Marine Aquaculture Program

The United States seafood trade deficit is almost 9 billion dollars per year. This national trade deficit is second only to oil. Government statistics project that the seafood demand in the United States will continue to increase over the coming decades. Given that the oceans have reached their maximum sustainable yield, the increased seafood demand can only be satisfied by aquaculture production.

The increasing seafood demand will require a six-fold increase in either domestic aquaculture production or a commensurate increase in imports over the next 25 years, further increasing this country's seafood trade deficit. The concept that a country can grow enough food to meet the needs of its population is the foundation of a national defense. In this day and age, when the security of our food supply is more at risk than ever before, it is essential that we develop the production capability within our borders to meet his demand. A safe and stable food supply is paramount to our nation’s existence. Recirculating aquaculture systems are one approach to production of a safe and sustainable seafood supply.

To help meet the needs that this demand will bring, Mote Marine Laboratory's Marine Aquaculture Program in the Center for Aquaculture Research and Development dedicates its work to developing the technologies needed to raise fish species with high market value and/or high recreational demand. This program investigates a variety of marine finfish and invertebrates including common snook, Florida pompano, red drum, hard corals and long-spined sea urchins. Knowledge gained from this research will be used to produce fish for stock enhancement and food. Currently the Marine Aquaculture Program has two research locations: Mote Aquaculture Park in eastern Sarasota County and at our Tropical Research Laboratory in the Florida Keys.

Marine Aquaculture Research Programs:

• Common Snook Aquaculture Research 
• Florida Pompano Aquaculture Research
  
• Hard Coral Aquaculture Research
• Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative
• Marine Recirculation Systems Design and Evaluation
• Larval Food Research
• Diadema (long-spined sea urchin) Aquaculture Research