Building aquaculture scenarios to model genetic effects of escapes on wild populations

Presenters: Jason Volk and Greg Blair
Model Developer and Fisheries Scientist

ICF International

Rapid worldwide development of marine finfish cage farming has raised awareness over the possible genetic and ecological effects of escaped fish on wild populations. With increased interest in implementation of marine aquaculture in the United States, NOAA Fisheries and other regulators charged with stewardship of marine ecosystems need tools to understand and mitigate risks presented by aquaculture escapees. To develop an understanding of genetic and ecological effects of escapes and design management strategies to address potential risks to marine resources, NOAA Fisheries has developed a numerical decision-support tool: the Off-shore Mariculture Escapes Genetics/Ecological Assessment (OMEGA) model.

This talk will discuss the OMEGA model and present results for a hypothetical sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) culture program along the U.S. West Coast. NOAA Fisheries is using the OMEGA model to identify and evaluate risks of marine aquaculture operations, design sustainable aquaculture programs, explore the effects of regulation, and identify research priorities for areas of uncertainty.

OMEGA model input parameters include size and growth characteristics of cultured fish, frequency and magnitude of escape events, survival of escapees in the wild, probability of escapees encountering a conspecific natural population and interbreeding, and population dynamics of the natural population. Model results describe the influence of aquaculture escapees on spawning biomass, juvenile production, and genetic fitness of the composite population. Effects of interactions on fitness and abundance are based on the frequency and relative abundance of cultured fish that escape and survive to encounter a natural population, the difference in survival characteristics between the artificial and the natural environments, and the genetic legacy of the cultured and natural populations.

We are interested in speaking with individuals interested in collaboration to develop model scenarios, evaluate model parameters, and validate model results.

Presenter Bios:

Jason Volk is a senior model developer at ICF International, specializing in programming and design of decision-support tools and model interface design.

Greg Blair is a senior fisheries scientist at ICF International, specializing in model development, assessment of impacts and disturbance in natural systems, and mitigation planning. 

On Wednesday the 15th of January 2014, there is a webinar held where the authors of the model will give an explanation of how the model works, and answer any questions. 

Webinar date:   January 15, 2014
Webinar time:   3pm EST (GMT - 5:00)
Link to register: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/263974047