USDAARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture

1
USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water
Aquaculture Leetown, West Virginia
2
NCCCWALocationDetails

• Located on property of USGS Leetown Science
  Center
• 30,000 sq. ft. laboratory/office
• 20,000 sq. ft. hatchery

3
Researchers at the NCCCWA combine genetics,
molecular biology, physiology, fish health and
environmental engineering to develop strains of
rainbow trout for aquaculture production
efficiency.
4
Sampling Broodstock for Genetic Analysis
5
Effects of genetics These fish are the exact
same age and were reared in similar environments.
6
NCCCWA Hatchery

• 1000 gallons of water per minute at 54-56F from
  a combination of 5 springs and 2 wells
• 30 of the water is reused
• Photoperiod matches outdoor environment
• Quarantine facility for fish health research

7
NCCCWA Hatchery

• Holds 10,000 300,000 fish depending on season
• About 4,000 brooders
• Holds 10,000 15,000 pounds of fish
• Spawn from January thru March

8
3.5 year old 12 pound female
2.5 year old 13 pound male
9
The Spawning Process in Rainbow Trout
10
12.8 pound rainbow trout female prior to spawn
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Before and after spawning 2.5 pounds of eggs
15
Milt collection from males
16
(No Transcript)
17
Addition of milt to eggs
18
Add water to activate and fertilize
19
Incubate in water at 54F
20
30 days to hatch depending on water temperature
21
Day 4 after fertilization
22
Day 6
Day 6
23
Day 7
24
Day 8
25
Day 9
26
Day 13
27
Day 14
28
Day 16
29
Day 23
30
Hatch
31
Day 33 Sac Fry
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
Fingerlings
36
Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags allow
for the identification of individual fish
37
Identification of individual fish permits
collection of information such as length and
weight data