April 20th-21st, 2023: Special SAS2 Session

RASTECH, Grande Lakes, FL

Special Session Presentations

Introduction and updates from SAS2 – Yonathan Zohar, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), University of Maryland Baltimore County

SAS2– Enabling water, nutrient and energy upcycling in land-based salmon farms- Steven Summerfelt, Superior Fresh

Establishing domestic RAS-specific broodstock for year-round production of optimally performing offspring- Heather Hamlin, Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine

A review of research to reduce early maturation in Atlantic salmon- Chris Good, Freshwater Institute

Mitigating early maturation in Atlantic salmon using gene silencing -Ten-Tsao Wong, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), University of Maryland Baltimore County

Exploring current and novel off-flavor mitigation technologies and predictive modeling in RAS – Matthew Stromberg, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), University of Maryland Baltimore County

Zero water discharge in the ‘Purging While Feeding’ water treatment process – Igal Magen, BioFishency

Differences between blood metabolite profiles in RAS Atlantic salmon fed fishmeal versus insect meal diets – Allen Place (presented by John Stubblefield), Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences

Presentations from Other Sessions

Innovations in aquaculture workforce development programming in Maine and beyond – M. Scarlett Tudor, University of Maine

Dr. Yonathan Zohar hosted a special session at RASTECH 2023 to share ongoing innovative research with RAS industry stakeholders

September 27th-29th , 2022: Joint Conference of Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N) and Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS2)

Orono, ME

Industry Panels

Seedstock Moderated by Mike Pietrak (USDA-ARS)

Panelists: Brian Peterson (USDA-ARS), Ben Perry (Benchmark Genetics), Heather Hamlin (University of Maine), Tom Sorby (Kingfish Maine), Nick King (Nordic Aquafarms)

Fish Performance and Health Moderated by Debbie Bouchard (University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute)

Panelists: Steve Backman (Skretting), Bill Keleher (Kennebec River BioSciences), Kathleen Hartman (USDA-APHIS)

Feeds and Feeding Moderated by Matt Hawkyard (University of Maine)

Panelists: Sarah Cook (Skretting), Allen Place (IMET), Andrew Swanson (Cooke Aquaculture)

Workforce Development Moderated by Debbie Bouchard (University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute)

Panelists: Scarlett Tudor (University of Maine), Tish Carr (Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) Program), Adam Frederick (Maryland Sea Grant), Keiko Saito (IMET), Alejandro Rojas (AquaBounty)

Industry Challenges Moderated by Steve Summerfelt (Superior Fresh)

Panelists: Ten-Tsao Wong (IMET), Kevin Sowers (IMET), Chris Haughey, (Exciton Clean), Michael Thompson (Penobscot Environmental Consulting), Nordic Aquafarms

Consumer Education and Marketing Moderated by Jim Hurley (Wisconsin Sea Grant)

Panelists: Sharon Moen (Wisconsin Sea Grant), Chris Davis (Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center), Qiujie Zheng (Atlantic Corp), Steve Summerfelt (Superior Fresh), Kaitlynn Ritchie (Morgan State University), Isaac Wu (Virginia Tech)

Research and Program Presentations

Off-flavor Research Updates – John Davidson (Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute)

Precision Aquaculture in RAS – Mathew Zimola (ReelData)

Community Engagement and Social License to Operate- Emily Whitmore (University of New Hampshire)

RAS-N Road Map and Strategic Plan- John Stubblefield (IMET)

Next Steps for Network – Debbie Bouchard (University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute) and Yonathan Zohar (IMET)

Keynote Speakers

September 28th: Erik Heim (Xcelerate Aqua)

September 29th: Tony Sutton (University of Maine)

Following field trips to USDA Franklin, the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, and University of Maine's Aquatic Animal Health Lab, attendees enjoyed a lobster lunch provided by this year's hosts at the University of Maine

March 1st, 2022: Special RAS Session

Aquaculture America, San Diego, CA 

Research Presentations

Off-Flavor Observations: Factors Influencing Accumulation in RAS and New Information on Geosmin Taste-Threshold In Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Fillets – John Davidson, Freshwater Institute

A Novel Advanced Oxidation Technology That Rapidly Removes Geosmin and MIB from Water and Significantly Reduces Atlantic Salmon Depuration Time – Terence Barry, Exciton 

Replacing Soy Protein with Insect Meal In a Fishmeal Free Diet for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar – Allen Place, IMET

Conversion of Solid Waste to Biogas in a Saltwater Recirculating Aquaculture System for Atlantic salmon – Kevin Sowers, IMET

Challenges to Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Streams from Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Facilities – Abhinav Choudhury, Freshwater Institute. Free access article can be accessed here

The Effects of Two Water Temperature Regimes On Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Growth Performance and Maturation in Freshwater Recirculating Aquaculture Systems – Chris Good, Freshwater Institute. Free access article can be accessed here.

Evaluating Freshwater Fluidized Sand Biofilter Performance Following Exposure to Low-Dose Peracetic Acid Treatments- Chris Good, Freshwater Institute

A roundtable for stakeholders at Aquaculture America following a special session on RAS and the first time seeing one another in person since the start of COVID
The winter RAS-N 2021 Workshop hoped to meet in person, but COVID surges slightly post-poned the meeting and entered virtual space

October 8-9, 2020: Second Annual RAS-N Workshop (virtual meeting)

Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Baltimore, Maryland

The RAS-N 2020 Workshop practiced social distancing by going virtual, hosting 170 people online

December 10-11, 2019: Inaugural RAS-N Workshop

Harbor View Event Center, Washburn, Wisconsin

Industry updates

Thoughts for the Future of Land-based Aquaculture, Jesse Trushenski, Director of Science, Riverence

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility overview, Greg Fischer, Assistant Director/Research Program Manager

Raising Fish with Care: The Fundamentals of Animal Welfare in Aquaculture, Jesse Trushenski, Director of Science, Riverence

Research presentations
The Aquatic Barn at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, located in Bayfield, Wis. (Photo: Emma Wiermaa)

Photo credit for header photo at top: Narayan Mahon, taken at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility.