Cod Behavior and Physiology in Offshore Net Pens

The UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture Program (OOA) is dedicated to learning more about how to raise cold water fish and shellfish in offshore waters. One species that appears to have a great deal of promise is cod. In collaboration with Dr. Hunt Howell, Michael Chambers, and Chris Rillahan (a current graduate student) I am investigating the behavior and physiology of cod within these offshore net pens (see picture below left). Currently, we are both tracking fish movements within the cage using small transmitters (picture upper left shows implantation of ultrasonic tag) and measuring how much energy they use swimming at different speeds in the laboratory. Ultimately, the knowledge we gain will help us develop an energy budget for these fish and optimize feeding schedules and cage design.

Click topics below for addtional information:

a. Telemetry buoy and instrumentation

b. Sample telemetry and video data

d. Respirometry

e. UNH Offshore Aquaculture web site.