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Aquaculture
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1506210/full
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author Michael Chambers
Michael Coogan
Michael Doherty
Chris Rillahan
Pal Lader
Willaim H. Howell
author_facet Michael Chambers
Michael Coogan
Michael Doherty
Chris Rillahan
Pal Lader
Willaim H. Howell
author_sort Michael Chambers
collection DOAJ
description To meet growing seafood demands, the US aquaculture industry will need to consider farming the open ocean in a responsible manner. However, offshore environments can be energetic (seas > 8 m) making it difficult to maintain surface cage systems. To minimize potential storm damage, submerged culture technologies can be employed to safeguard the infrastructure and product. Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have potential as an offshore species, though they have open air bladders (physostomous), and need access to air to inflate their swim bladders. To address this concern, three experiments were developed to explore the ability of O. mykiss to cope with extended periods of submergence. The studies used small (~300 g) and large (~1000 g) trout, in cages that ranged from 3.7 to 68 m3, that were submerged for periods of one to four weeks. Data storage tags (DST), sonar and video were used to quantify their ability to manage with submergence. Results indicated differences in growth, condition, and mortality among the treatments. The study suggests O. mykiss can be submerged for days to weeks with no negative effects, but that submergence times >3 weeks can be detrimental. It is therefore recommended that when culturing O. mykiss in areas exposed to severe storms or hazardous environmental conditions (e.g. harmful algal blooms or icing), submersible cages should be utilized to avoid these events up to 3 weeks.
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spelling doaj-art-1b263e50a2164ceda1558987203d30bf2025-02-06T10:56:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aquaculture2813-53342025-02-01310.3389/faquc.2024.15062101506210Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United StatesMichael Chambers0Michael Coogan1Michael Doherty2Chris Rillahan3Pal Lader4Willaim H. Howell5School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United StatesSchool of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United StatesSchool of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United StatesSchool for Marine Science & Technology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA, United StatesDepartment of Marine Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United StatesTo meet growing seafood demands, the US aquaculture industry will need to consider farming the open ocean in a responsible manner. However, offshore environments can be energetic (seas > 8 m) making it difficult to maintain surface cage systems. To minimize potential storm damage, submerged culture technologies can be employed to safeguard the infrastructure and product. Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have potential as an offshore species, though they have open air bladders (physostomous), and need access to air to inflate their swim bladders. To address this concern, three experiments were developed to explore the ability of O. mykiss to cope with extended periods of submergence. The studies used small (~300 g) and large (~1000 g) trout, in cages that ranged from 3.7 to 68 m3, that were submerged for periods of one to four weeks. Data storage tags (DST), sonar and video were used to quantify their ability to manage with submergence. Results indicated differences in growth, condition, and mortality among the treatments. The study suggests O. mykiss can be submerged for days to weeks with no negative effects, but that submergence times >3 weeks can be detrimental. It is therefore recommended that when culturing O. mykiss in areas exposed to severe storms or hazardous environmental conditions (e.g. harmful algal blooms or icing), submersible cages should be utilized to avoid these events up to 3 weeks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1506210/fullopen ocean aquaculturesubmergenceOncorhynchus mykissopen oceansubmerged aquaculture
spellingShingle Michael Chambers
Michael Coogan
Michael Doherty
Chris Rillahan
Pal Lader
Willaim H. Howell
Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
Frontiers in Aquaculture
open ocean aquaculture
submergence
Oncorhynchus mykiss
open ocean
submerged aquaculture
title Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
title_full Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
title_fullStr Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
title_short Feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the United States
title_sort feasibility and challenges of submerged culture of steelhead trout oncorhynchus mykiss for open ocean aquaculture in the united states
topic open ocean aquaculture
submergence
Oncorhynchus mykiss
open ocean
submerged aquaculture
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1506210/full
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