Learn More RAS
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What is land-based fish farming?
http://www.conservationfund.org/what-we-do/freshwater-institute Learn about the Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute and our recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which make it possible to grow salmon on land. -
Lake talk: Fish on land? The growth of land-based fish farming
In this installment of Wisconsin Sea Grant’s “Lake Talks” series, a trio of panelists will talk about aquaculture (fish farming) with a focus on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). You’ll learn about aquaculture research and outreach going on here in Wisconsin, and you’ll gain a broader view of what’s happening nationally and how it can help with America’s seafood trade deficit. You’ll also hear how U.S. fish farming and wild-caught fisheries can go hand in hand to supply sustainable seafood to American consumers.
Panelists are: Emma Hauser; Dr. Catherine (Cat) Frederick; and Dr. Jesse Trushenski. -
Land-based Salmon Farming Basics
This video describes the basics of how the Freshwater Institute raises Atlantic Salmon in land-based water recirculating aquaculture systems as part of their research developing and refining sustainable aquaculture production technologies. https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work/freshwater-institute.
The Freshwater Institute is an internationally recognized program of The Conservation Fund. For more than two decades, we have been one of the nation’s premier research and development facilities dedicated to sustainable water use and reuse.
As part of the The Conservation Fund, the Freshwater Institute embraces its dual-purpose mission to promote economic development and environmental protection. We focus on water as a natural resource asset important to ecological function, cultural heritage and economic opportunity.
From our campus in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, we combine applied research, engineering and economic development skills to show how freshwater resources achieve economic and environmental goals.
We work with government, industry, nonprofits and individuals to shape sustainable, environmentally responsible solutions to water resource management. Our team is known for academic productivity, professional leadership and consulting creativity. -
Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N) Meeting Recap
Last fall we became lead partners with University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), in a multi-state consortium to receive a $1.2 million grant to study how to optimally grow Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in land-based aquaculture systems. An inaugural meeting for this effort, which has been named the Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network, or RAS-N, was held in northern Wisconsin at the close of last year. Catch a glimpse of all that happened in our video recap.
Learn more about this grant in our press release:
https://www.mdsg.umd.edu/news/maryland-sea-grant-umbc-awarded-12-million-national-aquaculture-grant
Read more about the meeting in this story from our partners at Wisconsin Sea Grant:
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/salmon-aquaculture-project-kickoff/
Find out about our aquaculture work on our website:
https://www.mdsg.umd.edu/topics/fisheries/fisheries-and-aquaculture -
Research Priorities for Raising Atlantic Salmon in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
Atlantic salmon is a top seafood choice for Americans. Unfortunately, the United States imports around 96% of Atlantic salmon meet consumer demand. There is an urgent need and opportunity to increase domestic salmon aquaculture development in the United States. The Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon- Network (RAS-N) is the first of its kind public-private collaborative network and a hub of multidisciplinary expertise in land-based aquaculture and salmon technologies. Through strong industry and stakeholder support, RAS-N is facilitating the growth of environmentally sustainable and economically feasible Atlantic salmon production in the US. The guiding principle of the network is to understand industry gaps, impediments, and needs. Annual workshops provide opportunity to engage with stakeholders, bringing in national and global experts in RAS technologies and Atlantic salmon for their input and guidance. This video highlights the 1st annual workshop, hosted by the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility in Bayfield, WI in December of 2019. Further information visit: https://ras-n.org/ -
Voices of the Coast: Brandon Gottsacker of Superior Fresh
Brandon Gottsacker’s passion for fish developed well before he became the president of Superior Fresh, the world’s largest aquaponics facility located in Hixton, Wisconsin. Now, Brandon’s company supplies local, high-quality fish and organic leafy greens to the Midwest, and partners with Wisconsin Sea Grant on ground-breaking aquaculture research projects.
For more Superior Fresh, visit superiorfresh.com
Find Wisconsin Sea Grant in all of the following places:
Wisconsin Sea Grant: seagrant.wisc.edu
Wisconsin Water Resources Institute: wri.wisc.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/UWiscSeaGrant
Twitter: twitter.com/UWiscSeaGrant -
Land-Based Atlantic Salmon Production- Overcoming Barriers to Support Growth
Land-based closed containment salmonid production represents an important and growing sector of the overall aquaculture industry.
These land-based operations utilize water recirculation aquaculture systems, also known as RAS technologies. RAS can provide numerous benefits including; enhanced biosecurity, increased optimization and control over the fish rearing environment, effective capture of waste, no interaction between farmed fish and wild fish populations, and reduced overall carbon footprint by providing increased domestic seafood availability close to local markets.
Support for research and technology development is needed to facilitate the growth of this industry sector and is vital to meet U.S. seafood demand. Continued research and development in closed containment aquaculture production will also facilitate domestic agricultural economic contribution, job growth, and food security. This video explains two current barriers to this industry that UWSP NADF and partners are investigating and looking to overcome.
Please visit this project’s webpage for deliverables or more information: https://www.uwsp.edu/cols-ap/nadf/Pages/Overcoming-barriers-to-support-the-growth-of-land-based-Atlantic-salmon-.aspx -
Nanobubble Oxygenation in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
Nanobubbles are miniature gas bubbles that have been shown to have unique physiological benefits for fish. Nanobubbles can also more efficiently catalyze reactions of chemicals, thereby improving the efficiency of recirculating water treatment. Nanobubbles may also enhance activities of microbes and improve biofiltration in RAS. They are an environmentally friendly technique that could possibly reduce the size of the filtration systems resulting in significant potential for design and operational cost reduction.
This project will seek to study the revolutionary potential of nanobubbles at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility with collaborators:
University of Wisconsin-Sea Grant Institute
UW-Extension
Wisconsin Aquaculture Association
Praxair, Inc.
Gaia Water, Inc
This project is funded by NOAA National Sea Grant College Program. The outcome of this project as well as deliverables will be posted on the project webpage here: https://www.uwsp.edu/cols-ap/nadf/Pages/Nanobubble-Oxygenation-to-Enhance-Water-Quality.aspx -
Mitigating Off-Flavor in RAS-Produced Fish at The Freshwater Institute
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Freshwater Institute Advancements Meet Sustainable Seafood Challenges
For 30 years, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute has led the way in developing environmentally-friendly, land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) technology, which grows high-quality fish, recycles water, repurposes waste and can be produced anywhere. With its Aquaculture Research Lab, the Freshwater Institute has expanded its capacity to conduct cutting-edge research and development projects to help move the aquaculture industry forward, and meet consumer demand for protein that is healthy, safe and sustainable. Learn more at https://www.conservationfund.org/projects/increased-research-capacity-at-new-aquaculture-research-laboratory -
Atlantic salmon Arrive in Baltimore for Aquaculture Research
Atlantic salmon Arrive in Baltimore for Aquaculture Research at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology. -
Farming Fish on Land? Recirculating Aquaculture
Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of agriculture globally, yet the United States imports around 90% of seafood into the country. Learn more about the status of aquaculture in the U.S. as well as a brief overview of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems or RAS.
The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute is a world-leading research facility in land-based RAS technologies. They provide free public access to all trade publications and formal journal articles covering their work and results from research.
RASTECH Magazine has a digital edition of its quarterly magazine, which covers the latest global developments in land-based RAS. The magazine is a resource for RAS owners and operators, but it can be accessed by anyone interested in following global trends and learning some of the more technical aspects of RAS.
RAS Talk the Podcast: RAS Talk the Podcast is co-hosted by Dr. Brian Vinci, Director of the Freshwater Institute, and Catarina Muia, Editor of RASTECH Magazine and Hatchery International. Focused on highlighting current issues and trends in land-based RAS with industry leaders.
The Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) is one of several regional centers designed to provide extension and research needs in aquaculture. At this time, SRAC is the only regional center with fact sheets on recirculating aquaculture systems, but links to individual centers have been provided under “Agencies, Aquaculture Centers, and Associations.”
The Maine Aquaculture Association has published a number of industry-informed occupational standards for several aquaculture sectors in Maine, including land-based production. Although Maine-centric, it highlights skill needs that are applicable to specific industries regardless of region.
For those with some spending money who are interested in some of the more technical aspects of RAS, the Recirculating Aquaculture textbook can be purchased from Amazon.
National Aquaculture Association
Wisconsin Aquaculture Association
Aquaculture Regional Centers
North Central Regional Aquaculture Center: NCRAC represents aquaculture in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center: NRAC represents aquaculture in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center: SRAC represents aquaculture in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Virginia.
Western Regional Aquaculture Center: WRAC represents aquaculture in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.