The Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N), led by Dr. Yonathan Zohar, was established in 2019. It served as a collaborative hub to identify and address major barriers affecting the commercial production of salmon in land-based aquaculture systems in the U.S. Members of the RAS-N hub can be viewed at the bottom of the page in a drop-down menu, where visitors can click on each header to reveal names and photos of the team members.
Through extensive dialogue with industry leaders, RAS-N developed a comprehensive understanding of the sector’s challenges. From these insights, the network drafted a concept paper articulating key findings and recommendations. This document now serves as a foundation for initiatives aimed at enhancing the industry’s sustainability and productivity.
In a significant development, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a call for projects aligned with their Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Sustainable Agriculture Systems program. This announcement coincided well with RAS-N’s goals. Recognizing the opportunity, RAS-N leveraged its findings to apply for funding in 2021. The proposal was successful, resulting in a new project led by Zohar: Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS²).
Building on RAS-N’s momentum, the SAS² project has 17 objectives addressing industry-informed priorities. Project leads are tackling challenges with innovative, practical solutions. These objectives span critical areas, from improving water reuse efficiency to establishing domestic production of Atlantic salmon eggs. By focusing on these key issues, SAS² aims to overcome specific bottlenecks identified by RAS-N. The project’s multifaceted approach addresses immediate industry needs while laying the groundwork for long-term growth and sustainability in U.S. land-based salmon aquaculture. To learn more about the SAS² project and its objectives, click here.
More information about early industry partners can be viewed on the RAS-N partners page.
Photo credit for header photo at top: Sara Stathas, taken at Superior Fresh.