1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The aquacultural production of Great Lakes fin-fish as a high-quality protein food source for human consumption is an untapped resource in the U.S. food production sector. The goal of this project is to enhance and stimulate aquaculture in the Great Lakes region and place it on a sound technical, scientific and economic basis. The additional funds requested will be used for student salaries to help accomplish our objectives. The primary objectives of this project are to develop:.
1)genetically improved domesticated broodstocks of yellow perch with traits for year-round reproduction;.
2)the optimal culture technology for year-round fingerling production and one-year grow out; and.
3)environmentally compatible and sustainable aquaculture systems for year-round viable production of Great Lakes species. Additional funds will be used to continue to develop molecular & proteomic tools to support genetic improvement of yellow perch, and identify physiological mechanisms that influence yellow perch production.

1b.Approach (from AD-416)
The approach will focus on Intensive Aquaculture Technology and its application in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. As part of this effort, ARS will genetically evaluate strains of Great Lakes species, primarily yellow perch, from different geographical regions for biological characteristics important to commercial aquaculture, such as enhanced growth, disease and stress resistance, broodstock reproduction, gamete production & quality; out-of-cycle spawning, and year-round fingerling production. Special diet formulations will be tested on all early life stages as a function of food acceptance, growth, survival, cost effectiveness, etc. Environmentally compatible & sustainable aquaculture systems will be compared & evaluated based on their potential for commercial production (high-yield grow-out). Measured parameters for successful aquaculture production will include system performance relative to loading density (water quality); stocking density; physical, chemical & biological system management; effluent production & waste management; and cost effectiveness.

3.Progress Report
This report serves to document research and other related activities conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Wisconsin Great Lakes WATER Institute (UWM-GLWI). Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 3655-31000-020-00D, "Improving Great Lakes Aquaculture Production." • In 2006 & 2007, genomic DNA was collected from 16 different yellow perch populations and genetic analyses have been done to determine the genetic diversity of these populations. Our findings show that.
1)sampled perch populations fall into two genetic clusters, one from East coast populations (North Carolina and Maryland) and the second from Midwest (Wisconsin, North Dakota and Lake Michigan) populations;.
2)genetic analyses indicate that the East coast populations are more genetically diverse;.
3)over 200 new microsatellites have been sequenced and the utility/effectiveness of 100 of these new microsatellites has been determined using two distinct perch populations and 6 have been selected for ongoing analyses of perch populations that have been sampled. • Four cDNA libraries have been constructed from tissues (brain and liver) from estrogen-treated yellow perch, and we have used high-throughput sequencing to sequence and annotate approximately 16,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from these cDNA libraries. The new microsatellites are a product of these efforts. • Germplasm has been collected from perch populations showing high allele richness and pair crossed to establish young perch that are currently undergoing grow-out trials for further selection and use as broodstock. • We are continuing research to optimize survival and growth of developing yellow perch. Our intensive Aquaculture Technology (IAT) approach is a work in progress with emphasis on improving early life stage survival and the development of commercial diets fed at the on-set of first feeding. The results from this research will improve production of perch fingerlings and provide a more cost-effective approach to yellow perch aquaculture. o We have also developed methods to alter the timing of perch reproduction to achieve out-of-cycle spawning. Fecundity of these adult populations, and progeny performance, are being evaluated.

Monitoring activities for this SCA include almost daily interactions between ARS personnel and SCA participants due to proximity at the same institute. In addition to this, we have held 2 meetings, with all cooperators, at the Great Lakes WATER Institute. The most recent meeting was held February 2, 2007. Other modes of monitoring include semi-annual reports and attendance at regional meetings.