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AUBURN UNIVERSITY FISHERIES RESEARCH FAIR
AUBURN, Ala.__--Orange and blue crayfish, genetically engineered catfish
and carp and a harvesting system that pumps fish out of the water were
just a few of the topics that drew some 350 people to the first-ever
Auburn University Fisheries Research Fair.
The Fair, which was held Aug. 19 at the Fisheries Research Unit in Auburn,
featured the results of a wide range of fisheries research projects
conducted through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn
University. People came from throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Florida,
Georgia and even from some foreign countries to hear updates on fisheries
and aquacultural research issues and to tour the Research Unit.
Visitors interested in growing fresh water crustaceans were able to
see an orange and blue crayfish which has shown great potential for
Alabama production in Auburn research. David Rouse, associate professor
in Auburn's Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and project
leader for fresh water crustacean research, explained that the popularity
of shrimp indicates there is a good market for fresh water crustaceans.
"Shrimp is one of the largest crops we harvest from the Gulf,"
he said. "But we are still importing more than half of what we
eat, and imports are increasing daily. We have an abundance of fresh
water in Alabama and we need a crop that can tap into that resource
and fill the demand for crustaceans," he continued.
Rouse has evaluated fresh water shrimp that can be grown in ponds and
have shown some potential as a fresh water crop. He also has evaluated
several species of crayfish for pond production and has found that red
claw, an Australia crayfish which is larger than the native crayfish,
may be a good choice.
Early results have shown this crayfish, which has orange and blue hues
in its shell, can feed off of hay or other rotting vegetation placed
in the pond and is easy to harvest through trapping or seining. These
crayfish can be harvested in the fall or overwintered in a climate-controlled
facility.
Genetic engineering research on catfish and carp was another highlight
of the Field Day. Fish geneticist Rex Dunham, also an associate professor
of fisheries and allied aquacultures, talked about the various types
of genetic work underway to improve catfish production in Alabama and
the Southeast.
According to Dunham, the goal of this genetic research is to improve
traits such as growth, reproduction and disease resistance in commercial
catfish. To reach this goal, researchers have looked at a variety of
genetic improvement options including the use of selective breeding,
crossbreeding different strains of fish, hybridization and genetic engineering.
Dunham said hybridization research has led to the development of a "super
catfish," which is a cross between a female channel catfish and
a male blue catfish. "These fish can grow 20 to 100 percent faster
than other catfish," Dunham said. In addition, they are easier
to catch and perform well in densely populated ponds.
Work with transgenic fish at Auburn also has proven to be both effective
and a first for science. Dunham explained that the rainbow trout growth
hormone has been successfully implanted into both carp and catfish through
his genetics program in an effort to get fish to market size more quickly.
While earlier work had been conducted in the lab, the transgenic fish
were recently placed in a research pond at Auburn for further evaluation,
making Auburn the first university to place a transgenic animal into
an outdoor facility.
Visitors also were able to see a pump harvester in action during the
Fair. Len Lovshin, professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures, demonstrated
a turbine pump system which literally pumps fish out of a seining net
and deposits them into a transport truck. He explained that commercial
producers commonly use a boom and basket system but are looking for
better, faster ways to harvest their crops. The turbine pump, which
harvests 600-650 pounds of fish per minute compared to 340 pounds per
minute with the boom and basket system, looks promising.
Sport fishing research was another feature of the Fair. Dennis Devries,
assistant professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures, discussed
the need for a proper balance of fish species in sport fishing lakes.
He noted that bass and bluegill are most commonly managed in these situations,
though research is looking at the possibility of adding shad to the
community.
Devries also discussed the use of electro-shocking to sample sport fish
populations. He explained that a specially equipped boat sends an electrical
shock into the water, stunning fish and causing them to rise to the
surface where they can be easily collected. This process allows fisheries
researchers to sample populations without harming the fish. The samples
allow them to estimate the size and population densities of fish in
a pond.
Visitors were able to see some alternative fish species during the Fair,
including paddlefish (which produce caviar), tilapia and hybrid bass.
Ron Phelps, associate professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures,
noted that tilapia show potential as a crop in the Southeast because
they can tolerate lower quality water conditions than other fish species.
But, he noted, they cannot overwinter in Alabama and they tend to overpopulate
ponds. Researchers are now looking at ways to control reproduction in
these animals, including the use of sex reversal.
Additional topics discussed during the Fair included water resource
management and cages, farm pond construction and engineering, fish nutrition
and management of off-flavor, fish health management, water quality
management, aeration and effluents, handling of sport fish during fishing
tournaments and marketing fish through local fish-out operations.
Other program participants from the Department of Fisheries and Allied
Aquacultures included: Department Head Wayne Shell, John Jensen, Michael
Masser, Claude Ellington, Tom Lovell, Mike Schwartz, Yolanda Brady,
Chris Hyde, Renee Beam, John Plumb, Tom Seeger and Michael Meceina.
Lowell T. Frobish, director of the Experiment Station, also addressed
the crowd.
The Fair was sponsored by the Experiment Station, the Alabama Cooperative
Extension Service, and the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures.
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By:
Katie Smith
8/23/91
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