**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AQUAPONIC PRACTICES IN SMALL AND MID-SCALE SYSTEMS HAVE OFTEN LOW REVENUE BECAUSE FISH PRODUCTION IS SUBOPTIMAL COMPARED TO PLANT PRODUCTION. THEREFORE, THERE IS A NEED TO FIND NEW COMMERCIAL FISH CULTURE MODELS THAT INTEGRATE WITH ESTABLISHED PLANT CULTURES IN AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS AND MAXIMIZE THE PROFITABILITY OF MID AND SMALL-SCALE AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS. OUR EXPLORATORY SEED PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY NOVEL FISH MODELS THAT CAN LEAD TO NEW LINES OF PRODUCTION IN AQUAPONICS. THUS, WE WILL CHARACTERIZE THE REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT AND OPTIMIZED WELFARE PARAMETERS OF GREEN SWORDTAIL AND OF FATHEAD MINNOW CULTURES IN A SMALL-SCALE AND MID-SCALE BASIL AQUAPONIC SET-UP. WE ADDITIONALLY PROPOSE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO ADVANCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND LOCAL FARMERS (E.G., DESIGN OF A NEW AQUAPONIC COURSES DIRECTED TO INCREASE THE AQUAPONICS TASKFORCE). THIS PROPOSAL IS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM AREA AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND DIRECTLY FITS THE PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY OF SMALLAND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS. OUR LONG-TERM AIM IS TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT NEW FISH CULTURE MODELS THAT ASSIST FARMERS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AQUAPONICS STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL ENHANCE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE FARM MARKET. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY ADDRESSING THE NEED OF 1) CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW MARKETS IN AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS 2) PROMOTE NOVEL FISH CULTURE AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE IN AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS 3) DEVELOP EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION/OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.