Development of Large-Scale Sperm Cryopreservation Techniques for Striped Bass Aquaculture

Hybrid striped bass aquaculture is the fourth largest form of U.S. finfish production U.S. producers and university scientists recently formed a National Breeding Program to develop superior strains. To take advantage of the new strains and use them in commercial production facilities, methods of reliable storage and distribution of broodstock gametes are needed. Cryopreservation of sperm offers an inexpensive method of storing and distributing the gametes of promising strains. Working with the LSU Dairy Improvement Center, we will develop techniques for freezing, storing, and distributing striped bass sperm that take advantage of large-scale dairy cryopreservation facilities which offer modern, standardized and cost-effective methods for cryopreservation of sperm. Development of large-scale, standardized technologies for cryopreservation of striped bass and white bass sperm will be extremely beneficial in the commercial culture of hybrid striped bass. Cost-effective methods for cryopreserving, storing, and transporting sperm from selectively bred broodstock will assist in providing rapid-growing and disease-resistant strains of fingerlings to U.S. producers for grow-out. Also, since the sperm will be available throughout the year, eggs from female broodfish could be fertilized at any time. This will facilitate production of fingerlings and stocking of grow-out facilities on a year-round basis, which will greatly enhance production efficiencies in both intensive and extensive culture systems nationwide.