Fish Reproductive Endocrinology  
The failure of farmed fish to reproduce predictably when raised in captivity is one of the chief obstacles to sustainable marine aquaculture. This failure is the result of a dysfunctional brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) system. By studying the nature, mechanisms of actions, and regulation of synthesis and release of GnRH for specific species, it is possible to bypass these obstacles, so that the fish will breed reliably and reproducibly in captivity.

Recirculating Marine Aquaculture
Global marine fisheries have exhibited continuous declines in recent years. According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) statistics, 74% of the world's commercially fished species are either depleted (9%), overfished (18%) or fully fished. Fisheries scientists are in agreement that the oceans have attained their maximal sustainable yield, and if current trends continue, world fisheries could collapse within a few decades. Responding to that situation, scientists at UMBI's Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB) developed a new generation of marine aquaculture technologies that address and solve all the above concerns and can produce very clean fish: recirculating, fully contained marine aquaculture. Recirculating mariculture is the solution to an environmentally sustainable and economically feasible marine aquaculture, and can be established in either urban or rural communities.