National Program 106-Aquaculture

Action Plan (2010-2014)

 

Goal: The U.S. aquaculture industries face formidable challenges.  The demand for seafood is increasing worldwide, yet the ability for U.S. aquaculture producers to meet that demand requires development of technologies to reduce the cost of production while maintaining and improving product quality.  Producers, processors and breeders are in need of systems that successfully identify, promote, and harness the aquatic animal improvements to maximize profits, secure supply, reduce environmental impacts, increase market competitiveness, sustain small and mid-sized scale producers, and earn consumer confidence.  Research in the disciplines of genetics, nutrition, health, and physiology will support the biological improvement of animals, while ecology, engineering and economics will support the improvement of systems and help to ensure sustainability. 

 

The vision for ARS aquaculture research and technology transfer is to support a thriving domestic industry based on improved genetic stocks and scientific information on biotechnologies and management practices to ensure a high quality, safe supply of healthful seafood and aquatic products.

 

Our research components strive to develop and ensure an abundant, safe, and affordable supply of seafood products for the 300 million U.S. consumers produced in a healthy, competitive, and sustainable aquaculture sector, a sector supported by over 4,300 aquaculture farmers that produced in excess of $1 billion dollars worth of goods in 2005 (NASS, 2005 Census of Aquaculture).

 

Aquaculture Program Components

• Understanding, Improving, and Effectively Using Animal Genetic and Genomic Resources
• Enhancing Animal Performance, Well-being and Efficiency in Diverse Production Systems
• Defining Nutrient Requirements, Nutrient Composition of Feedstuffs and Expanding Alternative Ingredients
• Improving Health and Welfare of Aquatic Animals
• Improving Production Systems, Developing New Products and Enhancing Product Quality.

 

 

This National Program mission follows from the USDA/ARS Strategic Plan (see http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/00000000/ARSStrategicPlan2006-2011.pdf), which is directed toward achieving goals mandated by the USDA Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area Strategic Plan (see http://www.ocfo.usda.gov/usdasp/usdasp.htm).

 

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