Aquaculture (the farming of aquatic organisms), has recently developed into the fastest growing segment of agriculture in the United States. In the future, this industry will play an increasingly important role in meeting global demand for fi sh and seafood products as the world population continues to expand, and fishery’s stocks approach their biological limits. Availability of freshwater and the proximity to large population bases, along with the increased demand for fresh fish, make aquaculture a promising agriculture industry in West Virginia.
Aquaculture research at WV State University is focused on the molecular and genetic/genomic basis of feed efficiency. The interest is to combine classical nutrition with modern molecular techniques to understand the differences in feed efficiency within the same and/or among different stains/families of channel catfish and rainbow trout. To explore this possibility, study of the interface between dietary manipulations and mitochondrial functions in feed efficiency is being conducted; with possibly determining the potential role of nutrients and non-dietary factors (genetics) in the molecular modulation of mitochondrial functions (protein and gene expression levels) relating to feed efficiency. Additional research activities include determining the nutritive value of recovered protein from treated poultry wastes from thermophilic anaerobic digester as dietary supplement for aquaculture. By-products recovered from biological treatment of poultry wastes may provide a cheap alternative protein source for cultured fish.
Research Scientist:
Dr. Jonathan Eya
766-4260
