{"id":997911,"date":"2025-03-24T15:57:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T19:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/?p=997911"},"modified":"2025-03-25T07:04:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T11:04:40","slug":"striped-bass-aquaculture-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/striped-bass-aquaculture-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Advances the Next Wave of Aquaculture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Small pondside tanks may be key for a more sustainable future for the aquaculture industry. This innovative approach could help conserve water and maximize the use of earthen ponds in raising striped bass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to help promote and expand the hybrid striped bass and striped bass aquaculture industry in the state of North Carolina and nationwide,\u201d says NC State University Associate Professor Benjamin Reading<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of StriperHub<\/a> \u2014 a program funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sea Grant, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s National Institute of Food and Agriculture \u2014 this project, led by Reading at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Lab (PAFL) in Aurora, North Carolina, aims to make striped bass aquaculture more efficient. This initiative is the first of its kind for this species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, striped bass have been reared in indoor tanks or expansive outdoor earthen ponds. Both practices have their shortcomings. Indoor tanks utilize expensive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that filter and reuse water. Alternatively, quarter-acre outdoor earthen ponds require a lot of land and labor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe concept of pondside tanks was developed as a way to bridge the gap between intensive indoor rearing systems and outdoor earthen pond-based aquaculture,\u201d explains Erimi Kendrick, a graduate student in the Department of Applied Ecology<\/a> who is working on the project for her master\u2019s thesis in biology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate student Erimi Kendrick examines a pondside tank at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Lab.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To implement their idea, Reading and his team installed several small tanks along the perimeter of an earthen pond at the PAFL. Connected by pipes, the tanks and the pond support each other in a continuous cycle. After fertilizing the central pond, fish waste water continues to feed plankton blooms, which are then pumped into the small pondside tanks to feed striped bass fry as they grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe nitrogen cycle is naturally occurring in our ponds rather than having to install physical infrastructure like filters in RAS,\u201d Reading explains. Nitrate from fish waste in the water sustains zooplankton, serving as a nutrient source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first trial of experiments with the pondside tanks informed us that the amount of fish reared per gallon of water used was higher than in earthen ponds,\u201d Kendrick says. \u201cIf pondside tanks are successful, then farmers could dedicate less land and smaller bodies of water to serve as a food reservoir, using the pond to primarily cultivate zooplankton rather than as a direct rearing environment. By placing tanks around a single pond instead of maintaining multiple large ponds for stocking fry, farmers could still rear fish while maximizing space and conserving water.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/h2>
$\"a$ <\/div><\/div>
Support Discovery for Solutions<\/h3>
Whether they are leading citizen science projects or implementing real-time solutions in the field, applied ecology students lead the way in conservation efforts across North Carolina and beyond.\u00a0Help develop the workforce that creates practical solutions for environmental challenges.<\/p>
Give <\/span>Now <\/span>
Another drawback of outdoor earthen ponds is that extracting bass fry early in their development is difficult. \u201cOnce fry are stocked directly into large earthen ponds, they have to remain there until they reach the fingerling stage,\u201d Kendrick says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fry face higher mortality rates due to handling stress and injury. They also may simply be too small to be caught effectively by seine nets. Small pondside tanks keep fry accessible at a young age and may appeal to farmers who prefer young fry for stocking.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to advancing aquaculture practices, Reading is mentoring the next generation of fisheries and aquaculture professionals. After earning her bachelor\u2019s degree in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology at NC State, Kendrick joined Reading\u2019s lab as a graduate student after being inspired by his course Applied Ecology 441- Biology of Fishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you had talked to me two years ago, I would never have imagined myself working on an aquaculture project,\u201d Kendrick says. \u201cPrior to taking Dr. Reading\u2019s class, I never considered aquaculture as a career path or even realized how important it was to fisheries science. However, his course introduced me to the critical role that aquaculture plays in both fisheries science and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aspect of aquaculture that interests me the most is its potential for species conservation, particularly for non-game fish with threatened populations. While a good bit of fisheries science focuses on managing popular sport and commercial species, I have also been drawn to lesser-known but ecologically important fish that receive less attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"a$
Erimi Kendrick holds a robust redhorse fish at a hatchery at Lake McKinney. At right: Kendrick presents her research on striped bass developmental staging at the Southern Division American Fisheries Society (SDAFS) conference in February.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As a first-year graduate student, Kendrick is already contributing to the field of aquaculture. From her research on pondside tanks, she created a developmental staging chart for striped bass. Prior to using pondside tanks, this was not possible because it was difficult to extract young fry from earthen ponds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kendrick hopes the development chart can help farmers, biologists and others interested in the early developmental stages of striped bass by providing a resource for tracking key morphological milestones like yolk sac absorption, mouth formation and swim bladder inflation. This developmental staging chart could also be used for other fish species that are reared in aquaculture environments to help reduce mortality rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne thing that everyone should know about fisheries and aquaculture is that they are inseparable from the health of our ecosystems and the sustainability of our food systems,\u201d Kendrick shares. \u201cFisheries science is important in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. Similarly, aquaculture is more than just fish farming; when practiced sustainably, it can alleviate pressure on wild populations, restore endangered species and be a reliable protein source to meet the demands of a growing global population.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Small pondside tanks may be key for a more sustainable future for the aquaculture industry. This innovative approach could help conserve water and maximize the use of earthen ponds in raising striped bass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur goal is to help promote and expand the hybrid striped bass and striped bass aquaculture industry in the state of North Carolina and nationwide,\u201d says NC State University Associate Professor Benjamin Reading<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of StriperHub<\/a> \u2014 a program funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sea Grant, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s National Institute of Food and Agriculture \u2014 this project, led by Reading at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Lab (PAFL) in Aurora, North Carolina, aims to make striped bass aquaculture more efficient. This initiative is the first of its kind for this species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traditionally, striped bass have been reared in indoor tanks or expansive outdoor earthen ponds. Both practices have their shortcomings. Indoor tanks utilize expensive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that filter and reuse water. Alternatively, quarter-acre outdoor earthen ponds require a lot of land and labor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe concept of pondside tanks was developed as a way to bridge the gap between intensive indoor rearing systems and outdoor earthen pond-based aquaculture,\u201d explains Erimi Kendrick, a graduate student in the Department of Applied Ecology<\/a> who is working on the project for her master\u2019s thesis in biology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"a$
Graduate student Erimi Kendrick examines a pondside tank at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Lab.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To implement their idea, Reading and his team installed several small tanks along the perimeter of an earthen pond at the PAFL. Connected by pipes, the tanks and the pond support each other in a continuous cycle. After fertilizing the central pond, fish waste water continues to feed plankton blooms, which are then pumped into the small pondside tanks to feed striped bass fry as they grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe nitrogen cycle is naturally occurring in our ponds rather than having to install physical infrastructure like filters in RAS,\u201d Reading explains. Nitrate from fish waste in the water sustains zooplankton, serving as a nutrient source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first trial of experiments with the pondside tanks informed us that the amount of fish reared per gallon of water used was higher than in earthen ponds,\u201d Kendrick says. \u201cIf pondside tanks are successful, then farmers could dedicate less land and smaller bodies of water to serve as a food reservoir, using the pond to primarily cultivate zooplankton rather than as a direct rearing environment. By placing tanks around a single pond instead of maintaining multiple large ponds for stocking fry, farmers could still rear fish while maximizing space and conserving water.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/h2>
$\"a$ <\/div><\/div>
Support Discovery for Solutions<\/h3>
Whether they are leading citizen science projects or implementing real-time solutions in the field, applied ecology students lead the way in conservation efforts across North Carolina and beyond.\u00a0Help develop the workforce that creates practical solutions for environmental challenges.<\/p>
Give <\/span>Now <\/span>
Another drawback of outdoor earthen ponds is that extracting bass fry early in their development is difficult. \u201cOnce fry are stocked directly into large earthen ponds, they have to remain there until they reach the fingerling stage,\u201d Kendrick says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fry face higher mortality rates due to handling stress and injury. They also may simply be too small to be caught effectively by seine nets. Small pondside tanks keep fry accessible at a young age and may appeal to farmers who prefer young fry for stocking.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to advancing aquaculture practices, Reading is mentoring the next generation of fisheries and aquaculture professionals. After earning her bachelor\u2019s degree in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology at NC State, Kendrick joined Reading\u2019s lab as a graduate student after being inspired by his course Applied Ecology 441- Biology of Fishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you had talked to me two years ago, I would never have imagined myself working on an aquaculture project,\u201d Kendrick says. \u201cPrior to taking Dr. Reading\u2019s class, I never considered aquaculture as a career path or even realized how important it was to fisheries science. However, his course introduced me to the critical role that aquaculture plays in both fisheries science and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe aspect of aquaculture that interests me the most is its potential for species conservation, particularly for non-game fish with threatened populations. While a good bit of fisheries science focuses on managing popular sport and commercial species, I have also been drawn to lesser-known but ecologically important fish that receive less attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"a$
Erimi Kendrick holds a robust redhorse fish at a hatchery at Lake McKinney. At right: Kendrick presents her research on striped bass developmental staging at the Southern Division American Fisheries Society (SDAFS) conference in February.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As a first-year graduate student, Kendrick is already contributing to the field of aquaculture. From her research on pondside tanks, she created a developmental staging chart for striped bass. Prior to using pondside tanks, this was not possible because it was difficult to extract young fry from earthen ponds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kendrick hopes the development chart can help farmers, biologists and others interested in the early developmental stages of striped bass by providing a resource for tracking key morphological milestones like yolk sac absorption, mouth formation and swim bladder inflation. This developmental staging chart could also be used for other fish species that are reared in aquaculture environments to help reduce mortality rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne thing that everyone should know about fisheries and aquaculture is that they are inseparable from the health of our ecosystems and the sustainability of our food systems,\u201d Kendrick shares. \u201cFisheries science is important in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. Similarly, aquaculture is more than just fish farming; when practiced sustainably, it can alleviate pressure on wild populations, restore endangered species and be a reliable protein source to meet the demands of a growing global population.\u201d <\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Researchers in the Department of Applied Ecology are using an innovative method for rearing striped bass, aiming to make aquaculture of the species more efficient.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4498,"featured_media":997925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"caption\":\"Associate Professor Benjamin Reading (left) examines an experimental pondside tank at the Pamlico Aquaculture Field Lab with Applied Ecology Department Head David Andow (middle) and Hatchery Manager Bobby Clark (right).\",\"displayCategoryID\":1181,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1181,1163,1174],"tags":[398],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"coauthors":[2914],"class_list":["post-997911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-research","category-students","tag-department-of-applied-ecology"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":1181,"name":"Newswire","slug":"newswire","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1181,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1704,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=997911"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":997969,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997911\/revisions\/997969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/997925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=997911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=997911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=997911"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=997911"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=997911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}