Freshwater Institute - The Conservation Fund
Skip to Content
Our Programs
Freshwater Institute
Freshwater Institute
Introduction
Our oceans are under pressure from the increasing demands of a growing population, resulting in sustainability challenges for our seafood supply.
Advancing Aquaculture & Water Quality
The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute is addressing those challenges by advancing sustainable practices that create a robust aquaculture industry with a goal of reducing dependence on seafood imports and ensuring everyone has access to high-quality, safe and nutritious seafood. We spearhead pioneering research, technological innovations and industry collaborations, shaping solutions that minimize environmental impact and meet the evolving demands of consumers.
Our work has included innovations for improving fish farm efficiency, productivity, and environmental performance. For example, we have innovated AI-based tools for farm management, identified faster-growing strains of commercial species, and created practices that improve quality and encourage consumers to eat more seafood. We’re also reducing environmental impacts in creative ways like creating marketable products from fish waste.
Program Highlights
Over 35 years of applied research directly benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment
Innovated fundamental technologies used in today’s growing land-based aquaculture industry
Creating a sustainable seafood supply for the future
Publications
The Freshwater Institute specializes in the research and design of aquaculture systems technology, as well as solutions to water-quality constraints and impacts. We publish our findings for both science and industry.
Research Publications
Industry Publications
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Course
This four-day course covers a range of topics from RAS fundamentals to fish health and biosecurity, system operations and maintenance, AI technology and more. The 2026 RAS Course is scheduled for the week of September 28 – October 1 in Shepherdstown, WV.
Learn More About The Course
Project
Smart Land-Based Fish Farms
The precision aquaculture initiative aims to increase fish production, improve product quality and optimize efficiency, while ensuring fish welfare.
Project
West Virginia-Raised Salmon
The Freshwater Institute is designing systems that make it possible to produce local, sustainable seafood that’s good for your health and good for the environment.
Project
Restoring Brook Trout
A collaboration looks to increase the success of brook trout reintroduction efforts and restore West Virginia’s brook trout population.
Project
Increasing Land-Based Salmon Production
A recently completed research project will help accelerate land-based aquaculture development in the U.S. Great Lakes region.
More Projects
Project
Improving Feeds for Land-based Salmon Fa...
We’re helping develop and enhance feeds for the land-based aquaculture industry, making it likelier that more peopl...
Project
Supporting the Expansion of Land-Based A...
The world population is increasing quickly — and contemporary food supplies are struggling to keep up with the need. We c...
Project
USFWS Hatchery Modernization Project
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needed to modernize facilities, we were there to help.
Project
Improving Feeds for Land-based Salmon Fa...
We’re helping develop and enhance feeds for the land-based aquaculture industry, making it likelier that more peopl...
Project
USFWS Hatchery Modernization Project
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needed to modernize facilities, we were there to help.
Project
Supporting the Expansion of Land-Based A...
The world population is increasing quickly — and contemporary food supplies are struggling to keep up with the need. We c...
See more
What is Land-Based Fish Farming?
Video lenght: 2:03
Learn about the Freshwater Institute and our recirculating aquaculture systems, which make it possible to grow salmon on land.
Latest News
Insights
February 14, 2025
Fish Shouldn’t Need to Fly
Too much of the salmon Americans eat travels thousands of miles from places like Chile or Norway to reach our dinner plat...
Insights
December 21, 2023
Celebrating Three Conservation Champions
We look back with gratitude and pride at the accomplishments of three of our staff members who retired at the end of 2023...
Project
Building Smart Land-Based Fish Farms
This initiative is increasing fish production, improving product quality and optimizing efficiency — all while ensuring f...
Insights
February 14, 2025
Fish Shouldn’t Need to Fly
Too much of the salmon Americans eat travels thousands of miles from places like Chile or Norway to reach our dinner plat...
Project
Building Smart Land-Based Fish Farms
This initiative is increasing fish production, improving product quality and optimizing efficiency — all while ensuring f...
Insights
December 21, 2023
Celebrating Three Conservation Champions
We look back with gratitude and pride at the accomplishments of three of our staff members who retired at the end of 2023...
More News & Insights
Program Staff
Chris Good
Director of Research
cgood@conservationfund.or...
Megan Murray
Water and Environmental Chemistry Lab Manager
mmurray@conservationfund....
Scott Tsukuda
Director of Operations
stsukuda@conservationfund...
See all Freshwater Institute staff
Protect the Lands That Sustain Us
Donate