Excerpts: Research conducted in NP 106 supports commercial aquaculture production to ensure that healthy, competitive, and sustainable aquaculture sector can produce an abundant, safe, healthy, and affordable supply of aquatic products. This report communicates research and technology transfer highlights supporting the US Aquaculture Industry from ARS scientists and their support staffs working in the Aquaculture National Program (NP106) from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. Some highlights: New catfish line out-performs again. -- Controlling disease vectors in catfish production systems. -- Developing techniques to understand the pond microbial community. -- Improving commercial hybrid catfish production. -- Using artificial intelligence for rapid, real-time evaluation of fish fillet color. -- Compost derived from aquaculture waste solids. -- A novel test for detecting risk factors in salmonoid fish health. -- Characterizing genetic regulation of IHNV disease resistance in rainbow trout. -- Hybrid striped bass fed an all-plant protein diet grown successfully to market size. -- Reducing the cost of genetic improvement in aquaculture. -- Non-destructive tissue sampling method for eastern oyster. -- Year-round spawning of California yellowtail. -- Economic scenarios indicate profitability for marine aquaculture in the US.
