VT Aquaculture Keeps Busy
Virginia Tech’s Aquaculture Center (VTAC) has maintained a hectic schedule over the last 6 months in terms of its research, extension activities and renovation. The most important development of the Center has been the addition of new staff and graduate students to the group. These include two new technicians, Bradley French and Amy Hahn, who will be responsible for holding and laboratory facilities respectively.
In one project, Paul Cotter, an M.S. candidate in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, will consider the production of “designer fish”. Specifically, Paul is evaluating the potential for enhancing fillet selenium levels in cultured hybrid striped bass. Due to greater absorption, organic selenium has proven to be more effective than the traditional inorganic forms of this mineral. Selenium-improved milk and eggs have already entered the U.S. marketplace, but fish products are not available.
In humans, enhanced levels of dietary selenium increase protection against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Selenium also boosts the immune system. In combination with elevated dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids, selenium can also influence mood and thereby provides potential as a dietary treatment for depression. While still at an early stage, research has already determined dose-responsiveness of hybrid striped bass to both organic and inorganic selenium, with significant accumulation of selenium within the fillet. The potential benefits to fish health and welfare, as well as that of the end users awaits further evaluation.
Funds from the CFAST USDA aquaculture initiative have been employed
to
hire a new laboratory technicican, Amy Hahn. Amy, a graduate of
George
Washington University and St. John's College, New Mexico,
provides
the CFAST group with laboratory expertise in various molecular
methods.
She will be responsible for the daily operations of the
Center's
laboratory
and will assist members of faculty with sample acquisition,
preparation
and analysis.
Funds from the CFAST USDA aquaculture initiative have been employed to hire a new laboratory technician, Amy Hahn. In addition, Angela Lunger, a graduate of NC State University, based in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, has started a research program to examine various aspects of cobia nutrition. In the spring, a new, industry-funded, doctoral candidate will join the Aquaculture group. Jacqueline Zimmermann, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, already has a solid background in aquaculture, having gained experience at the University of Hawaii’s Oceanic Institute as well as the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, MS. Jackie will be supported by Alltech Inc., the world’s fastest-growing animal feed and nutrition biotech company (Nicholasville, KY).
David Kuhn, a doctoral candidate in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Boardman, continues work with freshwater acclimated white shrimp. In support of this program, which is funded through a CFAST USDA initiative, new state of the art systems have been developed and purchased. Results from this research have provided novel insight into the osmoregulatory and feeding performance of this species. Laboratory-sized trials will rapidly be upgraded to a commercial level in 2005.
Amy Cheatham, another doctoral candidate in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering also under the supervision of Dr. Boardman, continues her research into the impact of diet upon water quality in recirculating systems. Other collaborative work presently underway includes a project with Cargill Animal Nutrition Group (Minneapolis, MN) to evaluate of various dietary formulations for tilapia in conjuction with Star-Labs (Clarksdale, MO). Star-Labs produces a proprietary probiotic formulation, Primalac, which in preliminary trials has proven exceptional in enhancing the performance characteristics of tilapia. Drs. Steven Craig and Ewen McLean are working to quantify the potential of Primalac.
A project with a commercial producer, Mr. Roy Hill of Staunton, Virginia, continues in collaboration with Michael Schwarz and Dr. Dan Kauffman of the VSAREC (Hampton). This extension work includes side-by-side evaluation of two different biofilter configurations. This production-scale grow-out trial will conclude early in 2005, providing information on animal and system performance. A number of other collaborative studies are also underway or near completion. These include research programs in partnership with the Department of Food Science and Technology and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
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