**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 UNITED STATES FACES A BILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT IN IMPORTED SEAFOOD YEARLY WHICH MAY BE PARTIALLY ADDRESSED BY FARMING LARGE FRESHWATER SHRIMP (I.E., PRAWNS) WHICH IS NOT LIMITED TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES. ALTHOUGH PRAWNS ARE SUCCESSFULLY FARMED IN ASIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, THEY HAVE FAILED TO FIND SUCCESS IN THE U.S. THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THE HATCHERY PRODUCTION OF SEED (I.E., BABY PRAWNS) IS HIGHLY TECHNICAL, LABOR INTENSIVE, AND PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO SHIP, RESULTING IN FARMERS LACKING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE SEED.THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO ACQUIRE PRELIMINARY AND PROOF OF CONCEPT DATA FOR AN AUTOMATED, INEXPENSIVE, AND SIMPLE TO USE LARVAE PRODUCTION SYSTEM AT TWO SCALES (55 GALLON AND APPROXIMATELY 500 GALLON) THAT FARMERS CAN USE TO PRODUCE PRAWN SEED. THE SYSTEM IS CALLED LIKE (LARVAE INTENSIVE KINETIC ENVIRONMENT) AND USES A DOWNWARD-THRUSTING PROPELLER TO CREATE WATER CURRENTS THAT POWER MUCH OF THE SYSTEM'S AUTOMATION AND TECHNICAL SIMPLICITY. PRELIMINARY WORK CONFIRMED THE BASIC PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THE LIKE SYSTEM OPERATES, BUT A LACK OF RESOURCES PREVENTED OPTIMIZATION OF THE SYSTEM. SEED FUNDING IS THUS BEING SOUGHT TO OBTAIN THIS NECESSARY DATA AND TO HELP IN THE DISSEMINATION OF THIS DATA TO LAY AUDIENCES. THESE DATA WILL ENABLE THE APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR FUTURE AFRI GRANTS PERTAINING TO REGIONAL HATCHERIES, ADULT PRAWN CULTURE, AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF A U.S. PRAWN INDUSTRY, ALL OF WHICH HAVE THE PREREQUISITE OF DEMONSTRATING THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE PRAWN SEED. THE BROADER OUTCOME OF THIS WORK WILL BE TO REDUCE U.S. DEPENDANCE ON IMPORTED SHRIMP AND PROVIDING INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TO U.S. FARMERS.