Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility

Transcription

1 Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Organizational Structure Mission & Programming The goals of the facility support it s mission: Provide training and educational opportunities. Provide outreach assistance to fish farmers. Provide hands on workshops. Conduct applied research driven by commercial aquaculture issues. Work with the industry to develop new aquaculture species and techniques for the region. Demonstrate commercial aquaculture utilizing a variety of systems and designs. Work with industry to develop and demonstrate new techniques and equipment. Work with other agencies and partners to provide for a cooperative interchange of aquaculture research and related information. Develop a cooperative interchange venue of aquaculture information and contacts that is easily accessible to industry. Explore new avenues for facility programming. Work with industry to develop new avenues for the advancement of regional aquaculture. 1

2 Continuing NADF Programming Four key elements need incorporating in carrying NADF forward: 1) Center the mission on serving the very applied and practical needs of private aquaculturists while establishing working partnerships and programs with public and tribal fishery interests. 2) Ensure that extension/experiment station type information transfer, technical assistance and outreach is a clear and consistent priority in everything NADF does. 3) Use NADF as the central coordination and collaboration focal point of the many resources available to stakeholders within the public sector for aquaculture. 4) Use NADF as a regional hub for northern climate aquaculture both to improve resources into NADF and knowledge out to Wisconsin stakeholders. Walleye Project Dates: April September 2005/06 Purpose: To demonstrate typical coolwater species incubation and pond rearing techniques at the facility. Project Summary: Working cooperatively work with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Fisheries Program (LCO) approximately 12,000 extended growth walleyes were raised for the tribes lake stocking program in The NADF raised the walleyes from egg stage through the summer in two half acre outdoor earthern ponds utilizing organic fertilizers, plankton and forage minnows. Yellow Perch Project Dates: July 2004 presently ongoing Purpose: Phase 1) successfully incubate and hatch yellow perch utilizing several different strategies. Phase 2) to demonstrate and develop environmentally compatible and sustainable optimal yellow perch culture technology for yearround fingerling production and one year grow-out utilizing a variety of systems. Project Summary: The NADF obtained perch eggs from several cooperators and attempted several different incubation strategies. At the NADF, the eggs hatched indoors survived better than the eggs placed directly outside in the ponds. In early September 10,000, 2.5 inch yellow perch fingerlings were placed into a newly installed 10,000 gallon coolwater (65-75 F) RAS system at NADF. Information concerning water quality, ammonia, total gases, growth rates, size distributions, feed usage, labor and operating costs for the systems have been monitored and recorded. Some of the yellow perch are nearing market size. A donation process with WAA is being developed to market the perch. 2

3 Lake Superior Strain Brook Trout Dates: August presently ongoing Purpose: To demonstrate typical coldwater species incubation and rearing in coldwater RAS and flow thru systems. Also, to evaluate hatchery performance and potential aquaculture value of Lake Superior strain brook trout. Project Summary: Several parameters including water quality, growth rates, condition factors, feed conversions, and costs for the systems are being evaluated. Brook trout will be reared to market size and evaluated for cost/profit utilizing the various systems. Fish Hatchery Effluent Study Dates: Summer Purpose: To participate with UW-Madison and demonstrate best management practices with hatchery effluents. Project Summary: NADF is cooperating with the Pedersen and McMahon groups at the University of Wisconsin Madison, who are presently initiating a Sea Grant project seeking to assess the impact of oxytetracycline usage in aquaculture. NADF is serving as the control site for this OTC use for therapeutic purpose study. Bayfield High School Aquaculture Education Dates: September December 2005 (Fall Semester) Purpose: Educate and inform interested high school students in the science and business of aquaculture. Project Summary: Basic overview of aquaculture was presented to high school students which included classroom and hands on work at the NADF in cooperation with the Bayfield High School and Science Teacher, Mark O Neil. 3

4 College & High School Internships Dates: presently ongoing Purpose: To educate current & future students in aquaculture/fisheries related fields of study and employment. Project Summary: UW-Stevens Point, Northland College, & Bayfield High School students have participated in a hands on internship experience at the NADF. Internships focus on the operation of an aquaculture facility and students are encouraged to work extensively on one project for research experience. Workshops & Facility Inspections Dates: 2006 (July & Fall) Purpose: To demonstrate and educate interested aquaculturists, hatchery staff, veterinarians, etc. on species or problem-related topics though open workshops and meetings. Project Summary: Yellow perch forum (July 14) at UWSP. Also, in cooperation with Dr. Myron Kebus, the NADF will be offering open door fish health inspections throughout the year. At specified intervals, NADF fish health inspections will be planned and announced so that interested personnel may visit and observe how the inspections are done and what to look for. Yellow Perch Health Project Dates: 2006 Purpose: To address the symptoms, occurrence, cause, and possible treatments for whitetail syndrome in yellow perch. Project Summary: In cooperation with Dr. Myron Kebus, the NADF will be investigating the fish health issue commonly referred to as whitetail in yellow perch. Samples of healthy & infected fish from the NADF have been and will continue to be sent to the state lab for workup and inspection. 4

5 Tours and Outreach NADF staff conducts facility tours on a regular basis to a variety of interested personnel from many agencies (over 120 visitors already this year!!!) NADF staff offers assistance with real issues for private, public and tribal aquaculturists (ie. phone call regarding pond raising walleyes in Ontario this spring) NADF has been featured in several newspaper and television articles and in Hatchery International, a worldwide aquaculture magazine NADF provides a webpage with timely topics at 5