Developing Tools and Protocols to Establish Freshwater Cod (Burbot; Lota lota) as a New Commercial Aquaculture Species in the US.

This project addresses production efficiency and competitiveness within the private sector ofcommercial aquaculture in the United States (US). New technologies to enhance knowledge for theexpansion of domestic aquaculture will be the focus of this application. Specifically the aim is toapply developed technology to establish Evergreen Aquatics as the first commercial hatchery in theUS to produce "freshwater cod" or burbot (Lota lota) fingerlings. Burbot are commonly referred toby such names as "Freshwater Cod" "Ling" or "Poor Man's Lobster" and represent an excitingopportunity for aquaculture expansion and increased food security and economic growth in the US.We will address the current barriers to commercial burbot fingerling production throughaccomplishing three primary objectives; 1. Development of immersion vaccine to combatAeromonas sp. 2. Examine effect of carbon dioxide levels on the prevelance of juvenille swimbladder hyperinflation and 3. Develop techniques for tetraploid broodstock for use in creatingtriploid fingerlings for market. This application addresses the priorities outlined in section 8.7USDA NIFA Phase I RFA.