Dr. Michael Rust
Supervisory Team Leader
Program Staff Directory
Projects/Teams
Enhancement
Dr. Michael Rust
Nutritional Technologies
Harold Barnett
Research Publications
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The Marine Fish Biology team works to improved ecological conditions in coastal habitats, and the application of aquaculture technologies. Environmentally safe aquaculture is economically important to the Pacific Northwest and has immense potential for the production of seafood. Aquaculture can relieve harvest pressure on declining fishery resources, create jobs, promote economic growth, and help to decrease the trade deficit in edible fisheries products. The critical need in aquaculture is to develop total production systems for each target species that provide managers with complete and reliable control over the biology and husbandry of marketable fish and shellfish.
Over-utilization of marine fish stocks is well documented for all coastal regions in the United States. On the West Coast, only 3 out of 40 stocks are classified as underutilized. But depleted stocks can be rebuilt successfully through better management, improved ecological conditions in coastal habitats, and the application of aquaculture technologies.
Manchester scientists have identified popular Puget Sound species for enhancement. Early achievements include the successful spawning and propagation of lingcod and some rockfish species. Puget Sound is being surveyed for the best potential sites for research on release practices.
Aquaculture of Marine Species
Environmentally safe aquaculture is economically important to the Pacific Northwest and has immense potential for the production of seafood. Aquaculture can relieve harvest pressure on declining fishery resources, create jobs, promote economic growth, and help to decrease the trade deficit in edible fisheries products.
The critical need in aquaculture is to develop total production systems for each target species that provide managers with complete and reliable control over the biology and husbandry of marketable fish and shellfish.
Current research at Manchester by aquaculture scientists and engineers focuses on developing integrated culture systems for the production of important Northwest species such as sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Some of these species are now being reared to market size in floating net-pens.
Manchester scientists have recently helped form the Pacific Aquaculture Caucus and have formulated a Code of Conduct for the aquaculture industy. These support important NMFS goals for growth in aquaculture while protecting the marine environment.
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