** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS SUPPORTING ATLANTIC SALMON (SAS2) PROGRAM IS A US/GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY THAT WILL USE A TRANSDISCIPLINARY, INTEGRATIVE SYSTEMS-APPROACH TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSFORMATIVE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE ATLANTIC SALMON FARMING IN THE US. CURRENTLY, 95% OF SALMON CONSUMED IN THE US ARE IMPORTED, CONTRIBUTING $3.4B ANNUALLY TO OUR TRADE DEFICIT. CURRENT SALMON FARMING PRACTICES IN FLOATING COASTAL NET-PENS CANNOT EXPAND DUE TO STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. SAS2 COMBINES RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION TO ADDRESS THE MAJOR CHALLENGES TO THE SUCCESS OF A RAPIDLY EMERGING INNOVATIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPATIBLE PLATFORM OF SALMON FARMING - RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS (RAS) THAT ARE LAND-BASED AND FULLY CONTAINED. IN COLLABORATION WITH MAJOR US RAS PRODUCERS, LEADING AQUACULTURE SCIENTISTS WILL CARRY OUT RESEARCH FOCUSING ON INDUSTRY-IDENTIFIED IMPEDIMENTS TO THE EXPANSION OF THIS INDUSTRY, INCLUDING EGG PRODUCTION, ECOLOGICALLY-RESPONSIBLE AND EFFICIENT FEEDS, INCREASED WATER RE-USE, MINIMIZED WASTE, IMPROVED PRODUCT QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC ANALYSES. AQUACULTURE EDUCATORS WILL DEVELOP RAS-RELATED STEM CURRICULA AND MODULES AT MULTIPLE EDUCATION LEVELS AND FOCUS EFFORTS ON THE URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP A TRAINED WORKFORCE FOR THE GROWING INDUSTRY. AQUACULTURE EXTENSION AGENTS WILL WORK WITH INDUSTRY TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THIS NEW FORM OF FARMING, ENGAGE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ENABLE EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM ACADEMIA TO INDUSTRY AND ENSURE FISH HEALTH AND SEAFOOD SAFETY. ADDRESSING THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION AND VALUE-ADDED INNOVATIONS GOALS OF THE USDA/AFRI/SAS PROGRAM, SAS2 IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABLE US AQUACULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS AND ENHANCE LIFE FOR FISH FARMERS AND SOCIETY.