Sablefish Aquaculture: An Assessment of Recent Developments and Their Potential for Enhancing Profitability

The current study was undertaken to describe the present status of sablefish aquaculture in the U.S. and elsewhere, and to perform an initial assessment of the financial viability of a sablefish aquaculture industry that utilizes existing technology, including use of all-female rearing stocks that have been developed at NMFS’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). In addition, the study examines prospective markets for farmed sablefish, the possibility of broadening the overall market for both farmed and commercial sablefish, and the potential economic effects that expansion of sablefish aquaculture could have on commercial sablefish fisheries.