Innovations in trout farming continue to make headlines on a national scale.

Recent reporting highlights how the University of New Hampshire (UNH) is expanding its AquaFort project – a groundbreaking Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system – bringing sustainable nearshore and offshore finfish production concepts to a wider national audience. Supported by key federal partners including NOAA and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the project centers heavily around steelhead trout grow-out.

Key Highlights for Trout Producers:

• Proof of Concept for Steelhead: The AquaFort system utilizes floating dock platforms designed specifically to raise steelhead trout in tandem with extractive species like sugar kelp and blue mussels. The setup leverages natural water flow to keep fish healthy, active, and high-quality, while the kelp and mussels absorb excess nutrients.
• Small-Scale & Community-Based Focus: Designed with owner-operators and local working waterfronts in mind, the platform offers a blueprint for small-scale, highly scalable trout operations.
• Federal Backing & Expansion: With NOAA and NSF support – alongside UNH’s newly established NOAA Cooperative Institute (CIFARM) – researchers are scaling up testing across different ocean regions, helping pave the way for improved permitting, engineering guidance, and broader domestic market acceptance for farm-raised trout.
• Boosting Domestic Seafood Security: Projects like AquaFort directly support the broader goal shared by USTFA: reducing America’s heavy reliance on seafood imports by growing high-quality, domestic trout right here at home.