Aquaculture research at COLSA

Aquaculture researchers at the UNH College of Life Sciences & Agriculture are investigating new and innovative methods of sustainable fishing, reducing prevalence of aquatic animal disease, and leveraging the many ecosystem services that marine life can provide. They're working closely with New Hampshire's growing fisheries industry to find solutions and tap new market opportunities, helping to advance sustainable aquaculture practices in the state, and lead industry-wide advancements.

Meet the COLSA Faculty Working in Aquaculture Research

COLSA Students Working in Aquaculture Research

Aquaculture Research at COLSA

An image of a finfish, photographed by aquaculture researcher David Berlinsky.

Using Fish Physiology to Help Growers of Commercially Important Species

Optimizing culture conditions and strains is necessary to assure adequate growth and survival of fishes cultured for food and for stock restoration. This work is also important to understand and, in some cases, mitigate the impacts of adverse environmental conditions on wild fishes. Read more

A photo of juvenile lumpfish on a tank bottom

Using Lumpfish in Aquaculture Production

UNH has been working with the New England aquaculture industry (salmon farmers in Maine and steelhead trout farmers in NH) to promote the use of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) as cleaner fish in salmonid cage culture to control parasitic sea lice. Read more

An image of juvenile oysters, called seeds, captured by aquaculture researcher Ray Grizzle

The Importance of Cultivated Eastern Oysters in Great Bay

Delicious eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are a favorite food of New Englanders. In New Hampshire, they are commercially produced on farms and can be recreationally harvested from wild reefs in the Great Bay Piscataqua River estuary. Current UNH research explores best practices for cultivating oysters and quantifying the ecological roles played by both wild and aqua-cultured oyster populations. Read more

An image showing presence of oyster diseases, creating by aquaculture researcher Bonnie Brown

Farming and Restoration in Great Bay Estuary

Eastern oysters, or Crassostrea virginica, are cultivated widely along the North American Atlantic coast for commercial and restoration purposes. Like their wild brethren, farmed oysters are experiencing a multi-pronged assault that is affecting production and the ecosystem services they provide. Read more