October 17 and 18, 2023: SAS² 2023 Conference
Baltimore, MD
The second Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS²) conference brought 110 academic researchers, industry professionals, government officials, educators, and students together at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) in Baltimore in October 2023.
The conference consisted of nine panels addressing key challenges to the industry, populated by 50 panelists from the US and abroad, as well as two keynote presentations. Panelists represented diverse and transdisciplinary project partners from research, industry, federal, and education fields. The conference structure encouraged questions and commentary from the audience, which resulted in thoughtful discussions over the course of the conference. Participants also had the opportunity to tour aquaculture facilities at IMET’s Aquaculture Research Center and The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute (CFFI).
April 20th-21st, 2023: Special SAS2 Session
RASTECH, Grande Lakes, FL
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
Innovations in aquaculture workforce development programming in Maine and beyond – M. Scarlett Tudor, University of Maine
September 27th-29th , 2022: Joint Conference of Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N) and Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS2)
Orono, ME
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)
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)
September 28th: Erik Heim (Xcelerate Aqua)
September 29th: Tony Sutton (University of Maine)
March 1st, 2022: Special RAS Session
Aquaculture America, San Diego, CA
Building Capacity of Atlantic salmon RAS Production in the US: From RAS-N to SAS2 – Yonathan Zohar, IMET
Building Capacity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) RAS Production in the US Using an Industry Driven Stakeholder Network (RAS-N): Engagement and Extension Efforts – Catherine (Cat) Frederick, University of Maryland
Developing a Skilled Workforce for Advancing RAS Through Support from a National Collaborative Effort Utilizing Strong Industry Engagement – Emma Hauser, UWSP-NADF
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
February 8th-9th, 2022: Third Annual RAS-N Workshop (virtual)
University of Maine, Orono, ME
RAS-N Concept Paper and Next Steps for the Network – Yonathan Zohar, John Stubblefield, and Catherine Frederick, IMET
October 8-9, 2020: Second Annual RAS-N Workshop (virtual meeting)
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Baltimore, Maryland
December 10-11, 2019: Inaugural RAS-N Workshop
Harbor View Event Center, Washburn, Wisconsin
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
Biosecurity Auditing in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, Peter L. Merrill, Kennebec River Biosciences, Inc.
Fish Health Requirements and Response to Fish Disease Events, Myron Kebus, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection-Division of Animal Health
A New Approach to Reproductive Sterility in Salmonids, Ten-Tsao Wong and Yonathan Zohar
Salmon RAS and Solid Waste, Keiko Saito, et al.
Why Salmon Eating Insects Instead of Fish is Better for the Environment, Allen Place
The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute, Christopher Good
National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center Update, Brian C. Peterson
Atlantic Salmon Regulations in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Title 50 Regulations, Joel Bader
Aquaculture in Action: Tools for Teaching Science, J. Adam Frederick
Aquaculture Research Institute Workforce Development, Scarlett Tudor
Aquaculture Workforce Development Program: Interactive and Hands-on Application, Emma Wiermaa
UMCES: NOAA-EPP Funded Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Activities, Rosemary Jagus
Photo credit for header photo at top: Narayan Mahon, taken at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility.