Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public.  The University of Florida, together with Florida A&M University, administers the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.

At the University of Florida, Extension is located in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), along with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and is called UF/IFAS Extension.

UF/IFAS Extension encompasses thousands of Extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers, all working to provide useful information.

The Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) is within IFAS and, as such, extension is integral to its mission.  Extension programs provided through the TAL primarily target the needs of Florida’s ornamental fish and aquatic plant aquaculture industries.  In addition, the TAL faculty and staff provide support to other aquaculture commodity groups (e.g., food and game fish) and relevant organizations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  Agency partners that assist in the TAL’s mission include the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) - Wildlife Services, which provides assistance with nuisance wildlife; USDA APHIS - Veterinary Services, which provides assistance with federal regulatory issues and provides aquatic animal health certificate endorsements; the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Aquaculture, and FDACS - Division of Animal Industry.  

UF TAL extension program areas include general production, nutritional management, water quality, pond and recirculating system management, pest management (including pesticide applicator training and testing), reproduction, fish health and disease management, and non-native species.

Educating youth is also an important aspect to extension and the mission of TAL.  Some partnerships with youth programs, such as Florida FFA, are well-established and will continue to grow while others are being developed to forge new bonds with youth throughout the state and to educate them about the ornamental aquaculture industry within Florida.

Extension information and support is provided to clientele through many avenues. Within the ornamental industry, perhaps the most valuable extension tool is an on-site visit.  Whether it’s on the client’s farm or at the TAL; solving problems can be streamlined through face-to-face interactions and hands-on demonstrations.  Workshops, short courses, training programs, industry meetings, newsletter articles and extension publications are all are useful tools allowing timely dissemination of information.

Extension faculty members also provide support through participation in relevant working groups and committees of various county, state, and federal agencies.

• Aquaculture Production

  ERIC CASSIANO

  ASSISTANT EXTENSION SCIENTIST

  813-671-5230 x109
  ericcass@ufl.edu 

  MATT DIMAGGIO

  ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

  813-671-5230 x115
  mdimaggi@ufl.edu

• Fish Health & Disease

  DEBBIE POUDER

  Diagnostic Lab Manager 

  813-671-5230 x106
  dbpouder@ufl.edu

  ROY YANONG

  Extension Veterinarian

  813-671-5230 x104
  rpy@ufl.edu 

• Fish Identification

  JEFF HILL

  Professor

  813-671-5230 x118
  jeffhill@ufl.edu 

• Health Certificates

  ROY YANONG

  Extension Veterinarian

  813-671-5230 x104
  rpy@ufl.edu 

• Import / Export

  Exporters needing USDA APHIS-endorsed export health certificates should contact the USDA APHIS VS Area Office in Gainesville, FL, or the Miami Import/Export Center in Miami, FL.

  GAINESVILLE SERVICE CENTER EAST COAST

  8100 NW 15th Place
  Gainesville, FL  32606
  352-313-3060
  vspsfl@usda.gov

  MIAMI ANIMAL IMPORT CENTER SERVICES

  Street Address: 6300 NW 36th Street, Miami, FL 33122
  Postal Service Address: PO BOX 660657,Miami Springs, FL  33266
  Endorsements: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. by mail or appointment only 
  For Appointments:  ContactMiami@usda.gov 
  vspsfl@usda.gov 
  305-876-2200 COURIER SERVICE (FEDEX, UPS, ETC.)

  Additionally, exporters should check on the iregs to confirm electronic endorsement is accepted by the destination country.

• Non-native Species

  JEFF HILL 

  PROFESSOR

  813-671-5230 x118
  jeffhill@ufl.edu

  QUENTON TUCKETT

  ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

  813-671-5230 x116
  qtuckett@ufl.edu

• Pesticide Training & Testing

  ERIC CASSIANO

  ASSISTANT EXTENSION SCIENTIST

  813-671-5230 x109
  ericcass@ufl.edu

• Water Quality

  ERIC CASSIANO

  ASSISTANT EXTENSION SCIENTIST

  813-671-5230 x109
  ericcass@ufl.edu 

  DEBBIE POUDER

  DIAGNOSTIC LAB MANAGER / COORDINATOR OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS & SERVICES

  813-671-5230 x106
  dbpouder@ufl.edu

• Wildlife Control

  CHRIS LAYMAN

  USDA APHIS WILDLIFE SERVICES

  813-293-9307

  JARED ZIERENBERG

  USDA APHIS WILDLIFE SERVICES SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICT SUPERVISOR

  813-671-5230 x105
  jared.r.zierenberg@usda.gov