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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Bluegill

Bluegill

Production bottlenecks identified by aquaculturists include slow growth, precocious maturity, and problems associated with unwanted prolific reproduction in grow-out ponds. The research data and commercial practice suggest that a mostly- or all-male population could reach market size within a year in a cage and/or recirculating aquaculture system. These results support the conclusion that a monosex culture holds considerable potential as a method to increase the efficiency and profitability of bluegill aquaculture for food and recreation, by improving growth rate, and eliminating the problem of prolific reproduction, precocious maturity and their consequences. Developing genetically-male bluegill through selective breeding is a fundamental way to produce monosex populations.

Research focuses:

  •  Developing genetically fast-growing monosex male populations.
  •  Developing genetically male bluegill populations and broodstock.
  •  Sex determination mechanism.
  •  Fish immune-modulation via temperature.
  •  Improving cold temperature resistance.