SERA-IEG-9 2003 Annual Meeting Minutes
March 9-11, 2003
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

 March 9, 2003

The group assembled on Sunday evening. A welcome reception was hosted by Dr. Michael Masser at his home outside of College Station.

March 10, 2003

The meeting was opened at approximately 8:30 a.m. in Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus. Dr. Robert Stickney, Director of the Texas Sea Grant Program, welcomed the group. Dr. Marty Fuller, Administrative Advisor for SERA-IEG-9 then provided some introductory remarks concerning this regional group.

Del Gatlin, chair of SERA-IEG-9, extended his welcome to the group and provided some introductory comments about the planned activities for the meeting. Gatlin then introduced Michael Masser and Granvil Treece who respectively provided overview presentations of freshwater and marine aquaculture in Texas.

After a break, the participants engaged in a general discussion of current activities in aquaculture at regional and federal levels. Jimmy Avery of Mississippi State University (MSU) provided some information on the status of the antidumping case involving Vietnamese catfish. The proposed bill on Country of Origin labeling also was discussed and it was indicated that some other sectors of the food industry such as the beef and poultry sectors have expressed concerns over such labeling.

Forrest Wynne provided an update on the involvement of Kroger in catfish processing and marketing in Kentucky and East Tennessee. The market for “Kentucky Catfish” is steadily growing but the processing plant is likely to be short of fish this spring.

FDA inspection of domestic and foreign seafood for drug and other chemical residues was discussed including the heightened sampling effort that has occurred over the last two months and the lowering of the acceptable chloramphenicol level from 5 to 1 ppt.

A brief discussion was held concerning standards that are currently under development by the National Organic Standards Board. Also, the practice of “branding” products for potential licensing and marketing to limit competition from imports was discussed.

After lunch, the group reassembled to discuss the status of various information exchange groups.

The meetings adjourned at approximately 5:00 p.m. Later in the evening, participants meet for a Bar-B-Q social.

March 11, 2003

SRAC Update

Craig Tucker, Director of SRAC, provided an update on projects that are currently in progress or being developed. He then provided an update on EPA effluent guidelines. Craig indicated this process has been a rather complex one in which EPA’s involvement shifted from a plan to study effluents from aquaculture to actual rule making which was originally announced in 2000 with the initial proposed rule issued in 2002. The proposed rule is now going to be based on culture system not species. It is likely EPA will not make any specific rulings on pond systems due to low pollutant and nutrient levels. Questions still remain on drug use and exotic species. New information including data and comments will continue to be received through this Spring with the final ruling scheduled for June of 2004.

Ken Davis provided an update of project activities at SNARC. He also indicated the late Harry Dupree was recently honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Catfish Farmers of America and the American Fisheries Society. Ken also indicated Bo Collins will be retiring in May of this year.

The group then discussed the various issues surrounding our annual meeting. Concern was expressed that participation had dropped in recent years for various reasons including a general reduction in travel funds at participating institutions, the occurrence of several other state and national meetings taking place during the first quarter of the year, and/or the change in timing of the SRAC Technical Committee meeting. It was agreed that a poll should be taken to determine if a most preferred time could be identified. Rebecca Lochmann of UAPB then indicated she and Carole Engle would be interested in hosting next year’s meeting. The time of year would be determined after further input. Jimmy Avery then willingly accepted to chair SERA-IEG-9 given Del Gatlin’s 5-year term had expired. The 2003 meeting of SERA-IEG-9 formally adjourned.

Several participants then toured a commercial water garden facility in College Station and the TAMU Aquacultural Research and Teaching Facility.


Top of page