Outreach & Extension: Finfish
Contact: Andrew LazurFinfish culture for food in Maryland has declined due to an unstable market, increasing costs, and competition. While working to identify finfish species that may be more marketable, Maryland Sea Grant specialists are also helping to restore a species long lost to the Chesapeake, the Atlantic sturgeon. Sea Grant Extension is working to develop captive Atlantic sturgeon broodstock to support future spawning and stock enhancement efforts. In addition, as part of the Mid-Atlantic Sturgeon Partnership, Sea Grant specialists have educated the public about Atlantic sturgeon, their historical significance in Chesapeake Bay, their current plight, and their chances for restoration. Partnerships efforts also improved technologies used for larval nutrition, hatchery culture, and sex determination.
Specialists are also working to advance the efficiency of recirculating aquaculture systems. Currently, recirculating systems are limited in their use, range, and size, but they offer great commercial promise due to their ability to support year-round fish production while conserving water. Sea Grant specialists have been developing materials to help prospective operators better evaluate issues surrounding the operational efficiency and economic viability of recirculating systems.
Useful Link
Finfish Aquaculture Fact Sheets
