WESTERN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CENTER - 32ND ANNUAL WORK PLAN (FY20) RENEWAL

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1023852
• Grant No.: 2020-38500-32561
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $1,892,280.00
• Proposal No.: 2020-08426
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2025
• Grant Year: 2021
• Program Code: [CA]- Aquaculture Centers

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
SEATTLE,WA 98195

Performing Department
WRAC Admin Office

Non Technical Summary
The mission of the Western Regional Aquaculture Center (WRAC), one five Regional Aquaculture Centers established byCongress in 1985 is to support aquaculture research, development, education, and demonstration to enhance viable andprofitable U.S. aquaculture production to benefit consumers, producers, service industries, and the American economy. TheWestern Regional Aquaculture Center, hosted by the University of Washington, Seattle, serves as an administrative center thatsolicits input from industry and other stakeholders that becomes the basis of problem statements that address problems orbarriers to the enhancement of the aquaculture industry. These problem statements are published bi-annually in a competitiverequest for proposals that are subject to both internal and external peer review. Funded projects are carried out by multi-stateand multi-disciplinary teams to produce high quality science that can be transferred to industry and/or other end users in a timelyfashion.

Animal Health Component

60%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

60%

Developmental

15%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
301	3719	1020	10%
302	3719	1010	10%
303	3719	1080	10%
308	3711	1010	10%
311	3711	1090	10%
307	3719	1060	10%
308	3719	1070	10%
308	3719	3010	10%
308	3729	1081	10%
204	2150	1060	10%

Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 311 - Animal Diseases; 308 - Improved Animal Products (Before Harvest); 307 - Animal Management Systems; 301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3711 - Trout; 3719 - Other cultured finfish; 3729 - Other cultured shellfish; 2150 - Aquatic plants;

Field Of Science
1090 - Immunology; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 1081 - Breeding; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 1080 - Genetics; 3010 - Economics; 1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

aquaculture

cooperative

education

extension

research

Goals / Objectives
The mission of the Western Regional Aquaculture Centre (WRAC), one of five RACs nationwide, is to support aquacultureresearch, development, and demonstration to enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture production to benefit consumers,producers, service industries, and the U.S. economy. Research and extension activities funded by the WRAC support goalsestablished by the Federal Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture by identifying regional industry research needs in twelve westernstates and, through a competitive peer-reviewed process, funding research and outreach projects designed to addresstheseneeds, with the overall goal of ensuring timely technological transfer of research results to support development of theaquaculture industry of the twelve western states and enhance its global competitiveness. Through this process, U.S.consumers can be supplied with competitively priced domestically produced, high quality, healthy and safe aquaculture products.

Project Methods
The WRAC is an administrative center consisting of an Executive Director, a Program Manager, and a Fiscal Analyst. Theprimary policy-making body for WRAC is the Board of Directors. The Board has established an Industry Advisory Council (IAC)and Technical Committee (TC). The IAC is composed of representatives from the industry sector, appointed on the basis of bothstate and sector of the industry represented. The TC is composed of the Extension Subcommittee and Research Subcommittee.The TC membership comes from research institutions and from participating state extension services, other state or territorialpublic agencies as appropriate and non-profit private institutions. The IAC and TC work jointly to solicit input from stakeholdersthat is used to develop priority research problem statements contained within the bi-annual request for proposals. The IAC andTC review preproposals and full proposals, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors for funding of new andcontinuing projects, project modifications and project erminations. Full proposals are reviewed both internally, and via externalpeer review. Proposals selected for funding are included in the Work Plan that is submitted annually to the USDA-NIFA. Uponapproval by NIFA, the Center issues subcontracts to funded investigators for each project. Each project is reviewed annually bythe IAC and TC and the Board in order to assess whether progress has been sufficient to merit a further year of funding. Inaddition, a member of the Board conducts an in-depth review midway through the project.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The key target audience for products developed by projects funded through WRAC include all sectors of the regional and national aquaculture industry. These sectors include producers of aquacultured species, processors, suppliers of aquaculture equipment, and feed manufacturers. Timely communication and transfer of technology is facilitated by the inclusion of an extension/outreach specialist as a member of each project's Work Group. Outreach products that communicate the results and application of research include peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, conference presentations, outreach publications (including reviews, fact sheets, technical bulletins, white papers, and demonstration workshops). In addition, accomplishments and potential significance and applications of the research are documented annually in "Waterlines", WRAC's annual accomplishment report which is available on the WRAC website. Finally, all recent and current projects are described on WRAC's website, where detailed annual and termination reports for each funded project are included. In addition to the major audience of aquaculture producers, processors and suppliers, other target audiences include researchers and extension specialists, state and federal agencies, state and federal regulators, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Funds provided partial support for several graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Funds provided one year of partial or full support for three multi-year research and outreach projects. Results and emerging impacts are described in the annual project reports for each project, and in Waterlines, WRAC's annual accomplishment report. Both types of reports are available on the Western Regional Aquaculture website (https://wracuw.org/. Project publications and conference and workshop presentations are also major routes through which results are disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Funds supported center administrative, project development and publication costs and provided one year of full or partial support for three multi-year projects initiated in FY2019 and 2021 aimed at addressing a number of critical industry-identified issues in aquaculture in the western region. The major aims of the three research and outreach projects supported are as follows: A.Analysis and amelioration of emerging and re-emerging Flavobacterial pathogens in finfish aquaculture;B. Develop methods for oral vaccine delivery in finfish; C. Detection and control and mud blister worm in oysters.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Martinelli JC, Considine ME, Casendino HR, King TL, Spencer LH, Tarpey C, Alma L, Hauser L, Padilla-Gami�o JL, Rumrill S & Wood CL. (2022). Prevalence, distribution, and control of shell-boring polychaetes on oyster farms. Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, Anchorage, Alaska.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Hawkyard M, Stuart K, Drawbridge M, Chuang K, Laurel B, Dietrich J, Arkoosh M, Schuster C, Cain K, Jones E, and Langdon C (2023). Advancements in larval fish nutrition. 39th Fish Feeds and Nutrition Workshop. Orono, ME, USA. July 2023.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Considine M, Martinelli JC, King T, Rumrill S, and Wood CL (2024). Spatial and Temporal Variability in Infestation of Oregon Oyster Farms by Shell-boring Polychaetes. Aquaculture Reports 35:101929
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Martinelli JC, Bonifate A & Wood CL. (2023). Oral presentation: Reconstructing the ecological history of shell-boring polychaetes in the Salish Sea to inform conservation and restoration strategies for native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida). Washington Sea Grant Shellfish Growers Conference, Union, Washington.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Martinelli JC, Bonifate A & Wood CL. (2023).Reconstructing the ecological history of shell-boring polychaetes in the Salish Sea to inform conservation and restoration strategies for native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida). Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association/National Shellfisheries Association Annual meeting, Wenatchee, Washington.

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The key target audience for products developed by projects funded through WRAC include all sectors of the regional andnationalaquaculture industry. These sectors include producers of aquacultured species, processors, suppliers ofaquaculture equipment, and feedmanufacturers. Timely communication and transfer of technology is facilitated by theinclusion of an extension/outreach specialist as amember of each project's Work Group. Outreach products thatcommunicate the results and application of research include peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, conferencepresentations, outreach publications (including reviews, fact sheets, technical bulletins, white papers, and demonstrationworkshops). In addition, accomplishments and potential significance and applications of the research are documentedannually in "Waterlines", WRAC's annual accomplishment report which is available on the WRAC website. Finally, all recentand current projects are described on WRAC's website, where detailed annual and termination reports for each fundedproject are included. In addition to the major audience of aquaculture producers, processors and suppliers, other targetaudiences include researchers and extension specialists, state and federal agencies, state and federal regulators, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Funds provided partial support for several graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Funds provided one year of partial or full support for five multi-year research and outreach projects. Results and emergingimpacts are described in the annual project reports for each project, and in Waterlines, WRAC's annual accomplishmentreport. Both types of reports are available on the Western Regional Aquaculture website(http://depts.washington.edu/wracuw/). Projectpublications and conference and workshop presentations are also major routesthrough which results are disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Funds supported center administrative, project development and publication costs and provided one year of full or partialsupport for severalprojects aimed at addressing a number of critical industry-identified issues in aquaculture in the westernregion. The major aims of the five research and outreach projects supported are as follows: A. Analysis and amelioration ofemerging and re-emerging Flavobacterial pathogensin finfish aquaculture (initiated in 2019); B. Develop methods for oralvaccine delivery in finfish (initiated in 2021); C. Determine factorscontributing to finfish flesh quality (initiated in 2021) ; D.Detection and control of mud blister worm in oysters (initiated in 2019); E. Assess the status of aquaculture in the Western US(initiated in 2021); F. Optimization of white sturgeon diets (initiated in 2021).

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jones EM, Oliver LP, Ma J, Leeuwis R HJ, Myrsell V, Arkoosh MR, Dietrick JP, Schuster CM, Hawkyard M, Gamperl KA, and Cain, KD. Production of a monoclonal antibody specific to sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) IgM and its application in ELISA, western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 130: 479-489
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Heckman TI, Yazdi Z, Pomaranski EK, Sebasti�o FA, Vuglar BM, Cain KD, Loch TP, Soto E. Flavors of flavobacteriales: characterizing atypical flavobacterial pathogens in aquaculture. International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health. Santiago, Chile. Sep. 48, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Heckman TI, Yazdi Z, Pomaranski EK, Sebasti�o FA, Vuglar BM, Cain KD, Loch TP, Soto E. Flavors of flavobacteriales: characterizing atypical flavobacterial oathogens in aquaculture. Western Fish Disease Workshop. Hood River, OR. May 1619, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jones E, Ma J, Hawkyard M, Arkoosh M, Dietrich JP, Schuster CM, Luke P, Oiver V, Myrsell L, and Cain KD. Evaluating a novel oral vaccine delivery platform in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. 9th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health. Santiago, Chile. Sep. 48, 2022.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Martinelli JC, Spencer LH, Alma L, Padilla-Gamino JL, and Wood CL. 2022. Evaluating treatments for shell-boring polychaete (Annelida: Spionidae) infestations in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the US Pacific Northwest. Aquaculture 561:738639.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jones E. 2022. Evaluating a novel oral vaccine particle for use in disease prevention in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and development of important tools for the study of immunity in sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria). Masters Thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Hawkyard M, Stuart K, Drawbridg M, Laurel B, Deitrich J, Arkoosh M, Schuster C, Cain K, Jones E, and Langdon C. The development and evaluation of liposomes and liposome-containing complex particles for improved health and nutrition of finfish. Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition. Portland, ME. Apr. 2729, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jones E, Ma J, Hawkyard M, Arkoosh M, Dietrich J, Schuster C, Oliver L, Brent Vuglar, Myrsell V, and Cain K. Evaluating a novel oral vaccine delivery platform in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. World Aquaculture Conference. San Diego, CA. Feb 28Mar.4, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Jones E, Oliver L, Ma J, Leeuwis R, Myrsell V, Hawkyard M, Arkoosh M, Dietrich J, Schuster C, Gamperl K, and Cain K. Production of a monoclonal antibody against sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria IgM and its use in an ELISA to measure circulating antibodies. World Aquaculture Conference. San Diego, CA. Feb. 28Mar. 4, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Martinelli JC, Considine ME, Casendino HR, King TL, Spencer LH, Tarpey C, Alma L, Hauser L, Padilla-Gami�o JL, Rumrill S, and Wood CL. Prevalence, distribution, and control of shell-boring polychaetes on oyster farms from California to Alaska (poster). Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. Apr. 2628, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Martinelli JC, Considine ME, Casendino HR, King TL, Spencer LH, Tarpey C, Alma L, Hauser L, Padilla-Gami�o JL, Rumrill S, and Wood CL. Prevalence, distribution, and control of shell-boring polychaetes on oyster farms from California to Alaska. Washington Sea Grant Shellfish Growers Conference. Mar. 7, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Martinelli JC, Considine ME, Casendino HR, King TL, Spencer LH, Tarpey C, Alma L, Hauser L, Padilla-Gami�o JL, Rumrill S, and Wood CL. Prevalence, distribution, and control of shell-boring polychaetes on oyster farms from California to Alaska. World Aquaculture Society Meeting, San Diego, California. Feb. 28Mar 4, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Martinelli JC, Casendino HR, Spencer LH, Alma L, King TL, Padilla-Gami�o JL, and Wood CL. 2021. Testing effective treatments to control infections by shell-boring polychaetes (Polydora spp) in the US Pacific Northwest. Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 75th meeting (online). Sep, 2022, 2021
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Soto E, Yazdi Z, Nguyen DT, Heckman TI, LaFrentz BR, Griffin MJ, Loch TP. Phenotypic and genetic diversity amongst the etiological agents of columnaris diseases. International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health. Santiago, Chile. Sept. 48, 2022.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Vuglar BM, Ma J, Heckman TI, Yazdi Z, Soto E, and Cain, KD. Virulence assessment of novel Flavobacteriaceae isolates collected from aquaculture facilities in the western United States. Western Fish Disease Workshop. Hood River, OR. May 1619, 2022.

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The key target audience for products developed by projects funded through WRAC include all sectors of the regional and national aquaculture industry. These sectors include producers of aquacultured species, processors, suppliers of aquaculture equipment, and feed manufacturers. Timely communication and transfer of technology is facilitated by the inclusion of an extension/outreach specialist as a member of each project's Work Group. Outreach products that communicate the results and application of research include peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, conference presentations, outreach publications (including reviews, fact sheets, technical bulletins, white papers, and demonstration workshops). In addition, accomplishments and potential significance and applications of the research are documented annually in "Waterlines", WRAC's annual accomplishment report which is available on the WRAC website. Finally, all recent and current projects are described on WRAC's website, where detailed annual and termination reports for each funded project are included. In addition to the major audience of aquaculture producers, processors and suppliers, other target audiences include researchers and extension specialists, state and federal agencies, state and federal regulators, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Funds provided partial support for several graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Funds provided one year of partial or full support for five multi-year research and outreach projects. Results and emerging impacts are described in the annual project reports for each project, and in Waterlines, WRAC's annual accomplishment report. Both types of reports are available on the Western Regional Aquaculture website (http://depts.washington.edu/wracuw/). Project publications and conference and workshop presentations are also major routes through which results are disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Funds supported center administrative, project development and publication costs and provided one year of full or partial support for several projects aimed at addressing a number of critical industry-identified issues in aquaculture in the western region. The major aims of the five research and outreach projects supported are as follows: A. Analysis and amelioration of emerging and re-emerging Flavobacterial pathogens in finfish aquaculture (initiated in 2019); B. Develop methods for oral vaccine delivery in finfish (initiated in 2021); C. Determine factors contributing to finfish flesh quality (initiated in 2021) ; D. Detection and control of mud blister worm in oysters (initiated in 2019); E. Assess the status of aquaculture in the Western US (initiated in 2021); F. Optimization of white sturgeon diets (initiated in 2021).

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Spencer LH, Martinelli JC, King TL, Crim R, Blake B, Lopes HM, Wood CL. 2021. The risks of shell-boring polychaetes to shellfish aquaculture in Washington, USA: A mini-review to inform mitigation actions. Aquaculture Research 52: 438-455
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2021 Citation: Considine ME. 2021. Shell boring polychaetes and the Pacific Northwest oyster aquaculture industry: Spatial distribution, regulatory actions, and stakeholder engagement. Hatfield Marine Science Center Seminar. Sept. 2, 2021.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2021 Citation: Considine ME. 2021. Shell-boring polychaetes in Pacific oysters: an emerging Pacific Northwest concern. People and Nature Seminar Series, Oregon State University.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2021 Citation: Considine ME. 2021. Mud blister worms in Pacific oysters. Pacific Estuarine Research Society.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Considine ME. 2020. Mud blister worms in Pacific oysters: Identification, distribution, and mitigation strategies. State of the Coast, Oregon. 2020.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Considine ME. 2020. Mud blister worms and Pacific Oysters. Oregon Sea Grant Careers in Science Webinar Series. 2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lopes H, Martinelli JC, Wood CL. 2021. Oral Presence and prevalence of shell-boring mudworm Polydora spp. (Polychaeta: Spionidae) in Washington State. Shellfish Growers Conference, Washington Sea Grant
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2021 Citation: Martinelli JC. 2021. Invasive, shell-boring polychaete pests on oyster farms: What weve learned from California to Alaska. eChew Seminar Series: Recent advances in shellfish aquaculture. University of Washington
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Martinelli JC. 2021. Polydora Mud Worm Workshop: What we have learned from Alaska to California. 27th Conference for Shellfish Growers, Washington Sea Grant.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Martinelli JC. 2021. Polydora Mud Worm Workshop: Effective treatments to control infestations. 27th Conference for Shellfish Growers, Washington Sea Grant
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Martinelli JC, Considine ME, King TL, Hauser L, Padilla- Gami�o JL, Rumrill S, Wood CL. 2020. Polydora websteri in Pacific oysters from the US west coast: distribution, identification, and mitigation strategies. Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 74th meeting Oct. 68, 2020.

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The key target audience for products developed by projects funded through WRAC include all sectors of the regional and national aquaculture industry. These sectors include producers of aquacultured species, processors, suppliers of aquaculture equipment, and feed manufacturers. Timely communication and transfer of technology is facilitated by the inclusion of an extension/outreach specialist as a member of each project's Work Group. Outreach products that communicate the results and application of research include peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, conference presentations, outreach publications (including reviews, fact sheets, technical bulletins, white papers, and demonstration workshops). In addition, accomplishments and potential significance and applications of the research are documented annually in "Waterlines", WRAC's annual accomplishment report which is available on the WRAC website. Finally, all recent and current projects are described on WRAC's website, where detailed annual and termination reports for each funded project are included. In addition to the major audience of aquaculture producers, processors and suppliers, other target audiences include researchers and extension specialists, state and federal agencies, state and federal regulators, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Funds provided partial support for several graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Funds provided one year of partial or full support for five multi-year research and outreach projects. Results and emerging impacts are described in the annual project reports for each project, and in Waterlines, WRAC's annual accomplishment report. Both types of reports are available on the Western Regional Aquaculture website (http://depts.washington.edu/wracuw/). Project publications and conference and workshop presentations are also major routes through which results are disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Funds supported center administrative, project development and publication costs and provided one year of full or partial support for two multi-year projects initiated in FY2019 and three projects initiated in FY2021 aimed at addressing a number of critical industry-identified issues in aquaculture in the western region. The major aims of the four research and outreach projects supported are as follows: A. Analysis and amelioration of emerging and re-emerging Flavobacterial pathogens in finfish aquaculture; B. Develop methods for oral vaccine delivery in finfish; C. Determine factors contributing to finfish flesh quality; D. Detection and control and mud blister worm in oysters; E. Assess the status of aquaculture in the Western US.

Publications