SERA-IEG-9 1999 Annual Meeting Minutes
March 15-16, 1999
Kentucky State University, Frankfort Kentucky 

March 15, 1999

Jim Tidwell opened the meeting at approximately 8:30 by welcoming participants to Kentucky State University (KSU).  Jim then introduced Dr. Harold Benson, Director of Land-Grant programs at KSU.  Dr. Benson welcomed participants and indicated this group had met at KSU in 1987.  He extended his best wishes for a productive meeting.

Jim then introduced Del Gatlin as chair of SERA-IEG-9.  Del made some brief comments then introduced Dr. David Teem of Auburn University who is Administrative Advisor for this information exchange group.  Dr. Teem indicated this group has been exchanging information on regional extension and research activities in aquaculture for several years.  He encouraged the group to consider establishing a website to facilitate communication among its members.

Gatlin then encouraged each participating institution to identify a person to compile research and extension reports.  He also encouraged anyone with expertise in website development and management to consider volunteering to assist SERA-IEG-9 with such activities.  Gatlin then provided an overview of the work groups that were to meet in the morning including the National Catfish Information Database, Genetics, Economics and Fish Health.  The work groups then convened for the remainder of the morning.

The work groups adjourned at 11:00 a.m. to travel to L&G Distillery for a tour of the bourbon distillery and lunch.

After returning from the tour, the following work groups convened: Nutrition, Food Safety, Yield Verification and Alternative Culture Methods.  These groups met until a mid-afternoon break after which the following work groups assembled: Water Quality and Effluents, Potential Culture Species and Shellfish.  The workgroups adjourned at 5:00 p.m.  Later in the evening a fish fry was held at Lakeview Park.

March 16, 1999

Gatlin opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.  He requested that all attendants provide their e-mail address and regular mailing address if not on the current mailing list.  Then administrators of regional aquaculture centers and personnel of USDA labs were given the opportunity to provide brief overviews and/or updates of their programs.

Joe Morris, Associate Director of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC), gave an overview of that regional center.  He indicated NCRAC has been in existence since 1988 and includes 12 different states.  The center recently has been involved in a strategic planning process.  Over the years NCRAC has funded a diverse number of projects involving a wide variety of species.  Most research projects have had a species focus and included walleye, yellow perch, hybrid striped bass, salmonids, sunfish or tilapia.  Areas to be addressed in the future include recreational and food fish production and advancement in recirculating systems.

Craig Tucker, Director of the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC), described the informal relationship between SRAC and SERA-IEG-9.  He provided a brief history concerning the establishment and administration of the regional centers.  Craig also provided a handout of ongoing projects supported by SRAC and discussed general organizational structure and operational procedures of the center.

Paul Zimba of the USDA/ARS Laboratory in New Orleans provided a brief overview of that laboratory’s ongoing projects related to off-flavor in catfish.  Current activities include: rapid methods to detect off-flavors, chemical additions to mask off-flavors, alteration of nutrients in ponds to limit off-flavors and post-harvest flavor checking of product quality using instrumentation.

Bo Collins of the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center in Stuttgart, AR indicated that this laboratory is addressing a number of issues.  He mentioned Gerald Ludwig’s work on production systems including zooplankton production for hybrid striped bass.  The lab also hopes to shortly have a nutritionist on staff to conduct research with hybrid striped bass.  Bo also mentioned Bill Griffin’s work on therapeutic evaluations for FDA approval which currently involve copper sulfate and potassium permanganate.  Disease work of David Strauss and Drew Mitchell also was briefly mentioned along with bird depredation studies to be conducted by Scott Warner.

Brian Bosworth of the USDA/ARS Genetics Laboratory briefly described some of the projects in which that lab is currently engaged.  Approaches encompassing traditional quantitative genetics to molecular genetics are being used to manipulate economically important traits of catfish.  The release of catfish strain 103 is anticipated late in 1999 or early 2000.  This strain has been selected for improved growth rates, particularly as fingerlings.  Some projects mentioned include: delineating the catfish genome, monitoring reproductive performance of female catfish, and searching for specific markers associated fish appetite and other quantitative traits such as meat yield and quality.

After a break, reports of the information exchange groups that met the previous day were provided by the following people.

Nationnal Catfish Information Database - Marty Brunson
Genetics - Brian Bosworth
Economics - Carole Engle
Fish Health - David Cline
Nutrition - Carl Webster
Food Safety - Bob Duborow
Yield Verification - Jimmy Avery
Alternative Culture Methods - Mike Masser
Water Quality and Effluents - Robert Romaire
Potential Culture Species - Jeff Hinshaw
Shellfish - Jack Whetstone

A general summary of each information exchange meeting will be distributed separately.

The last matter of business to be discussed concerned times and locations for meetings of this group in subsequent years.  Some concern was expressed that there are too many aquaculture-related meetings scheduled in the spring which constrain schedules and travel funds.  Others were opposed to a fall meeting due to fish harvesting at that time of year, etc.
Spring break has traditionally been targeted for holding the SERA-IEG-9 meeting because the host university typically has facilities available and the meeting costs are relatively low.  Holding the meeting at universities also allows the touring of local aquaculture facilities.  The effort to coordinate the meetings of SERA-IEG-9 and SRAC also was discussed.  Members of the SRAC Industry Advisory Council prefer to meet in the fall at a readily accessible location (e.g., airport hotel).  It was agreed that Gatlin would try to poll all SERA-IEG-9 members to determine if a preferred meeting time of the year could be identified and if other causes that are limiting attendance could be effectively addressed.

The group at LSU extended an invitation to host next year’s meeting.  The dates of the meeting will be based on responses to the poll but should be established well in advance for planning purposes.

Jim Tidwell and his staff were thanked for all of their efforts and kind hospitality in hosting this year’s meeting.  After the meeting adjourned, a tour of the facilities at KSU was conducted.

Finally, a brief update on the health of Ron Hodson and Harry Dupree was provided.  Jeff Hinshaw indicated Ron has been able to leave the hospital on the weekend but must stay there during the week for physical therapy.  He should make a full recover but progress is slow.  Bo Collins reported that Harry had a tumor in his lung removed but the tests came back negative.  He has been experiencing much pain after the surgery.  Participants of SERA-IEG-9 were encouraged to sign a paper that would be sent to Ron and Harry to let them know we are thinking of them.

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