Researchers

Summary of Expertise

Ecological aquaculture strategies to improve sustainable aquaculture/ Feed design for environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible aquaculture while assuring human health benefits of fish raised on these diets/ Formulations of ocean-friendly, fish-free and low-polluting feeds/ Fish and shellfish nutritional requirements/ Digestibility of feed ingredients/ Dietary nutrient interaction in fish and effects on physiology and gene expression/ Strategies to prevent off-flavors in fish/Integrated aquaculture-agriculture, reusing beneficial aquaculture water to grow organic vegetables via decoupled aquaponics.

Research Interests

My research interests involve shifting aquaculture, the world’s fastest-growing food sector, to sustainability by redesigning the composition of aquafeeds because they drive life-cycle environmental effects of aquaculture, both inputs, and emissions. The overarching goal of my current research at UCSC is to advance more environmentally sound aquaculture diets by reducing eutrophication & other emissions, eliminating wild-caught fish, and encouraging sustainable use of under-utilized microalgal co-product (leftover biomass after oil extraction). Fishmeal (FM) protein and fish oil (FO) ingredients in current commercial aquafeed come from unsustainably sourced marine wild-caught fish (e.g., anchovy, sardine, herring) that are core components of marine food webs. Also, the rapid growth of aquaculture increases other environmental impacts. Poorly digested feed ingredients increase nutrient emissions in aquaculture effluents. Feed inputs—FMFO and crop meals--are major contributors across all environmental impact categories including eutrophication potential in aquaculture. Recently, the Kapuscinski-Sarker Lab team made an important proof-of-concept breakthrough, when we developed fish-free feed for Nile tilapia, the world’s second most farmed fish (Sarker et al. 2020). The outcome of our ocean-friendly fish-free feed research led to a patent pending (Winstead Ref. Nos. 60544-P019WOUS and -P019WUSP1), numerous news stories, interviews, outreach articles, and collaboration inquiries by aquaculture stakeholders all over the world. We are now building on what we have learned to develop new fish-free feed formulas for sustainable salmonids (rainbow trout) aquaculture, which accounts for most of the FMFO used in aquaculture fish feed. I am developing ecological aquaculture principles and practices at the UCSC. My team is doing cutting-edge circular economy research for reusing aquaculture water to grow vegetables via decoupled aquaponics at the UC Center for Agroecology. 

Specifically, my major areas of current research are

• Cutting-edge circular economy research to develop ocean-friendly, fish-free & low-polluting feeds for sustainable aquaculture.
• Developing an interdisciplinary field of ecological aquaculture principles and practices at the UCSC Center for Agroecology via integrating aquaculture-agriculture (reusing aquaculture water to grow vegetables via decoupled aquaponics).
• Developing an open-access decision-support tool that integrates techno-economic and life-cycle analysis, and nutritional analysis of diverse alternative ingredients, from insect meals to micro-algae for fish-free aquaculture feeds.
• Physical/biochemical processing and determining digestibility to make environmentally sustainable and economically viable aquaculture feed.
• Improvement, standardization, and documentation of methods in fish nutrition applied to advance environmentally sustainable aquaculture. 

Biography, Education and Training

Pallab Sarker is a sustainable aquaculture scientist and his research interests involve shifting aquaculture, the world’s fastest growing food sector, to sustainability by redesigning the composition of aqua-feeds because they drive life-cycle environmental effects of aquaculture, both inputs and emissions (pollution). Shifting aquafeeds to more sustainable ingredients is a key part of sustainable aquaculture. He is interested in developing ecological aquaculture principles and practices. The main focus of his current research is to develop a fish-free and crop-free aquaculture diet by combining different species of micro- and macro-algae and developing targeted biochemical manipulations to maximize the diet’s nutrient quality, economic viability, and benefits for environmental conservation. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food industry in the world, now producing more edible biomass than wild seafood for humans, making it a fundamental part of future food production. Although aquaculture contributes significantly to the animal protein consumption on a global scale, it raises important questions in the realm of sustainability science. Aquaculture is increasingly dependent on terrestrial crops (soy, corn) and wild fish (fishmeal and fish oil extracted from small ocean fish or “forage fish,” such as anchovy) for feeds—deeply unsustainable—and damaging to aquatic ecosystems. Aquafeeds now use over 70% of the world’s fishmeal and fish oil from unsustainably-sourced forage fish. Large-scale diversion and overfishing pose several environmentally unsustainable consequences. Aquafeeds also contain large amounts of soy and corn ingredients obtained from industrial farms that cause significant environmental damage, especially eutrophication of rivers, lakes and coastal waters; have deficiencies in key essential amino acids; and, for their oils, lack health-promoting long-chain Omega-3s EPA and DHA. Moreover, fish cannot fully digest phosphorus content of fishmeal, soy, and corn, and this elevates nutrient pollution in aquaculture effluents.  Dr. Sarker is on the cutting edge of research on the issue as one of very few scientists in his field dedicated to innovating a sustainable aquafeed that address both the problems of sourcing and waste streams. His ongoing projects examine the in vivo and in vitro digestibility of different marine algae/co-products and their incorporation in tilapia and salmonids feed formulae to eliminate the use of industrial crops and forage fish in aquafeed to foster environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible aquaculture while assuring human health benefits of fish raised on these diets. Marine algae are excellent sources of essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids that meet the requirements of fish. He is the member of the editorial board of the Journal of Aquaculture & Marine Biology and EC Nutrition. He is a member of the manuscript review committee of 7 peer-reviewed journals.

Areas of expertise:

Sustainable aquaculture and nutrition/ Improve sustainability of aquaculture feeds/ Formulation of low-pollution feeds/ Fish and shellfish nutritional requirements/ Digestibility of feed ingredients/ Dietary nutrient interaction in fish and effects on physiology and gene expression/ Strategies to prevent off-flavors in fish. 

Education: 

B.Sc. Bangladesh Agricultural University

M.S. Bangladesh Agricultural University

M.Sc. Kochi University, Japan

Ph.D. United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Japan

Honors, Awards and Grants

FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS

Post-doctoral research at Laval University with Prof. Grant W. Vandenberg, funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (June 2009-June 2012). 

Post-doctoral research at Laval University with Prof. Grant W. Vandenberg, funded by Network in Aquaculture Quebec (Réseau Aquaculture Québec), Canada (2008-2009).

Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) from Government of Japan, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for Ph.D. study at United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Ehime University (affiliated at Kochi University, 2004-2007).

Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) from Government of Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for M.S. study at Kochi University (2002-2004).

Fellowship from Government of Bangladesh for B.Sc. Fisheries (Hons.) and M. S. in Fisheries Technology (July 1992-December 1998).

PATENT

Kapuscinski, A.R and Sarker, P.K., 2018. Aquaculture Feed Formulation and Aquaculture Product Produced with the Same. US patent publication number: US2018/0303129 A1.

ACTIVE AND RECENT GRANT FUNDING

Pallab Sarker (lead PI), Anne Kapuscinski (Co-PI), and Luke Gardner (Co-PI), Recycling microalgal co-product to reduce eutrophication emissions from trout aquaculture. USDA-NIFA AFRI Program, Program Area Priority: Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems. USDA grant: $1,000,000. 2021-2024.

Pallab Sarker (PI), Anne Kapuscinski (Co-PI), From under-utilized microalgal co-product to prime aquafeed ingredient: foundation for cost viable and fish-free feed for aquaculture. Submitted March 2020, USDA-NIFA. USDA grant: $496,000. 2021-2022.

Pallab Sarker (lead PI) and Anne Kapuscinski. 2019. Converting under-utilized microalgal co-product into value-added ingredient for cost-viable, fish-free aquafeed for rainbow trout. 2020, CA Sea Grant, $120,000 with cost share. NOAA California Sea Grant website published for the 2020 California Sea Grant Aquaculture research project: Fish-free feed for farm-raised rainbow trout.

Anne Kapuscinski (PI), Pallab Sarker (co-PI), Elliott Campbell (co-PI), Brandi McKuin (post-doc) Aquaculture 2019/T1: Economic and environmental sustainability decision-support tool for fish-free aquafeed.  NOAA Sea Grant, $244,000.    

Sarker, P.K. (lead PI) and A.R. Kapuscinski (co-PI). Development of Cost-Viable and Fishmeal- and Fish Oil-Free Feeds Feeds for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Using Microalgal Cells and Co-Products. USDA-NIFA: Animal Health and Production and Animal Products. The proposal is awarded for $500,000, from January 1, 2016 to June 14, 2018.

Sarker, P.K., jointly with Grant W. Vandenberg. Review project on Relative efficiency of feeding salmonids: Sustainability issues related to feeding salmonids: a Canadian perspective)-funded by Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) and Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), Canada (March-September, 2011, CAD 20,000) 

Sarker, P.K. Monbukagakusho, Japanese Government fund for M.Sc. and doctoral, 7.9 million yen (US$ 100,000). 2002-2007.

Sarker, P.K., jointly with M.J. Alam.  Development of artificial diet from locally available ingredients for shrimp, Penaeus monodon. World Bank Project through Ministry of Fisheries and livestocks, Bangladesh. (2002-2003, BDT 100,000 (US$ 1,365)

GRANT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED

Pallab Sarker (PI), Anne Kapuscinski (Co-PI), and Luke Gardner (Co-PI). Recycling microalgal co-product to reduce eutrophication emissions from trout aquaculture. USDA-NIFA AFRI Program, Program Area Priority: Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems. May 2020.

Pallab Sarker (PI), Anne Kapuscinski (Co-PI). From under-utilized microalgal co-product to prime aquafeed ingredient: foundation for cost-viable and fish-free feed for aquaculture. Submitted March 2020, USDA-NIFA. 

Pallab Sarker and Anne Kapuscinski. 2019. Converting under-utilized microalgal co-product into value-added ingredient for cost-viable, fish-free aquafeed for rainbow trout. Submitted July, 2019, UC/Sea Grant (successful above).

Pallab Sarker (PI) and Anne Kapuscinski (Co-PI). From under-utilized microalgal co-product to prime aquafeed ingredient: foundation for cost-viable and fish-free feed for aquaculture. Submitted July 2019, USDA-NIFA. Not funded but submitted gain in July 2020 above.

Sarker, P.K. Invention of a fish-free and crop-free aquaculture diet by combining different species of micro- and macro-algae and developing targeted biochemical manipulations to maximize the diet’s nutrient quality and benefits for environmental conservation. Dartmouth selected me as one of the two nominees for The Moore Inventor Fellows. Proposal submitted on March 5, 2018. Award amount: $675,000 for 3 years, starting from 01/01/19. 

Sarker, P.K. (lead PI) and A.R. Kapuscinski (co-PI). Cost-competitive, fish-free and crop-free feeds for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using microalgae. Pre-Proposal submitted to Foundation for Food Agriculture on April 18, 2018. Total Proposed Budget: 1,000,000 for 3 years, starting from 02/01/19.

Sarker, P.K. (lead PI) and A.R. Kapuscinski (co-PI). Towards Sustainable Fish-free Aquafeed: Enhancing Performance of Microalgal Co-product in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Diets. USDA NIFA. Amount requested: $500,000. Proposed duration: 24 months, starting 01/01/18. Declined and positive comments will lead to resubmission.

Kapuscinski A.R., and Sarker, P.K. et al. NSF-INFEWS/T3: Upcycling brewery wastes to produce microalgae for aquaculture feeds: improving wastewater treatment, increasing energy savings, and reducing pressure on fisheries. Amount requested: $2,318,517. Proposed duration 36 months, starting from 01/01/18. Declined and positive comments will lead to resubmission

Sarker, P.K. (lead PI) and A.R. Kapuscinski (co-PI). Development of Cost-Viable and Fishmeal- and Fish Oil-Free Feeds for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Using Effluent-Raised Microalgae (USDA, program area: Animal Health and Production and Animal Products). Submitted May 01, 2014, $500,000. Declined and positive comments led to resubmission and award as mentioned above.

Kapuscinski, A.R. (lead PI) and P.K. Sarker (co-PI). Life-cycle environmental benefits and impacts of the use of effluent-fertilized microalgae in fish feed in recirculating aquaculture systems. (USDA, program area: Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment). Submitted on June 01, 2014, $500,000). Declined (plan to revise and resubmit in 2016).

Sarker, P.K. jointly with Grant W. Vandenberg, Laval University, Canada. Bio Cage: A novel nutritional approach for biological containment of farmed fish (NSERC strategic project, Canada, April 2011, CAD 467,000; 2nd phase with salmonids).

Selected Publications

Mckuin, B., Kapuscinski, A.R., Sarker, P.K., Cheek, N., Colwell, A., Schoffstall, B., and Greenwood, C. 2022. Life cycle assessment of the potential of heterotrophic microalgae as sustainable fish oil replacements in aquaculture feeds. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene (2022) 10 (1): 00098. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00098

Gamble, M., Sarker, P., Kapuscinski, A., Suzanne Kelson, Fitzgerald, Devin, Schelling, Benjamin, De Souza, Antonio, Tsukui, T. 2021. Towards environmentally sustainable aquafeeds: Managing phosphorus discharge from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture with microalgae-supplemented diets. “Elementa” Opens Sustainability Transitions Section. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 9: 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00170

Sarker P.K., Kapuscinski, A.R., McKuin B, Fitzgerald, D.S., Nash H., Greenwood, C. 2020. Microalgae-blend tilapia feed eliminates fishmeal and fish oil, improves growth, and is cost viable. Scientific Reports: 10, 19328. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75289-x

Bélanger-Lamonde, A., Sarker, P.K., Bureau, D.P., Chouinard, Y., Vandenberg, G.W., 2021. Apparent Digestibility of Macronutrients and Fatty Acids from Microalgae (Schizochytrium sp.) Fed to Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): A Potential Candidate for Fish Oil Substitution. Animals 2021, 11, 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020456 

Sarker P.K., Kapuscinski, A.R. Vandenberg G.W., Proulx E., Sitek A.J. (2020). Towards sustainable and ocean-friendly aquafeeds: Evaluating a fish-free feed for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using three marine microalgae species. Elementa Science of the Anthropocene, 8: 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.404

Sarker, P.K., Kapuscinski, A.R., Bae, A.Y., Donaldson, E., Sitek, A.J., Edelson, O.F., Fitzgerald, D.F., 2018. Towards sustainable aquafeeds: Evaluating substitution of fishmeal with lipid-extracted microalgal co-product (Nannochloropsis oculata) in diets of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). PLoS ONE 13(7): e0201315. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201315.

Bélanger-Lamonde, A., Sarker, P.K., Ayotte, P., Bailey, J.L., Bureau, D.P., Chouinard, Y., Dewailly, É., Leblanc, A., Weber, J-P., Vandenberg, G.W., 2018. Algal and vegetable oils as sustainable fish oil substitutes in rainbow trout diets: An approach to reduce Contaminant exposure. Journal of Food Quality. Article ID 7949782, 12 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7949782. 

Shah, M.R., Lutzu, G.A., Asraful, A., Sarker P., Chowdhury, M.A.K., Parsaeimehr, A., Liang, Y., Daroch, M., 2017.  Microalgae in aquafeeds for a sustainable aquaculture industry (review article). Journal of Applied Phycology. DOI 10.1007/s10811-017-1234-z.

Sarker, P.K., Kapuscinski, A.R. Lanois, A. Livesey, E. Bernhard, K. and Coley, M., 2016. Towards sustainable aquafeeds: complete substitution of fish oil with marine microalga Schizochytrium sp. improves growth and fatty acid deposition in juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). PLoS ONE 11(6): e0156684, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156684.

Sarker, P.K., *Gamble, M.M., Kelson, S., Kapuscinski, A.R., 2016. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) show high digestibility of lipid and fatty acids from marine Schizochytrium sp. and of protein and essential amino acids from freshwater Spirulina sp. feed ingredients. Aquaculture Nutrition 22: 109-119.

Yossa, R., Sarker, P.K., Proulx, E., Vandenberg, G.W., 2015. Effect of the dietary biotin on zebrafish, Danio rerio reproduction. Aquaculture Research, 46, 117–130.

Yossa, R., Sarker, P.K., Mock, D.M., Lall, S.P., Vandenberg, G.W., 2015. Current knowledge on biotin nutrition in fish and research perspectives. Reviews in Aquaculture, 7: 59–73.

Sarker, P.K., Pilote, A., Auffret, A., Proulx, E., Villemur, R., Vandenberg, G., 2014. Reducing geosmin-associated off-flavor compounds and metabolic phosphorus waste outputs through dietary phosphorus management in rainbow trout raised in recirculating aquaculture systems. Aquaculture and Environment Interaction, 6: 105–117.

Sarker, P.K., Bureau, D.P., Drew, M., Hua, K., Forster, I., Were, K., Hicks, B., Vandenberg, G.W., 2013. Sustainability issues related to feeding salmonids: a Canadian perspective. Reviews in Aquaculture, 5: 1-21.

Yossa, R., *Sarker, P.K., Mock, D.M., Vandenberg, G.W., 2014. Dietary biotin requirement for growth of juvenile zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan). Aquaculture Research, 45, 1787–1797.

Bai, Z., Pilote, A., Sarker, P.K., Vandenberg, G., Pawliszyn, J., 2013. In-vivo solid phase microextraction with ex-vivo calibration: Determination of off flavor components in live fish. Analytical Chemistry 85: 2328-2332.

Yossa, R., Sarker, P.K., Proulx, E., Saxena, V., Ekker, M., Vandenberg, G.W., 2013. A practical approach for sexing zebrafish Danio rerio. Journal of Applied Aquaculture, 25 (2): 148-153.

Sarker, P.K., Yossa, R., Karanth, S., Ekker, M., and Vandenberg, G.W., 2012. Influences of dietary biotin and avidin on growth, survival, deficiency syndrome and hepatic gene expression of juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 38 (4): 1183-1193.

Khan, N., Ashraf, M., Qureshi, N.A., Sarker, P.K., Vandenberg , G.W., Rasool, F., 2012. Effect of similar feeding regime on growth and body composition of Indian major carps (Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita) under mono and polyculture. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11(44): 10280-10290.

Sarker, P.K., Fournier, J., Boucher, E., Proulx, E., Noüe de al J., Vandenberg, G.W., 2011. Effects of low phosphorus ingredient combinations on weight gain, apparent digestibility coefficients, non-fecal phosphorus excretion, phosphorus retention and loading of large rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Animal Feed Science and Technology, 168, 241-249.

Yossa, R., Sarker P.K., Karanth, S., Ekker, M., Vandenberg, G.W., 2011. Effects dietary biotin and avidin on growth, survival, feed conversion, biotin status and gene expression of zebrafish Danio rerio. Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B. 160(4):150-158.

Yossa, R., Sarker P.K., Vandenberg, G.W., 2011. Preliminary evidence of the contribution of the intestinal microflora to biotin supply in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan). Zebrafish, 8 (4): 221-227.   

Vandenberg, G.W., Scott, S.L., Sarker, P.K., Dallaire, V., de la Noüe, J., 2011. Encapsulation of microbial phytase: effects on phosphorus bioavailability in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Animal Feed Science and Technology, 169 (3-4): 230-243.

Koko, G.K.D., Sarker, P.K., Proulx, E., Vandenberg, G.W., 2010. Effects of alternating feeding regimes with varying dietary phosphorus levels on growth, mineralization, phosphorus retention and loading of large rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquatic Living Resources, 23, 277-284.

Sarker, P.K., Fukada, H., Masumoto, T., 2009. Phosphorus availability from inorganic phosphorus sources in yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck and Schlegel) Aquaculture 289, 113-117.

Sarker, P.K., Shuichi, S., Fukada, H., Masumoto, T. 2009. Effects of dietary phosphorus level on non-faecal phosphorus excretion from yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck and Schlegel) fed purified and practical diets. Aquaculture Research, 40 (2), 225-232.

Sarker, P.K., Hosokawa, H., 2009. Effects of phytase on growth and phosphorus utilization in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). International Journal of Recirculating Aquaculture, 10, 25-41. 

Mondal, S., Sarker, P.K., Islam, M.M., Alam, M.J., 2009. Nutritional evaluation of substitute protein sources in locally made diets for juvenile shrimp, Penaeus monodon. International Journal of BioResearch, 6 (2), 69-73.

Sarker, P.K., Fukada, H., Masumoto, T., 2007. Suitable fecal collection technique for determining apparent phosphorus availability in yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). Aquaculture Science (Japan Aquaculture Society), 54 (3), 319-324.

Sarker, P.K., Fukada, H., Hosokawa, H., Masumoto, T., 2006. Effects of phytase with inorganic phosphorus supplement diet on nutrient availability of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Aquaculture Science (Japan Aquaculture Society), 54 (3), 391-398. 

Dey, D., Sarker, P.K., Mohiuddin, K.M., Chowdhury, M.A.H., 2006. Litter decomposition and nutrient release pattern in madhupur forest soils of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 33 (1), 99 - 109.

Sarker, P.K., Rahman, S., Ahmed, S.U., Rahaman, M., Dey, D., 2005. Suitability and production performance of Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT) and Cyprinus carpio under mono and mixed culture system in coastal rice field. Journal of Biological Sciences, 5 (3), 289-291

Sarker, P.K., Chowdhury, B.B.P., Khan, M.S.A., Pal, H.K., 2002. Mondal S. A study of silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) monoculture Vs.  Mixed culture with carps (Cyprinus carpio) in the yard ditches of Bangladesh.  Journal of Biological Sciences, 2 (4), 230-231.

Sarker, P.K., Pal, H.K., Rahman, M.M., Rahman, M.M., 2002. Observation on the fecundity and gonado-somatic index of Mystus gulio in Brackishwaters of Bangladesh. Journal of Biological Sciences, 2 (4), 235-237

Ahmed, S.U., Sarker, P.K., Islam, M.N., Kamal, M., Mazid, M.A., 2001. Identification of causes of shrimp quality loss due to farm operation and post-harvesting at depots and markets of Bangladesh. Journal of Biological Sciences, 1 (4), 188 -191.

Sarker, P.K., Rahman, S., Rahman, M.M., Chakraborty, S.C., Islam, M.N., 2000. Protein digestibility of different animal and plant protein sources for Labeo rohita fingerlings. Journal of Biological Sciences, 3 (4), 590- 592.

Chowdhury, B.B.P., Chakraborty, S.C., Sarker, P.K., 2000. Effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth of Indian major carp Labeo rohita (Ham.) fingerlings fed different formulated diets. Progressive Agriculture, 11 (1& 2), 175-179.

Sarker, P.K., Chakraborty, S.C., Islam, M.N., Chowdhury, B.B.P., 2000. Effect of animal protein and plant protein diets on growth of Indian major carp (Labeo rohita Ham.) fingerlings. Bangladesh Journal of Fisheries Research, 4 (2), 114- 120.

Rahaman, S. Sarker, P.K., Ahmed, S.U., Rafiquzzaman, M., Ferdous, S.M., 1999. Study on the suitability of culture of exotic fish species in the coastal paddy fields of Bangladesh under mono and mixed culture system. Journal of Biological Sciences, 3 (4).

Ahmed, S.U., Sarker, P.K., Rhaman, S., Kamal, M., Islam, M.N., Mazid, M.A., 1999. Study on the impact of farm management on the production level of shrimp under various culture system of Bangladesh. Banglsdesh Journal of Fisheries Science, 22 (2) 105-111.

Selected Presentations

INVITED TALKS

·       Developing microalgal co-product feeds for sustainable aquaculture. Invited talk at the workshop on algae meal / oil for aquafeeds. Organized by ABO FAAF to be held Saturday March 5, 2022 after the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) triennial meeting planned for San Diego. https://vimeo.com/689070528

·       Ocean-friendly microalgae feed for sustainable aquaculture. Algae in Aquaculture panel” at the Algae Biomass summit 2021, the largest algae conference in the world. October 26, 2021.

·       UCSC AgTech Symposium on April 23, 2021. Recycling microalgal co-product to develop ocean-friendly fish-free feed for sustainable aquaculture.

·       Towards sustainable aquafeeds: Tilapia Grows Faster on Fish-free Feed. F3 Companies Got Talent 2019 meeting, San Francisco. Organized by F3 – Future of Fish Feed, Anthropocene Institute. February 19-22.

·       Towards sustainable aquafeeds: Creating a fish-free feed for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using microalgae and co-products. Products and Markets track “Algae for Animals: Feed Applications Go Global”ABO summit, the Woodlands, Texas, October 14-17, 2018.

·       Towards sustainable fish-free Aquafeeds: Evaluating microalgal co-product for replacement of fishmeal in aquaculture diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). World Aquaculture Society conference; Aquaculture America 2018, Las Vegas, USA, February 19- 23, 2018.

·       Development of Cost-Viable and Fishmeal- and Fish Oil-Free Feeds for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Using Microalgal Cells and Co-Products, July 12, 2017, Project Director Meeting, USDA- Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

·       Nutrition strategies for improving the environmental sustainability of aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Nova scotia, Canada. March 10, 2016.

·       Towards sustainable aquafeeds: Evaluating three marine microalgae for replacement of fish oil and fishmeal in aquaculture diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Algae Biomass Summit in Washington, DC, September 29-October 2, 2015. Organized by Algae Biomass Organization.

·       Aquaculture Nutrition Strategies for Environmental Sustainability: Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA. February 06, 2014.

·       Toward Sustainable Aquaculture to Meet the Food Security Challenge in the World: Hanover Rotary Club, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. December 11, 2013.

·       Highly digestible ingredients for formulating diet for yellowtail (Seriola quinquerdiata): A special lecture for undergraduate students, Usa Marine Biological Center, Kochi University, Japan. January 27, 2006

·       Consequences of phosphorus pollution from aquaculture: A special lecture for undergraduate students at Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University, Kochi prefecture, Japan. June 21, 2005.

·       Role of phytase in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) diet: Invited speaker in a summer seminar of Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan. October 25, 2003

·       Present status of production & processing technology of shrimp in coastal region of Bangladesh: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna, Bangladesh, March 01 2001 (Host: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Bangladesh).

Selected Recordings

Conversation (podcast interview) with Peer Advisor Kathy Cardoza in the new ENVS Advising Podcast, “Office Hours. 2021”

Selected Performances

PRESS INTERVIEW/QUOTATION/ PUBLIC OUTREACH

Conversation (podcast interview) with Peer Advisor Kathy Cardoza in the new ENVS Advising Podcast, “Office Hours. 2021”

Emma Bryce 2020. Can industrial aquaculture grow vegetarian fish? Anthropocene. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/11/can-industrial-aquaculture-grow-vegetarian-fish/. November 13, 2020.

Lynda Searby. 2021. Researchers mine microalgae industry for sustainable fishmeal alternative. Feed Navigator. https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2021/08/03/Researchers-mine-microalgae-industry-for-fishmeal-alternative

Pallab Sarker. 2020. Taking fish out of fish feed can make aquaculture a more sustainable food source. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/taking-fish-out-of-fish-feed-can-make-aquaculture-a-more-sustainable-food-source-150728. December 14, 2020. 

Allison Arteaga Soergel. 2021. UCSC Newscenter.  New research on aquaculture feed will test alternative ingredients to help minimize water pollution: https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/07/low-pollution-fish-feed.html?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=   Allison Arteaga Soergel. 2020. UCSC Newscenter.  Research breakthrough achieves fish-free aquaculture feed that raises key standards. https://news.ucsc.edu/2020/11/fish-free-feed.html. November 12, 2020.

Liza Mayer. 2021. “Fish-free tilapia feed breakthrough” Faster growth, better FCR worth the slightly higher production costs, say inventors. Aquaculture North America. https://www.aquaculturenorthamerica.com/fish-free-tilapia-feed-breakthrough/?oly_enc_id=2793B9363367D1V. Feb 24, 2021.

Colleen Valles. 2021 Overfishing and Aquaculture: combination of microalgae to benefit the fish and their human consumers. Lampoon. https://lampoonmagazine.com/overfishing-and-aquaculture-plant-based-fish/. Feb, 2021

Lauren Everett. 2021. “Striving for Sustainability in the Aquaculture Industry” Newly developed fish-free feed offers more sustainable solution for aquaculture industry. Lab Manager: Ask the Expert. https://www.labmanager.com/ask-the-expert/striving-for-sustainability-in-the-aquaculture-industry-25321. March 9, 2021  

Caitlin Scully. 2021. “Fish-free fish feed: update” If you are using wild fish to create diets for farmed fish, then the farmed fish is not as sustainable as they could be. https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/blogs/fish-free-fish-feed-update. March 24, 2021.

Treena Hein. 2021. “Moving towards more sustainable fish feed” https://www.allaboutfeed.net/all-about/new-proteins/moving-towards-more-sustainable-fish-feed/. June 7, 2021.

Allison Arteaga Soergel. 2020. UCSC Newscenter. Grant funding will advance aquaculture research in UCSC’s new state-of-the-art facility. https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/01/usda-grant-aquaculture.html. Jan 19, 2021.   Liza Mayer. 2021 USDA funds development of fish-free feed for rainbow trout. Aquaculture North America. https://www.aquaculturenorthamerica.com/usda-funds-development-of-fish-free-feed-for-rainbow-trout/. Feb 19, 2021

McNulty J. 2020. California Sea Grant funds sustainable aquaculture project. UCSC Newscenter. California Sea Grant funds sustainable aquaculture project. March 26, 2020.

Nemo L. (2019). Faux Fish Might Help Aquaculture Keep Feeding the World, Scientific American, available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/faux-fish-might-help-aquaculture-keep-feeding-the-world/. March 6, 2019.

Wright J. (2019). Aquafeed moonshots at the F3 ‘talent show’. Portsmouth, NH, USA. https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/advocate/aquafeed-moonshots-f3-talent-show/. February 26, 2019.

Coxworth B. (2018). Environment: Algae-meal fish food could make aquaculture more eco-friendly. New Atlas (formerly Gizmag) is one of the world's largest independent science and technology publications.  https://newatlas.com/tilapia-feed-microalga/55975/. August 20, 2018.

Einstein-Curtis A. (2018). US: Microalgae co-product may have role in cutting fishmeal use. Feed Navigator magazine: https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2018/08/27/US-microalgae-co-product-may-have-role-in-cutting-fishmeal-use

Einstein-Curtis A. (2016). US team raised value added-tilapia on microalgae diet. Feed Navigator, http://www.feednavigator.com/R-D/US-team-raised-value-added-tilapia-on-microalgae-diet

Elton C. (2016). A Sustainable Superfood for Farmed Fish.  Conservation Magazine. http://conservationmagazine.org/2016/06/sustainable-substitute-for-fish-oil/

Good coverage by local news/science news aggregators/online websites in both the environment and feeds arenas:

  Santa Cruz Santinel: UC Santa Cruz researchers develop environmentally, sustainable fish feed. Nov 16, 2020. https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/11/16/uc-santa-cruz-researchers-develop-environmentally-sustainable-fish-feed/

Undercurrent News: US study reports fish-free aquafeed outperforms traditional diets. https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2020/11/13/us-study-claims-fish-free-aquafeed-outperforms-traditional-diets/. Nov 13, 2020.

Good Times: UCSC Researchers Win Grant to Develop More Sustainable Aquaculture. https://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/ucsc-researchers-trout-vegetarian-diet-sustainable-aquaculture/. Feb 11, 2021.

Feed Navigator: Cost competitive microalgae-based tilapia feed improves growth metrics. https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2020/11/13/Cost-competitive-microalgae-based-tilapia-feed-improves-growth-metrics. Nov 13, 2020.

Global Aquaculture Alliance: Comparing microalgae-blend diets to reference diet for Nile tilapia. https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/advocate/comparing-microalgae-blend-diets-to-reference-diet-for-nile-tilapia/. Jan 4, 2021

Aquafeed.com: New fish-free aquafeed improves weight gain in tilapia. https://www.aquafeed.com/af-article/10064/New-fishfree-aquafeed-improves-weight-gain-in-tilapia/. Nov 12, 2020.

Global Aquaculture Alliance: Towards sustainable aquafeeds: Evaluating fishmeal substitution (2019)

https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/advocate/towards-sustainable-aquafeeds-evaluating-fishmeal-substitution/

Sustainable aquafeed (2018): Marine microalga co-product holds potential. Food Ingredients First magazine (editorial team): http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/sustainable-aquafeed-marine-microalga-co-product-holds-potential.html#.W337gNVQQLU.linkedin

Feedstuffs magazine (2018): Marine microalga may make aquafeeds more sustainable. https://www.feedstuffs.com/nutrition-health/marine-microalga-may-make-aquafeeds-more-sustainable Post Online Media (2018): Scientists develop aquafeed using marine microalga co-product. 2018. http://www.poandpo.com/agrifish/scientists-develop-aquafeed-using-marine-microalga-coproduct-2082018697

Animal Science database (2018): Marine microalgal co-product shows promise as sustainable aquafeed. 2018. https://www.cabi.org/animalscience/news/65361

Science Daily (2018): Making aquafeed more sustainable: Scientists develop feeds using a marine microalga co-product. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180818115645.htm

Science Daily (2016): Research team makes breakthrough toward fish-free aquaculture feed. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160604050639.htm

Undercurrent News (2016): Ivy League college in fish-free tilapia feed breakthrough.https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2016/06/06/ivy-league-college-in-fish-free-tilapia-feed-breakthrough/

EurekAlert (2016). Dartmouth team makes breakthrough toward fish-free aquaculture feed. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/dc-dtm060216.php

Suppan, S. 2015) Algae: Raceway to the future? | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Nice quote in the blog above (by Dr. Steve Suppan, Senior Policy Analyst) about my talk in the summit explained how my work can meet "imminent environmental threats with major economic consequences”:

Teaching Interests

 ENVS 135 Sustainable Aquaculture (Lecturer), Winter 2021 (upper division, credit 5, students 19), UCSC.

ENVS 135 Sustainable Aquaculture (Lecturer), Winter 2020 (upper division, credit 5, students 29), UCSC.

ENVS 25 Ecological Agriculture (Lecturer) - (undergraduate course; 37 students), Dartmouth.