Producing quality smolts and yearlings requires providing rearing strategies that create an optimum culture environment for promoting growth, health and welfare, and ultimately post release performance. Challenges associated with energy use, regulatory parameters related to discharge and limited water resources are factors that can compromise the ability to conduct fisheries restoration and enhancement program objectives at state and federal fish culture facilities.
Utilizing the State Resource Management Revolving Fund (SRMRF) available for “green” projects that promoted energy conservation, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD) Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle Vermont constructed an early rearing RAS system to produce landlocked Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr as well as two PRAS modular systems adapted to existing production raceways to produce steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss smolts. Positive results led to the installation of two additional RAS systems for the early rearing of all salmonid species produced at the facility.
Over a ten-year period, the combined heating and electrical cost savings achieved has exceeded nearly two million dollars, while providing improved growth and development for all species being reared. This convincing performance established confidence in the technology within the fisheries division’s fish culture section leading to the installation and operation of RAS and PRAS for salmonids at three additional VFWD fish culture stations.