Abstract
Burbot Lota lota maculosa is the only cod-like freshwater species with great potential for diversification of freshwater aquaculture. It offers various advantages, including high fecundity and market value as a foodfish and valuable byproducts from its liver and skin (leather products). Burbot thrive under trout culture conditions and exhibit resistance to many common salmonid pathogens. Despite these advantages, its availability in the US market is limited, and current producers face challenges when transitioning to burbot production. One major challenge lies in the reliance on live feeds during larval culture, leading to escalated hatchery costs. Additionally, limited knowledge of burbot's market potential and the economic feasibility of farming these species pose significant obstacles. Furthermore, the absence of a commercially available formulated diet specific to burbot may fail to meet their nutritional requirements for optimal growth. Addressing these challenges is vital for burbot aquaculture's successful and sustainable development. This dissertation aimed to assess the potential for commercial production of burbot by improving larval rearing techniques (reducing live feed use), determining nutritional requirements, and conducting marketing and economic feasibility analyses. The study successfully explored alternative commercial feeds (EZ Artemia and Gemma microparticulate diet) for early weaning of burbot larvae, reducing their dependency on live prey items. Based on the second-order polynomial regression analysis of weight gain, an optimum dietary protein level of 49.5% was identified for sub-adult burbot, providing a baseline for formulating practical and environmentally sustainable diets specific to this species. Evaluation of market viability is another important consideration for a new species as it allows producers to make informed business decisions, foster environmental sustainability, and ensure consumer satisfaction with the product. Market viability evaluation through consumer surveys and sensory analysis revealed that burbot would be highly marketable, adding value to the US domestic market by offering a white fillet option to salmonids and diversifying production for new market entrants. Finally, through enterprise budget simulations, it was demonstrated that cultivating burbot under trout culture conditions is an economically viable activity. This suggests that burbot aquaculture, when conducted under conditions similar to those for trout farming, holds promise for generating positive economic outcomes, making it an attractive venture for fish farmers and investors.