Available in Spanish here
FIELD TRAINING IN AQUACULTURE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY
The Aquaculture Field Training Program at Auburn University, Alabama, USA is being held this year, from approximately 21 June through 20 July. As the title indicates, classroom work will be minimal; most of the training will be done in the field, on our 1,600 acre research and demonstration farm. Participants will be given experience in fish handling, feeding, sampling and harvesting, marketing and in fish transport using a variety of methods of different technology levels. They will learn the basics of water quality sampling and analysis and oxygen monitoring. Fish health management will be covered and some diagnostics for parasites will be demonstrated. Individual special topics can be accommodated but should be requested in advance to verify. Time will be provided for independent research at the library.
The participants will be exposed to a variety of field experiences in pond aquaculture, recirculating systems, partitioned aquaculture systems, fish transport and handling, feed management and feed trials, pond fertilization, water quality monitoring, aeration technology, fish harvesting and marketing. Each participant will be required to write two extension bulletins or “fact sheets” for use in their home country. The participants will have access to the Auburn University library and a wealth of aquaculture-related research and extension information located in the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures.
This course works best for participants who have at least a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and some fish culture experience. They should understand English; some translation in Spanish and French will be available but not always. Those who have completed Auburn’s CAP program will be given first priority for this field training since the CAP provides the lecture material that is important for the field training to be the most valuable.
For more information on the CAP, please visit the website: http://cap.auburn.edu
Instruction will be in English. Spanish translation may be available part of the time.
Certificates of Participation will be awarded upon completion of the program.
Dates: tentative 20 June to 18 July. Do not purchase airline tickets yet; these dates may change.
Cost:$2,500 for tuition; the participants are responsible for their own living allowance. Recommended living allowance is $900 for meals and incidentals and $600 for lodging, plus additional $150 for required health insurance bringing the total to $1,650 for living allowance.
It is recommended that the lodging and incidentals funds be secured locally and that the international trainees apply for a B-visa.
Trainees are responsible for their own transport to Auburn, which includes airline tickets to Atlanta, GA and shuttle from Atlanta to Auburn ($49-$59). Arrival in Montgomery, Alabama is also possible. If trainees arrive in a group of more than 2, it may be possible for pick up in Atlanta or Montgomery.
Auburn is not providing scholarships for this training; candidates must secure their own funding.
Prospective participants are asked to fill in the form after which a conditional acceptance letter will be e-mailed. In order to reserve your place, a deposit of $500 will be required.
INDICATIVE PROGRAM FOR AUBURN AQUACULTURE FIELD TRAINING
About 2 hours per day will be available for literature search and work on writing extension bulletins. Trainees may be divided into groups for field work.
Week 1:
Arrivals and administrative arrangements: get banking; Auburn ID’s issued, training room keys. Introduction to station and safety procedures at ponds.
Use of library and document access.
Propose fact sheet subjects
Station tour
Seining ponds, and drain for re-stocking.
Keeping field notebooks on research stations and on farms; Farm records
Oxygen meter maintenance and use
Compressed oxygen use: cylinder care, regulators, flow meters and safety
Visit fish market
Week 2
Pond management: fertilizer applications, pond preparation for zooplankton production
Oxygen meter maintenance and use
Water quality checks
Feed management; setting up feed trials
Fish handling: tilapia fry harvesting, quantification and grading
Treatment of fish: dip, bath and pond treatments
Hatchery options for egg incubation and hatching, larval feeding, fry production
Visit fish market
Week 3
Field trip to West Alabama, 2 days: commercial catfish farm; in-pond raceway systems; hydroponic and intensive tilapia system; fish processors, feed mill visit
Management plans for fish farms
The “non-fish” aspects of management: people
Aeration and fish transport: diffuser options; air vs oxygen and calculating oxygen transfer rates
Paddlewheels, air injectors and fountain aerators
Week 4
Revisions on fact sheets
Interviews and discussions on How to work with farmers
Training plans for home country
Pond harvests, fish transfers
Evaluation of fish production, feed conversion and pond records
Individual presentations of fact sheets
Fill out the form below if you are interested in participating in this program.