Home Page of the VT Aquaculture Center is here.
The Virginia Tech Aquaculture Center was established in October, 1989. The purpose of this innovative facility is to provide comprehensive education and research programs focusing on the development of commercial recirculating aquaculture systems nationwide.
"Recirculating Aquaculture" refers to a method of growing fish at high densities under controlled conditions in indoor tanks. The water used to grow fish is cleaned and reused. New water is added only to replace losses from evaporation, splash out, and solid waste removal. This "fish factory" concept is analogous to poultry production in broiler houses or pork production in swine confinement barns. Recirculating aquaculture minimizes the amount of water and land needed, and greatly expands the opportunities to grow fish in geographic areas that are normally unsuitable (too cold, too dry, too hot, etc.) to grow fish outdoors year-round.
The Virginia Tech Aquaculture Center is the largest and most sophisticated facility in the United States dedicated exclusively to research and development of commercial recirculating aquaculture systems. This facility consists of a two building complex with more than 8500 square feet of floor space.
The facility houses the following:
- Nine independent production scale recirculating aquaculture systems designed to test components and optimize management in these systems -- Each system consists of a 2200 gallon culture tank, clarifier, biofilter, and aerator. These nine systems are capable of producing more than 40,000 pounds per year as seen in production test trials.
- Fourteen paired small scale recirculating aquaculture systems -- These systems are used for growth trials of various species/genetically altered animals under identical conditions.
- Seven conditioning tank chambers -- Each chamber has a 550 gallon, self-contained, recirculating aquaculture system, and is used to study the maturation and induction of spawning. Computer manipulation of photo period and water temperature regimens simulate seasons and various other conditions. Currently, rare and/or endangered species, as well as food fish are being studied to better understand conditions necessary for reproduction in captivity.
- A hatchery and larval fish rearing station -- This area is utilized to investigate the production of fingerling fish, which relies on artificial feeds and innovative technologies.
- A holding facility -- This area is used to segregate arriving fish. They are observed for various periods of time prior to being moved to the culture areas. This is to insure that diseases and/or parasites are not accidentally introduced.
- Support areas -- Included in the facility is a complete shop for construction and repair of experimental devices and equipment. Another area is used to house computer data acquisitions, as well as control systems which contain more sensitive equipment, e.g., microscopes, and meters.
In September 1995, construction was completed on a 3200 square foot greenhouse. This structure currently houses more than 20 rearing tanks. Studies are being conducted on the effects that brood stock density has on egg and fry tilapia production.
In addition, the management of wild fisheries is also supported within the Center. Currently, facilities are being used to develop improved techniques for the culture and survival of fingerling sport fish to supplement recreational angling.
The Center is also home to a unique captive breeding program for endangered and threatened aquatic species, including freshwater mussels, in order to enhance their recovery in the wild.
