In September of 2006, GBA was awarded a $249,000 National Marine Aquaculture Initiative grant from NOAA, enabling it to produce 50,000 juvenile cod; fund $79,000 toward the development of a cod nursery at CCAR; and conduct nursery feed trials. Novel feeds that use marine plants to reduce fish meal in marine grower diets will be developed. Additionally, this project will demonstrate sustainable cod culture practices and provide opportunities for industry training in cod husbandry. If successful, this work may lead to the establishment of Maine’s first dedicated commercial cod farm and have begun the work to site it’s first submerged offshore farm.

As a participant in two major cobia grants funded by NOAA, one to SC DNR and the other to the University of Miami, GBA is responsible for larval research, shipping trials and production of cobia juveniles. During the fall of 2006 GBA successfully provided commercial quantities of juvenile cobia for stocking Snapperfarm’s offshore submerged cages in Puerto Rico.

GBA is working with The University of New Hampshire to commercialize the aquaculture production of Atlantic Cod in submerged fish pens 8 km off the coast of NH in 180' of water. This is an optimal environment for the cod to grow and thrive in; is away from near shore user conflict; and is protected from storms by being submerged. For more information, go to ooa.unh.edu

As the lone US participant, GBA is playing a key role in the Atlantic Cod Genomic Project. Through the use of modern technology and selective breeding, elite broodstock will be produced that will reduce the time to harvest, increase farm yields, and reduce the cost of production. For further information, visit www.codgene.ca

Nori can be produced in the effluent of land-based hatcheries, nurseries, or fish farms, polishing the water as it does so, reducing the nitrogen and phosphorous loads of effluents. A pilot scale unit, being operated jointly by GBA and UNH, is running at GBA's Portsmouth hatchery site.