Methods for reproductive sterilization are broadly needed in marine aquaculture due to biosafety concerns associated with escapement of farmed fish and potential genetic contamination of wild stocks. Current methods for sterilization have been primarily tested in freshwater fishes and are often ineffective, particularly in males. The proposed activity builds upon our recent success in producing the first-ever monosex female stocks of sablefish for aquaculture and seeks to develop eco-friendly, non-GMO methods for reproductive sterilization. We will use sablefish as our model marine species for sterilization and continue to collaborate with University of Maryland faculty with expertise in cutting-edge techniques for sterilization. Development of sustainable marine aquaculture is a high priority at the local (NWFSC), regional (WCR), and national levels (NOAA, DOC, Congress). Our sablefish sex control/sterilization project was also highlighted as a critical priority and outstanding area of research in the NOAA Aquaculture Science Review published 28 Feb 2019. We ultimately aim to transfer a sterilization technology to the US sablefish aquaculture industry and expand our methodology to other important species, with the goal of improving sustainability of marine aquaculture and mitigating impacts on the environment. Raw data on rearing densities, tanks, water temperature, mortalities, ration and feed size may be available.

Methods for reproductive sterilization are broadly needed in marine aquaculture due to biosafety concerns associated with escapement of farmed fish and potential genetic contamination of wild stocks. Current methods for sterilization have been primarily tested in freshwater fishes and are often ineffective, particularly in males. The proposed activity builds upon our recent success in producing the first-ever monosex female stocks of sablefish for aquaculture and seeks to develop eco-friendly, non-GMO methods for reproductive sterilization. We will use sablefish as our model marine species for sterilization and continue to collaborate with University of Maryland faculty with expertise in cutting-edge techniques for sterilization. Development of sustainable marine aquaculture is a high priority at the local (NWFSC), regional (WCR), and national levels (NOAA, DOC, Congress). Our sablefish sex control/sterilization project was also highlighted as a critical priority and outstanding area of research in the NOAA Aquaculture Science Review published 28 Feb 2019. We ultimately aim to transfer a sterilization technology to the US sablefish aquaculture industry and expand our methodology to other important species, with the goal of improving sustainability of marine aquaculture and mitigating impacts on the environment. Fish in experiments are often PIT tagged and regularly checked for growth in fork length and body weight.

Methods for reproductive sterilization are broadly needed in marine aquaculture due to biosafety concerns associated with escapement of farmed fish and potential genetic contamination of wild stocks. Current methods for sterilization have been primarily tested in freshwater fishes and are often ineffective, particularly in males. The proposed activity builds upon our recent success in producing the first-ever monosex female stocks of sablefish for aquaculture and seeks to develop eco-friendly, non-GMO methods for reproductive sterilization. We will use sablefish as our model marine species for sterilization and continue to collaborate with University of Maryland faculty with expertise in cutting-edge techniques for sterilization. Development of sustainable marine aquaculture is a high priority at the local (NWFSC), regional (WCR), and national levels (NOAA, DOC, Congress). Our sablefish sex control/sterilization project was also highlighted as a critical priority and outstanding area of research in the NOAA Aquaculture Science Review published 28 Feb 2019. We ultimately aim to transfer a sterilization technology to the US sablefish aquaculture industry and expand our methodology to other important species, with the goal of improving sustainability of marine aquaculture and mitigating impacts on the environment. Data on the expression of various genes in the gonads of sablefish during sex differentiation are collected.

This is a database of a variety of biological, reproductive, and energetic data collected from fish on the continental shelf in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Species sampled in this database thus far include winter flounder, yellowtail flounder, summer flounder, haddock, cusk, Atlantic wolffish, and Atlantic herring. Data are collected from fish provided principally from fishermen participating in the NECRP Study Fleet. Some fish are taken from other NECRP research studies, and a small number from NEFSC surveys and surveys by MADMF and URI GSO. The catch location data is provided in views from the relevant FVTR, SVDBS, or other tables for a few cooperative research or external programs. The biological data includes general physical data (weights, lengths, organ weights, macroscopic maturity stage), age data, and other reproductive data. Measures collected from preserved gonad samples includes data for estimation of fish fecundity (oocyte counts and diameters) and from grading gonad histology for determination of maturity and seasonal reproductive status. In addition, relative measures of energetic condition are collected (including tissue wet weight and dry weights and bioimpedance data), and for some fish food habits data were collected in the first 18 months of data collection.

Investigate olfactory imprinting techniques that will improve homing by hatchery salmon to their hatchery of origin, and thereby reduce potential risks from these fish to wild fish populations. Improvement of homing by hatchery salmon will have broad application in the Pacific Northwest and will allow managers to maximize the fishery benefit of returning hatchery fish to sport and commercial fisheries. Water chemistry.

Investigate olfactory imprinting techniques that will improve homing by hatchery salmon to their hatchery of origin, and thereby reduce potential risks from these fish to wild fish populations. Improvement of homing by hatchery salmon will have broad application in the Pacific Northwest and will allow managers to maximize the fishery benefit of returning hatchery fish to sport and commercial fisheries. Water chemistry.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) have a wide distribution along the Pacific coast, extending from Baja California to Alaska, the Bering Sea and through to the eastern coast of Japan. A unique feature of these fish is the wide variation in temperature and depth that sablefish experience throughout their life cycle, extending from depths 200m as adults to the surface as larvae and juveniles. While the landed weight of sablefish in the commercial fishery is relatively small, the exceptionally high value of this species ranks it 3rd in economic value to walleye pollock and Pacific cod. As such, sablefish are highly managed throughout the Pacific, and understanding the biology of this species is essential for proper management. The aim of this project is to characterize the reproductive life history of two populations of sablefish in coastal Washington and California. Fish will be collected from the same geographical location on a monthly basis for one year. The reproductive status will be determined from gonadal histology and plasma sex steroid levels, and age will be determined from otoliths. It is expected that data on size, age, rate of gonadal development, seasonal timing of spawning, fecundity, frequency of reproduction, and potential shifts in distribution of sexes will be obtained. This study applies directly to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act, because the data will be used to improve stock assessments and estimates of spawning biomass in this commercially important species. This project is a cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and scientists at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). Size, sex, gonad stage, fecundity.