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Research
Current and Recent
Research Projects
Research is very
important to the mission of the UF/IFAS Tropical
Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL). The research
programs provide support for statewide extension
programs in ornamental aquaculture as well as
the science information needs of industry,
agency, and public stakeholders. Researchers at
the TAL are responsive to the TAL Advisory
Committee and work closely with the Research
Committee of the
Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association, the
Division of Aquaculture of the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, and other stakeholders in
developing research priorities.
Research at the
TAL is conducted in four core topic areas:
- Ornamental
aquaculture production and management
- Aquatic
animal health
- Ornamental
fish reproduction
-
Nonindigenous aquatic species ecology and
management
Ornamental
Aquaculture Production and Management
Production of
ornamental fish and aquatic plants dominates the
aquaculture industry in Florida with a combined
$67.6 million in farm-gate sales, comprising
70.8% of all Florida aquaculture, in 2003. Ornamental
fish production is conducted primarily in small, earthen ponds.
With increasing pressures in Florida in terms of
water usage and land prices, there is growing
interest in intensification of culture practices
(i.e., producing more ornamentals using less
water and space). This goal may be obtained by
increasing efficiency of culture practices on a
per surface area basis in ponds and by
developing alternative culture systems. Current
research is investigating increasing production
of fish
yields and profits of ponds through feeding and
fertilization regimes. Recirculating systems
are being used to a greater extent in the
industry, but there are significant research
needs concerning system design criteria,
economics, and nutrition. There are recent and
current TAL projects in these areas. In
addition, there is a small industry based on the
culture of marine ornamentals (fish and
invertebrates such as corals, clams, and
snails). This industry faces many challenges to
growth, including system design, larval rearing,
nutrition, and many aspects of husbandry. Besides working to increase production in
various systems, researchers at TAL also seek to
evaluate and improve practices for harvesting,
grading, holding, and transporting live
ornamental fish. Improvements in these
activities results in fewer mortalities and
higher quality fish for producers.
Research in aquatic plants has focused on
improved propagation methods and pest control
and management.
Aquatic
Animal Health
Unlike
traditional agriculture where only a few animal
species are grown, there are hundreds of
varieties produced in ornamental aquaculture.
Relatively little is known about diseases and
water quality needs of many ornamental species.
The TAL has a strong program investigating water
quality, pathogens, and husbandry practices, and
their relationships with fish health. In
addition, there are few drugs or other chemicals
that are approved for use in aquaculture.
Researchers at TAL are working closely with the
ornamental aquaculture industry, manufacturers,
and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Aquatic Animal
Drug Approval Partnership Program (USFWS AADAP)
investigating the effectiveness and safety of
aquaculture drugs and therapeutants. These data
will be submitted to the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
approval under the New Animal Drug Application
(NADA) approval
process.
Ornamental
Fish Reproduction
Producers in
Florida breed a wide variety of ornamental fish
species. Nevertheless, there are many important
species that are available only as wild-caught
imports or that are commercially produced only
outside of the U.S. Researchers at the TAL are
working with a variety of these species in
investigations of basic reproductive biology,
broodstock conditioning, reproduction through
environmental manipulation, and induced spawning
techniques.
Nonindigenous
Aquatic Species Ecology and Management
Increasingly,
non-native aquatic species (e.g., fish,
mollusks, crustaceans) are being introduced into
Florida, the U.S., and into other world
regions. Some introductions provide benefits
for fisheries and ecosystem management. A few
introduced aquatic species have become invasive,
causing ecological or economic harm, or threaten
human health. On the other hand, many
introductions seem to have little effect.
Unfortunately, relatively little is known about
the biology and effects of most established
nonindigenous aquatic species. Furthermore,
predicting the outcome of future invasions is
difficult. Florida is an ideal location to
study the ecology of nonindigenous species due
to numerous introductions, particularly of
freshwater fishes. In addition, nonindigenous
aquatic species are important to the economy of
Florida, contributing to the aquaculture
industry, recreational and commercial fisheries,
and aquatic weed management. For example, the
economically valuable tropical ornamental
aquaculture industry is based almost entirely on
the production of non-native species.
Researchers at the TAL work closely with the
aquaculture industry, the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
the U.S. Geological Survey, and other agencies
and institutions to develop data on the biology
and effects of non-native aquatic species to
assist in natural resource management.
Current and Recent
Research Projects |
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