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.
Name: Dr. Yonathan (Yoni) Zohar
Role: Lead Principal Investigator
Affiliation: Professor and Chair of the Department of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Baltimore County; Director, Aquaculture Research Center at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Fredrika Moser
Role: Sea Grant Leadership and Co-Lead PI
Affiliation: Director, Maryland Sea Grant
Name: Dr. James Hurley
Role: Sea Grant Leadership
Affiliation: Director, Wisconsin Sea Grant
Name: Dr. Gayle Zydlewski
Role: Sea Grant Leadership
Affiliation: Director, Maine Sea Grant
Name: Dr. William (Bill) Hubbard
Role: Sea Grant Leadership
Affiliation: State Program Leader and Assistant Director, University of Maryland Environmental, Natural Resources & Sea Grant Extension Programs
Name: Greg Fischer
Role: Co-PI
Affiliation: Assistant Director/Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
Name: Dr. Chris Good
Role: Co-PI
Affiliation: Director of Research, The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute
Name: John Stubblefield
Role: Co-PI
Affiliation: Research Scientist, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Steve Summerfelt
Role: Co-PI
Affiliation: Chief Science Officer, Superior Fresh
Name: John Stubblefield
Role: Project Coordinator
Affiliation: Research Scientist, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Emma Wiermaa
Role: Communications Specialist
Affiliation: Outreach Specialist, University of Wiscosin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility and Wisconsin Sea Grant
Name: Dr. Catherine (Cat) Frederick
Role: RAS-N Extension Agent
Affiliation: University of Maryland Sea Grant College Extension Program
Name: Dr. Michael Allen
Role: Financial Manager
Affiliation: Associate Director for Research and Administration, Maryland Sea Grant
Name: Chris Bartlett
Affiliation: Extension Associate, Maine Sea Grant
Name: Jacob Bartlett
Affiliation: CEO, Whole Oceans
Name: Dr. Deborah Bouchard
Affiliation: Director, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine
Name: Greg Fischer
Affiliation: Assistant Director/Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
Name: Adam Frederick
Affiliation: Assistant Director for Education, Maryland Sea Grant
Name: Dr. Chris Good
Affiliation: Director of Research, The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute
Name: Brandon Gottsacker
Affiliation: President, Superior Fresh
Name: Dr. Chris Hartleb
Affiliation: Director, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
Name: Chris Hlubb
Affiliation: CEO, Salmo
Name: Dr. Rosemary Jagus
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Bill Keleher
Affiliation: Founder and CEO, Kennebec River Biosciences
Name: Dr. Jónas Jónasson
Affiliation: Production Manager, Benchmark Genetics
Name: Dr. Scott Knoche
Affiliation: Director, Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory, Morgan State University
Name: Dr. Geir Olav Melingen
Affiliation: Commercial Director, Benchmark Genetics
Name: Ole Christian Norvik
Affiliation: COO, AquaCon
Name: Brian Peterson
Affiliation: Research Leader, USDA-National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center
Name: Dr. Allen Place
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Keiko Saito
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Kevin Sowers
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Steve Summerfelt
Affiliation: Chief Science Officer, Superior Fresh
Name: Jesse Trushenski
Affiliation: Director, Animal Health and Welfare, Riverence
Name: Dr. Brian Vinci
Affiliation: Director, The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute
Name: Emma Wiermaa
Affiliation: Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility and Wisconsin Sea Grant
Name: Dr. Ten-Tsao Wong
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Name: Dr. Steve Summerfelt
Role: Chair, Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation: Chief Science Officer, Superior Fresh
Name: Dr. Robert Iwamoto
Role: Chair, External Review Panel
Affiliation: Director of Office, Management, and Information with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA), Retired
Name: Dr. Rick Barrows
Role: External Review Panel
Affiliation: Founder, Aquatic Feed Technologies; Former USDA nutrition scientist
Name: Danielle Blacklock
Role: External Review Panel
Affiliation: Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Name: Dr. Deborah Bouchard
Role: Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation: Director, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine
Name: Greg Fischer
Role: Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation:Assistant Director/Research Program Manager, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
Name: Adam Frederick
Role: Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation: Assistant Director for Education, Maryland Sea Grant
Name: Dr. Chris Good
Role: Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation: Director of Research, The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute
Name: Kristin Sarri
Role: External Review Panel
Affiliation: President and CEO, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Name: Dr. Jesse Trushenski
Role: Internal Steering Committee
Affiliation: Director, Animal Health and Welfare, Riverence
Photo credit for header photo at top: Sara Stathas, taken at Superior Fresh.