**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 PROPOSED PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT YELLOW PERCH (PERCA FLAVESCENS) AQUACULTURE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LARVAL/JUVENILE REARING TECHNOLOGY AND DOCUMENTING THE PRESENCE OF OFF- ODORS AND TAINTS IN THE FINAL FILLETS. AVAILABILITY OF FEED TRAINED YELLOW PERCH JUVENILES CURRENTLY LIMITS THE CAPACITY OF INTENSIVE, INDOOR CULTURE OPERATIONS TO OBTAIN MARKETABLE SIZE PERCH.CURRENT PERCH CULTURE METHODS DURING THIS CRITICAL PERIOD RESULTED IN PAST LOW SURVIVAL (<10%) AND HETEROGENOUS FISH SIZE (CANNIBALISM). INDOOR INTENSIVE CULTURE OF YELLOW PERCH LARVAE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND SUCCESSFULLY USED AT THE OSU AQUACULTURE LABORATORY IN A SPECIALIZED RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAINTAINS CONDITIONS OF ELEVATED SALINITY AND ALGAL TURBIDITY WITH HIGH LIVE FOOD DENSITY (MARINE ROTIFERS AND BRINE SHRIMP) AND REGULARLY ACHIEVES 60-70% SURVIVAL AND 60-65% SWIM BLADDER INFLATION AT HIGH STOCKING DENSITIES (30-40 LARVAE/L). WE WILL ALSO ENHANCE CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF CULTURED PERCH BY MINIMIZING TAINTS PRODUCED DURING PRODUCTION. INDOOR CULTURE OPERATIONS CAN PRODUCE CONDITIONS WHERE GEOSMIN AND 2-METHYLISOBORNEOL, THE MOST IMPORTANT TAINTS IN FRESHWATER FISH, BUILD UP IN THE FISH MUSCLE. FISH WILL BE GROWN OUT IN DIFFERENT RECIRCULATION SYSTEMS AT TWO COMMERCIAL FACILITIES AND THE RESULTING FISH STUDIED TO DETERMINE CONDITIONS WHICH PREVENT PRODUCTION OF OFF-FLAVOR TAINTS IN THE FILLETS. IMPROVED GROWING CONDITIONS AND INSIGHT INTO THE FILLET QUALITY WILL EXPAND THE MARKETABILITY POTENTIAL OF CULTURED PERCH AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE APPLIED TO OTHER COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT PERCID SPECIES.

Ohio State University, The, Columbus OH

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