Abstract: Methods are provided for delivery of at least one agent into egg(s) from an egg-producing aquatic animal including contacting fertilized or unfertilized egg(s) from said egg-producing aquatic animal with the at least one agent in the presence of a guanidine-containing compound capable of enhancing the permeability of the chorion of the egg(s). Methods are provided for the drug screening and compound toxicity assays. Methods are also provided for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of agents that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Agents may be delivered to the eggs directly before the fertilization or post fertilization by contacting eggs in an immersion medium including the agent of interest.

Abstract: Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are capable of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.

Abstract: Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are capable of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.

Abstract: Methods are provided for delivery of at least one agent into egg(s) from an egg-producing aquatic animal including contacting fertilized or unfertilized egg(s) from said egg-producing aquatic animal with the at least one agent in the presence of a guanidine-containing compound capable of enhancing the permeability of the chorion of the egg(s). Methods are provided for the drug screening and compound toxicity assays. Methods are also provided for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of agents that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Agents may be delivered to the eggs directly before the fertilization or post fertilization by contacting eggs in an immersion medium including the agent of interest.

Abstract: Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are capable of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.

Abstract: Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are capable of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.

Abstract: Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are cap able of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for inducing sterility in fish by administering at least one compound that disrupts the establishment of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone system during early development thereby inhibiting sexual maturity in the treated fish. Effective compounds include GABA, GABA receptor agonists, or GABA receptor antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage biofilter reactor system for removing nitrogenous compounds from a recirculating aquaculture system. The system includes a aerobic nitrification unit and a downstream anaerobic denitrification unit, wherein both units have a mobile bed of suspended media whereon bacteria can grow and reduce nitrate and/or ammonia levels in the recirculating aquaculture system. Use of the two-stage system has the advantage of reducing the water exchange rates and consumption of salt when maintaining a saline effluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for inducing sterility in fish by administering at least one compound that disrupts the establishment of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone system during early development thereby inhibiting sexual maturity in the treated fish. Effective compounds include GABA, GABA receptor agonists, or GABA receptor antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage biofilter reactor system for removing nitrogenous compounds from a recirculating aquaculture system. The system includes a aerobic nitrification unit and a downstream anaerobic denitrification unit, wherein both units have a mobile bed of suspended media whereon bacteria can grow and reduce nitrate and/or ammonia levels in the recirculating aquaculture system. Use of the two-stage system has the advantage of reducing the water exchange rates and consumption of salt when maintaining a saline effluent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recirculating marine aquaculture process for production of a crab species, including (i) a broodstock conditioning, (ii) spawning, (iii) egg incubation, (iv) larval growth, (v) nursery post-larval growth, and (vi) grow-out of the crab to a final product weight, in which each stage (i)-(vi) of the process involves operation in an aqueous medium that is coupled in liquid recirculation relationship with waste component removal from the aqueous medium and returning purified aqueous medium to the external environment. The process involves operation in a closed, recirculating aquaculture system in which photoperiod, water temperature, water chemistry, and diet are optimized and then continuously monitored and controlled to obtain optimal production at each of the six phases (i)-(vi) of the life cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recirculating marine aquaculture process for production of a crab species, including (i) a broodstock conditioning, (ii) spawning, (iii) egg incubation, (iv) larval growth, (v) nursery post-larval growth, and (vi) grow-out of the crab to a final product weight, in which each stage (i)-(vi) of the process involves operation in an aqueous medium that is coupled in liquid recirculation relationship with means for removing waste components from the aqueous medium and returning purified aqueous medium to the external environment. The process involves operation in a closed, recirculating aquaculture system in which photoperiod, water temperature, water chemistry, and diet are optimized and then continuously monitored and controlled to obtain optimal production at each of the six phases (i)-(vi) of the life cycle.

Abstract: A high efficiency recirculating marine aquaculture process for producing fish at variable yield densities of up to 60 kg/meter3 of the aquaculture tank, including fish that spawn under short photoperiods such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) as well as fish that spawn under long photoperiods such as striped bass (Morone saxatilis). The process involves broodstock conditioning, spawning/reproduction, larval growth, nursery, and adult grow-out operations. The process is characterized by high-rate growth at optimal process conditions requiring less than 10% daily water exchange, thereby enabling effluent waste from the system to be discharged to a municipal sewer after disinfection treatment, which in turn permits siting of the aquaculture process facility in urban/suburban locations where aquaculture processes have been previously infeasible.

Abstract: Novel peptide hormones which influence the release of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland in fish are disclosed. Methods in which such peptides may be administered to fish to control their reproduction are also described. Furthermore, novel isolated cDNA encoding the precursor of the novel gonadotropin-releasing hormone is disclosed. The use of such cDNA in controlling the gonadal development and spawning of fish is also described.

Abstract: Novel peptide hormones which influence the release of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland in fish are disclosed. Methods in which such peptides may be administered to fish to control their reproduction are also described. Furthermore, novel isolated cDNA encoding the precursor of the novel gonadotropin-releasing hormone is disclosed. The use of such cDNA in controlling the gonadal development and spawning of fish is also described.

Abstract: A method for administering compounds, including proteins, non-protein drugs, and nucleic acids, to aquatic animals, especially fish, in an aquatic medium wherein the compound is added to the medium and ultrasound is applied to the medium to enhance or effect the uptake of the compound by the animal. In one example, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) was administered to fish via water to which ultrasound was applied for ten to fifteen minutes at an intensity of 1.7 W/cm.sup.2. Fish treated with ultrasound had blood levels of 3.29.+-.1.0 ng/ml of GnRHa as compared to levels of 0.50.+-.0.23 ng/ml for fish exposed to GnRHa in the absence of ultrasound.