Craig Watson
Director (Retired)
Craig Watson started his career in aquaculture in 1974, working at a tropical fish farm in Miami, Florida while in high school. He learned more about the industry working at a retail aquarium fish store while going to college in Tallahassee. After graduating he managed the Florida Fish Co-op’s shipping department for one year wholesaling tropical fish throughout North America. In 1983 he joined the US Peace Corps and served for three years in Tunisia, North Africa working with marine and freshwater aquaculture. Afterwards he returned to school and received a Master of Aquaculture degree from Auburn University. In April of 1988 he began his career with the University of Florida as a multi-county aquaculture extension agent working out of the Hillsborough County office. Together with private industry, as well as county, state, and federal agencies, Craig helped establish the UF Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory and has served as the director since 1997.
His volunteer service includes being on the board of directors of the Florida Aquaculture Association, the National Aquaculture Association, and The Florida Aquarium. Other committee activities include the USDA Southern Regional Aquaculture Center’s Technical Advisory Committee, the Florida Farm Bureau’s Aquaculture Advisory Committee, and Associate Editor for the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.
His interests and hobbies include fishing, hunting, and boat building.
After 35 years with the University of Florida and 26 years as Director of the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab, Craig retired in March 2023.
CONTACT
UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
1408 24th Street SE
Ruskin, FL 33570
cawatson@ufl.edu
813-671-5230 x107
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Education
M.S.. Aquaculture, 1988, Auburn University
B.S., Biology, 1981, Florida State University
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Selected Publications
For the most recent publications, please access Craig's Google Scholar Profile.
Hill, J.E., G.H. Copp, S. Hardin, K.M. Lawson, L.L. Lawson Jr., Q.M. Tuckett, L. Vilizzi, and C.A. Watson. 2020. Comparing apples to oranges and other misrepresentations of the risk screening tools FISK and AS-ISK – a rebuttal of Marcot et al. (2019). Management of Biological Invasions 11(2):325-341.
link to article hereLipscomb, T., A. Wood, Q. Tuckett, J. Patterson, S. Ramee, C. Watson, and M. DiMaggio. 2020. Culture protocols for the gulf coast pygmy sunfish Elassoma gilberti. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 51(3):679-689.
DOI: 10.1111/jwas.12646Lipscomb, T.N., J.T. Patterson, A.L. Wood, C.A. Watson, and M.A. DiMaggio. 2020. Larval growth, survival, and partial budget analysis related to replacing Artemia in larval culture of six freshwater ornamental fishes. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12707Ramee, S.W., T.N. Lipscomb, A.L. Wood, C.A. Watson, and M.A. DiMaggio. 2020. The effect of dietary 17α‐methyltestosterone administration on secondary sex coloration in adult female Rosy Barbs and Dwarf Gouramis. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12726Patterson, J.T., M.A. DiMaggio, C.C. Green, and C.A. Watson. 2019. Volitional spawning of captive reared age-4 alligator gar Atractosteus spatula. North American Journal of Aquaculture 81:291-295.
https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10075Sipos, M., T. Lipscomb, A. Wood, S. Ramee, M. DiMaggio, and C. Watson. 2019. Evaluation of cGnRH IIa for induction spawning of two ornamental Synodontis species. Aquaculture.
DOI: 734226Sipos, M., T. Lipscomb, A. Wood, S. Ramee, M. DiMaggio, and C. Watson. 2019. Evaluation of three embryo disinfectants on hatching success in four freshwater ornamental fish species. North American Journal of Aquaculture.
https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10118Watson, C., M. DiMaggio, J. Hill, Q. Tuckett, and R. Yanong. 2019. Evolution, culture, and care for Betta splendens. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA 212.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA21200.pdfCassiano, E.J., J. Hill, Q. Tuckett, and C. Watson. 2018. Eastern Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, for control of mosquito larvae. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA 202.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA20200.pdfHill, J.E., Q.M. Tuckett, and C.A. Watson. 2018. Court ruling creates opportunity to improve management of non-native fish and wildlife in the United States. Fisheries 43:225-230.
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10071Lee, I., C.L. Ohs, J.S. Broach, M.A. DiMaggio, and C.A. Watson. 2018. Determining live prey preferences of larval ornamental marine fish utilizing fluorescent microspheres. Aquaculture 490:125-135.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.01.035Lipscomb, T. N., A.L. Wood, M.A. DiMaggio, Q.M. Tuckett, L.L. Lawson, and C.A. Watson. 2018. Evaluation of spawning aids and administration routes on ovulation success in an ornamental cyprinid. Aquaculture Research 49:3926-3929.
https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13865Broach, J.S., E.J. Cassiano and, C.A. Watson. 2017. Baseline culture parameters for the cyclopoid copepod Oithona colcarva; a potential new live feed for marine fish larviculture. Aquaculture Research 48:4461-4469.
DOI: 10.1111/are.13271Degidio, J.M., R.P.E Yanong, C.L. Ohs, C.A. Watson, E.J. Cassiano, and K.P. Bardon. 2017. First feeding parameters of the milletseed butterfly fish, Chaetodon miliaris. Aquaculture Research 49:1087-1094.
DOI:10.1111/are.13558Degidio, J-M.L.A., R.P.E. Yanong, C.A. Watson, C.L. Ohs, E.J. Cassiano, and K.P. Barden. 2017. Spawning, embryology, and larval development of the milletseed butterflyfish, Chaetodon milaris, in the laboratory. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 79(3): 205-215.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15222055.2017.1302025DiMaggio, M.A., E.J. Cassiano, K.P. Barden, S.W. Ramee, C.L. Ohs, and C.A. Watson. 2017. First Record of Captive Larval Culture and Metamorphosis of the Pacific Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 48: 393-401.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12426Hauville, M.R., E.J. Cassiano, K.P. Barden, M.L. Wittenrich, and C.A. Watson. 2017. Larval development, growth and impact of first feed on the aquaculture of French grunt, Haemulon flavolineatum. Aquaculture Research 48:4461-4469.
DOI: 101111/are.13336Cassiano, E.J., M.L. Wittenrich, T.B. Waltzek, N.K. Steckler, K.P. Barden, and C.A. Watson. 2015. Utilizing public aquariums and molecular identification techniques to address the larviculture potential of Pacific blue tangs (Paracanthurus hepatus), semicircle angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatis), and bannerfish (Heniochus sp.). Aquaculture International 23(1):253-265.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-014-9813-3Lawson, L.L., Jr., Q.M. Tuckett, K.M. Lawson, C.A. Watson, and J.E. Hill. 2015. Lower lethal temperature for Arapaima Arapaima gigas: potential implications for culture and establishment in Florida. North American Journal of Aquaculture 77:497-502.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15222055.2015.1066471Cassiano, E.J., M.L. Wittenrich, G.C. Violetta, and C.A. Watson. 2012. Growth and survival of porkfish, Anisotremus virginicus, larvae: comparing rotifers and copepod nauplii during first feeding. Animal Biology and Animal Husbandry 4(2):72-78.
Hanson, S.K., J.E. Hill, C.A. Watson, R.P.E. Yanong, and R Endris. 2011. Evaluation of emamectin benzoate for the control of experimentally induced infestations of Argulus sp. in goldfish and koi carp. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 23:30-34.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08997659.2011.568858Hill, J.E., K.H. Kilgore, D.B. Pouder, J.F.F. Powell, C.A. Watson, and R.P.E. Yanong. 2009. Survey of Ovaprim™ use as a spawning aid in ornamental fishes in the United States as administered through the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (2005-2007). North American Journal of Aquaculture 71:206-209.
https://doi.org/10.1577/A08-020.1Watson, C.A., J.E. Hill, J.S. Graves, A.L. Wood, and K.H. Kilgore. 2009. Use of a novel induced spawning technique for the first reported captive spawning of Tetraodon nigroviridis. Marine Genomics 2:143-146.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margen.2009.04.004Yanong, Roy P.E., Carlos Martinez, and Craig A. Watson. 2009. Use of Ovaprim in Ornamental Fish Aquaculture. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA161.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA16100.pdfHill, J.E., and C.A. Watson. 2007. Diet of the nonindigenous Asian swamp eel in tropical ornamental aquaculture ponds in west central Florida. North American Journal of Aquaculture 69:139-146.
https://doi.org/10.1577/A05-070.1Watson, C.A., and J.E. Hill. 2006. Design criteria for recirculating, marine ornamental production systems. Aquacultural Engineering 34:157-162.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2005.07.002Yanong, R.P.E., J.E. Hill, C.J. Daniels, and C.A. Watson. 2006. Efficacy of 17-α-methyltestosterone for expression of male secondary sexual characteristics in the green swordtail. North American Journal of Aquaculture 68:224-229.
https://doi.org/10.1577/A05-061.1Crosby, Tina C., Jeffrey E. Hill, Carlos V. Martinez, Craig A. Watson, Deborah B. Pouder, and Roy P.E. Yanong. 2005. Harvesting Ornamental Fish From Ponds. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA117.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA11700.pdfCrosby, Tina C., Jeffrey E. Hill, Carlos V. Martinez, Craig A. Watson, Deborah B. Pouder, and Roy P.E. Yanong. 2005. Grading Ornamental Fish. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA118.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA11800.pdfCrosby, Tina C., Jeffrey E. Hill, Carlos V. Martinez, Craig A. Watson, Deborah B. Pouder, and Roy P.E. Yanong. 2005. On-Farm Transport of Ornamental Fish. University of Florida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA119.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA11900.pdfCrosby, Tina C., Jeffrey E. Hill, Carlos V. Martinez, Craig A. Watson, Deborah B. Pouder, and Roy P.E. Yanong. 2005. Preparation of Ornamental Fish for Shipping. University of Floida/IFAS EDIS Publication FA 120.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA12000.pdf