ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

The U.S. aquaculture industry is an important sector of U.S. agriculture. Production in 2001 was about 819 million pounds and generated approximately $935 million for producers. Yet, anticipated growth in the industry, both in magnitude and in species diversity, continues to fall short of expectations.

Much of what is known about aquaculture science is a result of institutional attention given to our traditional capture of wild fisheries with the goal of releasing cultured fishes into public waters for enhancement of declining public stocks. Despite extensive efforts to manage wild populations for a sustained yield, as a nation we consume substantially greater amounts than we produce. Much of the United States= demand for seafood has been met by imports. The value of imported fisheries products has substantially increased over the last two decades. In 2002, the U.S. imported $19.7 billion of fisheries products and the trade deficit was $8.0 billion for all fisheries products, most of which was for edible fish and shellfish.

Landings for most commercial capture fisheries species and recreational fisheries of the United States have been relatively stable during the last decade, with many fish stocks being over exploited. In this situation, aquaculture provides an opportunity to reduce the trade deficit and meet the rising U.S. demand for fish products. A strong domestic aquaculture industry is needed to increase U.S. production of fish and shellfish. This can be achieved by a partnership among the Federal Government, State and local public institutions, and the private sector with expertise in aquaculture development.

Congress recognized the opportunity for making significant progress in aquaculture development in 1980 by passage of the National Aquaculture Act (P.L. 96-362). Congress amended the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113) in Title XIV of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98) by granting authority to establish aquaculture research, development, and demonstration centers in the United States in association with colleges and universities, State Departments of Agriculture, Federal facilities, and non-profit private research institutions. Five such centers have been established: one in each of the northeastern, north central, southern, western, and tropical/subtropical Pacific regions of the country. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), otherwise known as the Farm Bill, has reauthorized the Regional Aquaculture Center program at $7.5 million per annum. As used here, a center refers to an administrative center. Centers do not provide monies for brick-and-mortar development. Centers encourage cooperative and collaborative aquaculture research and extension educational programs that have regional or national application. Center programs complement and strengthen other existing research and extension educational programs provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other public institutions. As a matter of policy, centers implement their programs by using institutional mechanisms and linkages that are in place in the public and private sector.

The mission of the Regional Aquaculture Centers (RACs) is to support aquaculture research, development, demonstration, and extension education to enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture production which will benefit consumers, producers, service industries, and the American economy.

The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) was established in February 1988. It serves as a focal point to assess needs, establish priorities, and implement research and extension educational programs in the twelve state agricultural heartland of the United States which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. NCRAC also provides coordination of interregional and national programs through the National Coordinating Council for Aquaculture (NCC). The council is composed of the RAC directors and USDA aquaculture personnel.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Michigan State University (MSU) and Iowa State University (ISU) work together to develop and administer programs of NCRAC through a memorandum of understanding. MSU is the prime contractor for the Center and has administrative responsibilities for its operation. The Director of NCRAC is located at MSU. ISU shares in leadership of the Center through an office of the Associate Director who is responsible for all aspects of the Center's publications, technology transfer, and outreach activities.

At the present time the staff of NCRAC at MSU includes Ted R. Batterson, Director, and Liz Bartels, Executive Secretary. The Center Director has the following responsibilities:

· Developing and submitting proposals to USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (USDA/CSREES) which, upon approval, becomes a grant to the Center;

· Developing appropriate agreements (sub-contracts) with other parties, including ISU for the Associate Director=s office, for purposes of transferring funds for implementation of all projects approved under the grants;

· Serving as executive secretary to the Board of Directors, responsible for preparing agenda and minutes of Board meetings;

· Serving as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Technical Committee and Industry Advisory Council;

· Coordinating the development of research and extension plans, budgets, and proposals;

· Coordinating and facilitating interactions among the Administrative Center, Board of Directors, Industry Advisory Council, and Technical Committee;

· Monitoring research and extension activities;

· Arranging for review of proposals for technical and scientific merit, feasibility, and applicability to priority problems and preparing summary budgets and reports as required;

· Recruiting other Administrative Center staff as authorized by the Board of Directors;

· Maintaining liaison with other RACs; and

· Serving on the NCC.

At the present time NCRAC's Office for Publications and Extension Programs at ISU is under the direction of Joseph E. Morris, Associate Director. The Associate Director has the following responsibilities:

· Coordinating, facilitating, and executing regional aquaculture extension program activities;

· Serving as head of Publications for NCRAC, including editor of the fact sheet, technical bulletin, culture manual, and video series as well as of the NCRAC Newsletter;

· Serving as the NCRAC liaison with national aquaculture extension programs, including in particular, extension programs of the other four USDA Regional Aquaculture Centers; and

· Serving as a member of NCRAC's Extension Executive Committee.

The Board of Directors (BOD) is the primary policy-making body of the NCRAC. The BOD has established an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and Technical Committee (TC). Membership of the BOD consists of four persons from the IAC, a representative from the region's State Agricultural Experiment Stations and Cooperative Extension Services, a member from a non-land grant university, representatives from the two universities responsible for the center: Michigan State and Iowa State, and chairs of the two subcommittees of the Center=s Technical Committee. The IAC is composed of representatives from each state=s aquaculture association and six at-large members appointed by the BOD who represent various sectors of the aquaculture industry and the region as a whole. The TC is composed of a sub-committee for Extension (TC/E) and a sub-committee for Research (TC/R). Directors of the Cooperative Extension Service within the North Central Region appoint representatives to the TC/E. The TC/R has broad regional make-up and is composed of scientists from universities and state agencies with varied aquacultural expertise who are appointed by the BOD. Each sub-committee of the TC has a chairperson who serves as a member of the BOD.

NCRAC functions in accordance with its Operations Manual which is periodically amended and updated with BOD approval. It is an evolving document that has changed as the Center's history lengthens. It is used for the development of the cooperative regional aquaculture and extension projects that NCRAC funds.

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

Since inception of NCRAC February 1, 1988, the role of the Administrative Center has been to provide all necessary support services to the BOD, IAC, TC, and project work groups for the North Central Region as well as representing the region on the NCC. As the scope of the NCRAC programs expand, this has entailed a greater work load and continued need for effective communication among all components of the Center and the aquaculture community.

The Center functions in the following manner.

· After BOD approval of Administrative Center costs, the Center submits a grant to USDA/CSREES/Grants Management Branch for approval. To date the Center has received 16 grants from USDA for FY88 (Grant #88-38500-3885), FY89 (Grant #89-38500-4319), FY90 (Grant #90-38500-5008), FY91 (Grant #91-38500-5900), FY92 (Grant #92-38500-6916), FY93 (Grant #93-38500-8392), FY94 (Grant #94-38500-0048), FY95 (Grant #95-38500-1410), FY96 (Grant #96-38500-2631), FY97 (#97-38500-3957), FY98 (#98-38500-5863), FY99 (#99-38500-7376), FY00 (#00-38500-8984), FY2001 (#2001-38500-10369), FY2002 (#2002-38500-11752), and FY2003 (#2003-38500-12995) with monies totaling $11,783,909. Currently, five grants are active (FY99-03); the first eleven grants (FY88-98) have terminated.

· The Center annually coordinates a program planning meeting which typically sets priorities for the next funding cycle and calls for development of project outlines to address priority problem areas.

· Work Groups are formed which submit project outlines to the Center. The projects are peer reviewed by experts from both within and outside the region and a Project Review Committee.

· The BOD, using the Project Review Committee=s recommendation and reviewers= responses, decides which projects are to be approved and funding levels. The Center conveys BOD decisions to all Project Work Groups. Those that are approved for funding are asked to submit revised project outlines incorporating BOD, Project Review Committee, and reviewers= comments.

· The Center then submits the revised project outlines as a Plan of Work (POW) to USDA for approval.

· Once a POW is approved by USDA, the Center then prepares subcontracts for each participating institution. The Center receives all invoices for subcontractual agreements and prepares payment vouchers for reimbursement. Thus, the Center staff serve as fiscal agents for both receiving and disbursing funds in accordance with all terms and provisions of the grants.

Through August 31, 2003, the Center has funded or is funding 62 projects through 322 subcontracts from the first 15 grants received. Funding for these Center supported projects is summarized in Table 1 below (pages 5-6). Information about funded projects is also available at the Center=s Web site (http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/aquanic/ncrac).

During this reporting period, the Publications Office at ISU produced and distributed a number of publications including fact sheets, technical bulletins, videos, and the Center=s newsletter. A complete list of all publications from this office is included in the Appendix under Extension.

Other areas of support by the Administrative Office during this reporting period included: monitoring research and extension activities and developing progress reports; developing liaisons with appropriate institutions, agencies and clientele groups; soliciting, in coordination with the other RACs, written testimony for the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; participating in the NCC; numerous oral and written presentations to both professional and lay audiences; working with other fisheries and aquaculture programs throughout the North Central Region; and in conjunction with the Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC) maintaining the NCRAC Web site.

PROJECT REPORTING

As indicated in Table 1, NCRAC has funded a number of projects for many of the project areas it has selected for research and extension activities. For example, there have been eight separately funded projects in regard to Extension and Yellow Perch. Project outlines have been written for each separate project within an area, or the project area itself if only one project. These project outlines have been submitted in POWs or amendments to POWs for the grants as indicated in Table 1. Many times, the projects within a particular area are continuations of previously funded activities while at other times they are addressing new objectives. Presented below are Progress or Termination Reports mostly for projects that were underway or completed during the period September 1, 2002 to August 31, 2003. Projects, or Project components, that terminated prior to September 1, 2002 have been reported on in earlier documents (e.g., 1989-1996 Compendium Report and other Annual Progress Reports).

A cumulative list of all publications, manuscripts, papers presented, or other outputs for all funded NCRAC project areas is contained in the Appendix.

Table1. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center funded projects.

Project Area	Project Number	Proposed Duration Period	Funding Level	Grant Number
Extension	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8	5/1/89-4/30/91 3/17/90-8/31/91 9/1/91-8/31/93 9/1/93-8/31/95 9/1/95-8/31/97 9/1/97-8/31/99 9/1/99-8/31/01 9/1/01-8/31/03	$39,221 $37,089 $31,300 $94,109 $110,129 $10,813 $20,391 $38,000 $94,000 $28,500 $18,000 $521,552	88-38500-3885 89-38500-4319 89-38500-4319 91-38500-5900 91-38500-5900 92-38500-6916 95-38500-1410 97-38500-3957 99-38500-7376 99-38500-7376 2001-38500-10369
Economics/Marketing	1 2 3 4	5/1/89-12/31/91 9/1/91-8/31/92 9/1/93-8/31/95 9/1/99-8/31/01	$127,338 $34,350 $53,300 $40,000 $47,916 $302,904	88-38500-3885 89-38500-4319 91-38500-5900 93-38500-8392 97-38500-3957
Yellow Perch	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8	5/1/89-8/31/91 6/1/90-8/31/92 9/1/91-8/31/93 9/1/93-8/31/95 9/1/95-8/31/97 9/1/97-8/31/99 9/1/98-8/31/00 9/1/01-5/31/04	$76,957 $85,723 $92,108 $99,997 $150,000 $199,507 $185,458 $92,370 $326,730 $125,016 $1,433,866	88-38500-3885 89-38500-4319 90-38500-5008 91-38500-5900 93-38500-8392 95-38500-1410 97-38500-3957 98-38500-5863 00-38500-8984 2001-38500-10369
Hybrid Striped Bass	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	5/1/89-8/31/91 6/1/90-8/31/92 9/1/91-8/31/93 9/1/93-8/31/95 9/1/95-8/31/97 6/1/99-5/31/00 9/1/01-5/31/04	$68,296 $68,114 $101,000 $96,550 $168,000 $150,000 $15,000 $98,043 $211,957 $976,960	88-38500-3885 89-38500-4319 90-38500-5008 91-38500-5900 93-38500-8392 95-38500-1410 96-38500-2631 98-38500-5863 2001-38500-10369
Walleye	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	5/1/89-8/31/91 6/1/90-8/31/92 9/1/91-8/31/92 9/1/92-8/31/93 9/1/93-8/31/95 9/1/95-8/31/97 9/1/99-6/30/02	$177,517 $111,657 $109,223 $75,000 $150,000 $117,395 $59,835 $127,000 $927,627	89-38500-4319 90-38500-5008 91-38500-5900 89-38500-4319 93-38500-8392 94-38500-0048 95-38500-1410 98-38500-5863
Sunfish	1 2 3 4 5	6/1/90-8/31/92 9/1/92-8/31/94 9/1/94-8/31/96 9/1/96-9/31/98 9/1/99-8/31/01	$130,758 $149,799 $173,562 $199,921 $199,748 $853,788	90-38500-5008 92-38500-6916 94-38500-0048 96-38500-2631 99-38500-7376
Salmonids	1 2 3 4	6/1/90-8/31/92 9/1/92-8/31/94 9/1/94-8/31/96 9/1/97-8/31/99	$9,000 $120,799 $149,997 $199,290 $158,656 $637,742	89-38500-4319 90-38500-5008 92-38500-6916 94-38500-0048 97-38500-3957
NCR Aquaculture Conference	1 2	6/1/90-3/31/91 12/9/98-6/30/99	$7,000 $3,000 $10,000	90-38500-5008 96-38500-2631
National Aquaculture Extension Workshop/Conference	1 2 3	10/1/91-9/30/92 12/1/96-11/30/97 11/1/02-10/31/03	$3,005 $3,700 $4,500 $11,205	89-38500-4319 95-38500-1410 00-38500-8984
Crayfish	1	9/1/92-8/31/94	$49,677	92-38500-6916
Baitfish	1	9/1/92-8/31/94	$61,973	92-38500-6916
Wastes/Effluents	1 2 3	9/1/92-8/31/94 9/1/96-8/31/98 9/1/01-8/31/04	$153,300 $100,000 $106,186 $88,814 $448,300	92-38500-6916 96-38500-2631 00-38500-8984 2001-38500-10369
National Aquaculture INAD/NADA Coordinator	1	9/1/93-8/31/94 5/15/95-5/14/96 5/15/96-5/14/97 5/15/97-5/14/98 5/15/98-5/14/99 5/15/99-5/14/00	$2,000 $5,000 $6,669 $3,331 $15,000 $13,241 $10,000 $55,241	89-38500-4319 94-38500-0048 92-38500-6916 95-38500-1410 96-38500-2631 94-38500-0048 95-38500-1410
Tilapia	1 2	9/1/96-8/31/98 9/1/98-5/14/00	$118,791 $150,000 $268,791	96-38500-2631 98-38500-5863
Aquaculture Drugs	1 2 3	7/1/96-6/30/97 12/1/96-11/30/97 10/1/99-9/30/00	$27,000 $950 $8,415 $36,365	95-38500-1410 95-38500-1410 97-38500-3957
White Papers	1 2	7/1/98-12/31/98 9/1/99-12/31/99	$4,999 $17,495 $22,494	96-38500-2631 97-38500-3957
Percis III	1	11/1/02-12/31/03	$4,000 $4,000	00-38500-8984

Project Area

Project

Number

Proposed Duration Period

Funding Level

Grant Number

Extension

5/1/89-4/30/91

3/17/90-8/31/91

9/1/91-8/31/93

9/1/93-8/31/95

9/1/95-8/31/97

9/1/97-8/31/99

9/1/99-8/31/01

9/1/01-8/31/03

$39,221

$37,089

$31,300

$94,109

$110,129

$10,813

$20,391

$38,000

$94,000

$28,500

$18,000

$521,552

88-38500-3885

89-38500-4319

91-38500-5900

92-38500-6916

95-38500-1410

97-38500-3957

99-38500-7376

2001-38500-10369

Economics/Marketing

5/1/89-12/31/91

9/1/91-8/31/92

9/1/93-8/31/95

9/1/99-8/31/01

$127,338

$34,350

$53,300

$40,000

$47,916

$302,904

88-38500-3885

89-38500-4319

91-38500-5900

93-38500-8392

97-38500-3957

Yellow Perch

5/1/89-8/31/91

6/1/90-8/31/92

9/1/91-8/31/93

9/1/93-8/31/95

9/1/95-8/31/97

9/1/97-8/31/99

9/1/98-8/31/00

9/1/01-5/31/04

$76,957

$85,723

$92,108

$99,997

$150,000

$199,507

$185,458

$92,370

$326,730

$125,016

$1,433,866

88-38500-3885

89-38500-4319

90-38500-5008

91-38500-5900

93-38500-8392

95-38500-1410

97-38500-3957

98-38500-5863

00-38500-8984

2001-38500-10369

Hybrid Striped Bass

5/1/89-8/31/91

6/1/90-8/31/92

9/1/91-8/31/93

9/1/93-8/31/95

9/1/95-8/31/97

6/1/99-5/31/00

9/1/01-5/31/04

$68,296

$68,114

$101,000

$96,550

$168,000

$150,000

$15,000

$98,043

$211,957

$976,960

88-38500-3885

89-38500-4319

90-38500-5008

91-38500-5900

93-38500-8392

95-38500-1410

96-38500-2631

98-38500-5863

2001-38500-10369

Walleye

5/1/89-8/31/91

6/1/90-8/31/92

9/1/91-8/31/92

9/1/92-8/31/93

9/1/93-8/31/95

9/1/95-8/31/97

9/1/99-6/30/02

$177,517

$111,657

$109,223

$75,000

$150,000

$117,395

$59,835

$127,000

$927,627

89-38500-4319

90-38500-5008

91-38500-5900

89-38500-4319

93-38500-8392

94-38500-0048

95-38500-1410

98-38500-5863

Sunfish

6/1/90-8/31/92

9/1/92-8/31/94

9/1/94-8/31/96

9/1/96-9/31/98

9/1/99-8/31/01

$130,758

$149,799

$173,562

$199,921

$199,748

$853,788

90-38500-5008

92-38500-6916

94-38500-0048

96-38500-2631

99-38500-7376

Salmonids

6/1/90-8/31/92

9/1/92-8/31/94

9/1/94-8/31/96

9/1/97-8/31/99

$9,000

$120,799

$149,997

$199,290

$158,656

$637,742

89-38500-4319

90-38500-5008

92-38500-6916

94-38500-0048

97-38500-3957

NCR Aquaculture Conference

6/1/90-3/31/91

12/9/98-6/30/99

$7,000

$3,000

$10,000

90-38500-5008

96-38500-2631

National Aquaculture Extension Workshop/Conference

10/1/91-9/30/92

12/1/96-11/30/97

11/1/02-10/31/03

$3,005

$3,700

$4,500

$11,205

89-38500-4319

95-38500-1410

00-38500-8984

Crayfish

9/1/92-8/31/94

$49,677

92-38500-6916

Baitfish

9/1/92-8/31/94

$61,973

92-38500-6916

Wastes/Effluents

9/1/92-8/31/94

9/1/96-8/31/98

9/1/01-8/31/04

$153,300

$100,000

$106,186

$88,814

$448,300

92-38500-6916

96-38500-2631

00-38500-8984

2001-38500-10369

National Aquaculture INAD/NADA Coordinator

9/1/93-8/31/94

5/15/95-5/14/96

5/15/96-5/14/97

5/15/97-5/14/98

5/15/98-5/14/99

5/15/99-5/14/00

$2,000

$5,000

$6,669

$3,331

$15,000

$13,241

$10,000

$55,241

89-38500-4319

94-38500-0048

92-38500-6916

95-38500-1410

96-38500-2631

94-38500-0048

95-38500-1410

Tilapia

9/1/96-8/31/98

9/1/98-5/14/00

$118,791

$150,000

$268,791

96-38500-2631

98-38500-5863

Aquaculture Drugs

7/1/96-6/30/97

12/1/96-11/30/97

10/1/99-9/30/00

$27,000

$950

$8,415

$36,365

95-38500-1410

97-38500-3957

White Papers

7/1/98-12/31/98

9/1/99-12/31/99

$4,999

$17,495

$22,494

96-38500-2631

97-38500-3957

Percis III

11/1/02-12/31/03

$4,000

00-38500-8984

PROJECT TERMINATION

PROGRESS REPORTS

EXTENSION^{^[1]}

Progress Report for the Period

May 1, 1989 to August 31, 2003

NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $521,552 (May 1, 1989 to August 31, 2003)

PARTICIPANTS:

Fred P. Binkowski	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Wisconsin
James M. Ebeling	Ohio State University	Ohio
Robert D. Espeseth	University of Illinois	Illinois
Donald L. Garling	Michigan State University	Michigan
Jeffrey L. Gunderson	University of Minnesota-Duluth	Minnesota
F. Robert Henderson	Kansas State University	Kansas
Chester L. Hill	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
John N. Hochheimer	Ohio State University	Ohio
Paul B. Jarvis	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
Anne R. Kapuscinski	University of Minnesota	Minnesota
Terrence B. Kayes	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska
David L. Klinkebiel	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
Ronald E. Kinnunen	Michigan State University	Michigan
Christopher C. Kohler	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Illinois
David J. Landkamer	University of Minnesota	Minnesota
Charles D. Lee	Kansas State University	Kansas
Frank R. Lichtkoppler	Ohio State University	Ohio
Terry A. Messmer	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
Jeff Mittlemark	University of Minnesota	Minnesota
Joseph E. Morris	Iowa State University	Iowa
Kenneth E. Neils	Kansas State University	Kansas
Robert A. Pierce II	University of Missouri	Missouri
Shawn H. Sanders	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
Daniel A. Selock	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Illinois
John P. Slusher	University of Missouri	Missouri
Fred L. Snyder	Ohio State University	Ohio
Brian R. Stange	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
LaDon Swann	Purdue University	Indiana/Illinois
Laura G.Tiu	Ohio State University	Ohio

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

(1) Strengthen linkages between North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) Research and Extension Work Groups.

(2) Enhance the NCRAC extension network for aquaculture information transfer.

(3) Provide in-service training for Cooperative Extension Service, Sea Grant Advisory Service, and other landowner assistance personnel.

(4) Develop and implement aquaculture educational programs for the North Central Region (NCR).

(5) Develop aquaculture materials for the NCR including extension fact sheets, bulletins, manuals/guides, and instructional video tapes.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS

Members of the NCRAC Extension Work Group have promoted and advanced commercial aquaculture in a responsible fashion through an organized education/training outreach program. The primary benefits are:

· Increased public awareness through publications, short courses, and conferences regarding the potential of aquaculture as a viable agricultural enterprise in the NCR;

· Technology transfer to enhance current and future production methodologies for selected species, e.g., walleye, hybrid striped bass, yellow perch, salmonids, and sunfish through hands-on workshops and field demonstration projects;

· Improved lines of communication between interstate aquaculture extension specialists and associated industry contacts;

· Access to information by the aquaculture industry through 24-hour access to worldwide aquaculture information (i.e., photographs, slide sets, and publications); and

· An enhanced legal and socioeconomic atmosphere for aquaculture in the NCR.

PROGRESS AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

OBJECTIVE 1

Aquaculture Extension Work Group members have:

· Served as extension liaison, if not an active researcher, for every NCRAC-funded project.

· Assisted in developing, writing, and editing several culture manuals, e.g., Walleye Culture Manual, Sunfish Culture Guide, and Yellow Perch Culture Manual.

· Assisted with the planning, promotion, and implementation of taxa-specific workshops held throughout the region as well as other conferences and symposia.

· Provided the NCRAC Economics and Marketing Work Group with information relevant to that group=s efforts to develop production budgets and expected revenues for the commercial production of food fish.

· Participated as Steering Committee members for a regional public forum regarding revision of the National Aquaculture Development Plan and three National Aquaculture Extension Workshops/Conferences.

· Served as writers and reviewers of several white papers for NCRAC.

· Served as Steering Committee members of state-specific aquaculture conferences as well as state aquaculture coordinating councils.

OBJECTIVE 2

The demand for aquaculture extension education programs cannot be met by the few specialists in the NCR (currently less than 3.0 full time equivalents). A NCRAC white paper on extension presents several strategies to address this concern.

Networking of specialists and Cooperative Extension Service (CES)-designated contacts has maximized efficiency of education programs and minimized duplication. Individual state extension contacts often respond to 120+ annual calls from outside their respective state as well as interacting with colleagues with mutual concerns related to developing aquaculture activities. Many of these requests have been met by providing fact sheets, technical bulletins, bibliographies, maintenance of list servers, and detailed responses to both generalized and specialized questions. This extension network is critical to being able to match specific aquaculture questions with the best source of information, e.g., crawfish and leech information with Gunderson; yellow perch information with Garling, Binkowski, and Tiu; and sunfish information with Morris.

The Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC [http://aquanic.org/]) was established at Purdue University in 1994 through funds from USDA=s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program. AquaNIC hardware is housed in the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University and is coordinated by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program.

AquaNIC was the first U.S. aquaculture Web site and is globally one of the most widely accessed and cited aquaculture Web sites. More than 1,000 individual, educational, commercial, and governmental Web sites link to AquaNIC as a source of online aquaculture information. In the past year, the number of Ahits” to the NCRAC Web site, newsletters, and publications was 79,005, 9,557, and 27,702, respectively.

Aquaculture handbooks have been developed and distributed to each NCRAC-designated aquaculture extension contact and selected CES and Sea Grant field staff member.

As with any organization, there have been changes in NCRAC extension personnel since the inception of the project. For instance, Landkamer was the primary aquaculture extension contact for Minnesota. In the intervening years, he was replaced by Kapuscinski and then by Gunderson. Two other individuals were replaced in 1994. In Kansas, Neils replaced Henderson and in Illinois, Kohler replaced Selock. Lee replaced Neils in Kansas in 1996. Hochheimer, who replaced Ebeling in Ohio, left Ohio State University; Tiu was appointed as the aquaculture extension specialist for Ohio in 1998. Sanders was appointed as the extension contact for North Dakota in 1998 replacing Klinkebiel. Upon Sanders resignation, Brian Stange followed and was replaced by Paul Jarvis in 1999. Chet Hill replaced Jarvis in 2002. Jerry Mills is now the appointed NCRAC Extension contact for South Dakota. As of 1999, Kayes is no longer with Nebraska Extension; to date no replacement has been designated. In 2000, Swann resigned from Purdue/Illinois Sea Grant; that position is currently open with Michael Plummer serving Illinois and Brian Miller serving Indiana in the interim.

OBJECTIVE 3

In-service training for CES and Sea Grant personnel and other landowner assistance personnel have been held in most of the states in the region. Training has been in the areas of basic aquaculture, species-specific technologies, e.g., yellow perch, and safe seafood handling including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). Many of these individuals have, in turn, trained industry representatives in respective subject matter.

To help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) via cultured fish and baitfish, and to provide the industry with a tool to demonstrate to natural resource agencies that private fish culturists can provide a ANS-free product, the ANS-HACCP approach was developed by Gunderson and Kinnunen. Developed materials include a manual and video for use in the training sessions as well as a related poster for use in for retail outlets.

The National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference was held July 13‑18, 2003 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. NCRAC extension contacts who participated in this workshop included Morris, Gunderson, and Kinnunen.

OBJECTIVE 4

A number of workshops, conferences, videos, field-site visits, hands-on training sessions, and other educational programs have been developed and implemented.

There have been regional workshops on general aquaculture, fish diseases, HACCP training, fish nutrition, commercial recirculation systems, leach and baitfish culture, aquaculture business planning, crayfish culture, pond management, culture of specific taxa (yellow perch, hybrid striped bass, rainbow trout, hybrid walleye, and sunfish), and in-service training for high school vocational-agricultural teachers. Depending on the workshop, the number in attendance often exceeded 100.

Four North Central Regional Aquaculture Conferences have been held. The first in Kalamazoo, Michigan was held in March 1991; the second was held in February 1995 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; the third conference was held in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the fourth was held February 1999 in Columbia, Missouri. These regional meetings were attended by hundreds of individuals including persons from Canada.

On April 10, 1993, over 700 viewers from 35 states and Canada watched the first national interactive teleconference on aquaculture, AInvesting in Freshwater Aquaculture,” that was broadcast from Purdue University. It was a televised satellite broadcast for potential fish farmers. The program consisted of 10 five- to seven-minute video tape segments that addressed production aspects of channel catfish, crayfish, rainbow trout, hybrid striped bass, tilapia, yellow perch, baitfish, and sportfish.

A Yellow Perch Producers= Forum was conducted in Hudson, Wisconsin on January 21-22, 2000. NCRAC extension contacts helped design the forum, the goals of which were to: (1) increase profitability and sustainability of existing perch producers, (2) increase cooperation between and among producers, researchers, and extension personnel, and (3) identify yellow perch research and extension needs. A summary of research and extension needs identified by the producers was compiled.

Kinnunen was instrumental in developing and compiling support for the AEnvironmental Strategies for Aquaculture Symposium.” This two-day meeting took place during the 62^nd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 3-6, 2000. The symposium provided a forum where industry, resource management agencies, and environmental/conservation organizations could discuss the scientific information available and/or needed to make reasoned decisions regarding aquaculture development. Several NCRAC state aquaculture extension contacts, i.e., Gunderson, Morris, Kinnunen, and Tiu, participated in the planning of or made presentations at this symposium.

In 2000, a workshop, entitled AOrganic Aquaculture Standards Workshop,” was developed and supported by Minnesota extension contacts. With support from the USDA=s Agricultural Marketing Service, Packard Foundation, and the University of Minnesota=s Extension Service, 43 national and international participants came together to address issues of concern regarding the National Organic Standards Board=s organic aquaculture standards.

NCRAC extension contacts have served as editors for regional aquaculture newsletters as well as in-state aquaculture associations; served on state aquaculture advisory councils and state aquaculture task forces; and assisted in the planning and implementation of state aquaculture association meetings. Often the individual contact is the principal contact between the aquaculture industry and governmental/academic institutions.

In support of extension activities being funded through research projects, i.e., hybrid striped bass and sunfish research projects, extension specialists have completed fact sheets, book chapters, and videos. These extension materials, arising from the combined efforts of both extension specialists and researchers, will help to address many questions concerning aquaculture in the NCR.

In addition to the previously mentioned areas, NCRAC extension contacts have been instrumental in fostering the continued growth of the aquaculture industry in the region. For example, Pierce created the Cooperative Extension Aquaculture and Marketing Educational Program to facilitate the development and implementation of aquaculture educational programs in Missouri. Tiu has also worked to revitalize the Ohio Aquaculture Association (OAA). She has continued to coordinate monthly OAA board meetings and edit the OAA newsletter. Gunderson has worked to distribute information about the Environmental Assessment Tool for Land-based Aquaculture developed by Kapuscinski (University of Minnesota) under contract by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. This instrument has the ability to impact aquaculture in much of the NCR. Lee has worked with the Kansas Aquaculture Association to develop and fund a current directory of Kansas fish producers.

Many of the NCRAC extension contacts have worked with industry and governmental representatives to produce state aquaculture plans and improved governmental regulations. Binkowski has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in the production of A Wisconsin Aquaculture Industry Profile Processor Survey 1998 and 1998 Wisconsin Aquaculture Directory. Binkowski has also worked with the State of Wisconsin as well as the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association to plan the establishment of the Northern Wisconsin Aquaculture Demonstration Facility in Ashland, Wisconsin.

All fish processors, including those who handle aquaculture products, are now required by law to process their fish following HACCP guidelines. Kinnunen has conducted numerous HACCP training workshops throughout the NCR. These workshops served to train fish processors on the principles of HACCP and to give them knowledge on how to develop and implement a HACCP plan for their specific facility. Kinnunen coordinated a three-day HACCP course at St. Croix Waters Fishery near Danbury, Wisconsin, one of the largest recirculation aquaculture systems in North America, in 2002.

NCRAC extension contacts have been responsive to arising issues for the NCR aquaculture industry. For instance, the aquaculture industry is accused of being an important vector for the spread of exotic species like zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, round goby, and others because water and organisms are moved from one water body to another. Michigan and Minnesota extension contacts worked with other aquaculture and exotic species specialists from around the region to address this issue important to many fish farmers in the NCR, especially people raising fish for stocking or baitfish. To better identify the risks of spreading exotic species and to reduce those risks, a HACCP approach was used. Extension specialists in Illinois/Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio are participating in this project. The project is designed to identify critical control points and to develop guidelines for controlling the spread of exotic species while not overburdening the industry with unnecessary regulations.

In-service training of secondary teachers has taken placed in a number of states. For instance, teachers in Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin have received instruction in aquaculture which they can use in their vocational agriculture courses.

Several states have on-site facilities that are used for extension programming. For instance, the facilities in Piketon, Ohio operated by Ohio State University are used to inform the public about aquaculture as well as foster grass root support for this agriculture enterprise. The aforementioned Northern Wisconsin Aquaculture Demonstration Facility has also been used in a similar fashion.

The National Catfish Information Database has proceeded with Swann serving on the planning committee as well as serving as a lead editor. The Aquaculture Business Plan Guide has been completed by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale staff.

The NCR is dotted with unused agriculture buildings harkening to the days when small farms could survive raising small numbers of hogs or chickens. One option that many are exploring is converting the buildings for aquaculture use. To help farmers further explore this option, a videoconference workshop was designed and produced to explore the pros and cons of converting existing agricultural buildings into fish culture facilities. This workshop, held November 16, 2002, in Lima, Ohio was sponsored by NCRAC, Ohio State University, and the OAA, and was broadcast to several sites throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. Notebook materials from this workshop are available online at http://southcenters.osu.edu/oaa/.

OBJECTIVE 5

Working interactively, Binkowski and Steve Yeo, at the University of Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute, and Morris, the Associate Director of NCRAC, at Iowa State University, have prepared a draft publication entitled AAquaculture Effluents and Waste By‑Products: Potential Recovery and Beneficial Use in the North Central Region.@ Final printing of this document is expected to be spring 2004.

The Yellow Perch Culture Guide is currently in review; Garling is supervising the final production of this document. Final publication is expected to be in 2004.

Kohler and Ryan Lane are currently finishing a CD for NCRAC concerning hybrid striped bass culture. The information on this CD is multifaceted in regard to the various culture phases of hybrid striped bass, i.e., egg through food‑fish or pure parental brood stock.

In addition, numerous fact sheets, technical bulletins, and videos have been written or produced by various participants of the Extension Work Group. These are listed in the Appendix.

WORK PLANNED

Efforts will continue in regard to strengthening linkages between research and extension work groups as well as enhancing the network for aquaculture information transfer. Participants will also continue to provide in-service training for CES, Sea Grant, and other land owner assistance personnel.

Educational programs and materials will be developed and implemented. This includes final publication of the Yellow Perch Culture Guide.

Future HACCP workshops will be planned as needed in the NCR. Any additional workshops developed and hosted by state extension contacts will be advertised in surrounding states to take advantage of the NCRAC extension network and the individual expertise of Extension Work Group participants.

IMPACTS

· In-service training for CES and Sea Grant personnel has enabled those professionals to respond to initial, routine aquaculture questions from the general public.

· Development of aquaculture education programs for the NCR has provided Ahands‑on” opportunities for prospective and experienced producers. More than 6,000 individuals have attended workshops or conferences organized and delivered by the NCRAC Extension Work Group.

· Fact sheets, technical bulletins, and videos have served to inform a variety of clients about numerous aquaculture practices for the NCR. For instance, AMaking Plans for Commercial Aquaculture in the North Central Region” is often used to provide clients with initial information about aquaculture, while species-specific publications on walleye, trout, and catfish have been used in numerous regional meetings and have been requested by clients from throughout the United States. Publications on organizational structure for aquaculture businesses, transportation of fish in bags, and others are beneficial to both new and established aquaculturists. It has been estimated that NCRAC publications were used to address approximately 15,000 client questions annually.

· NCRAC extension outreach activities have helped to foster a better understanding and awareness for the future development of aquaculture in the region.

· AquaNIC has become an entry point for many people searching for aquaculture information on the Web. AquaNIC=s home page now averages more than 3,000 visits per month by people from more than 50 countries.

· Fish processors who have attended NCRAC-sponsored HACCP Training Workshops have learned the principles of HACCP with regards to its importance in insuring the production of a safe fishery product. HACCP Plans have now been implemented by workshop attendees who are now keeping records of their daily processing and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures. About 200 fish processors and/or aquaculturists attended HACCP Training Workshops.

· Kinnunen and Gunderson have been leaders in the development of ANS-HACCP workshops and materials. Attendees to these workshops have included commercial culturists as well as cuturists with natural resource agencies. Many of these individuals have implemented many of the principles of ANS-HACCP into their operations.

· In Ohio, an organized OAA has allowed producers to have the forum necessary to encourage appropriate legislation necessary for the success of the aquaculture industry. Closer working relationships with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources resulted in the first electronic database of Aquaculture Permit Holders in Ohio. Two individuals who attended the Alternative Aquaculture Production workshop in Ohio have converted their barns and are now raising fish.

PUBLICATIONS, MANUSCRIPTS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONFERENCES

See the Appendix for a cumulative output for all NCRAC-funded Extension activities.

SUPPORT

YEARS

NCRAC-

USDA FUNDING

OTHER SUPPORT

TOTAL

SUPPORT

UNIVER-

SITY

INDUSTRY

OTHER

FEDERAL

OTHER

TOTAL

1989-91

$107,610

$237,107

$344,717

1991-93

$94,109

$152,952

$247,061

1993-95

$110,129

$198,099

$250,000

$55,000

$503,099

$613,228

1995-97

$31,204

$149,325

$5,000

$84,000

$238,325

$269,529

1997-99

$38,000

$110,559

$148,559

1999-01

$94,000

$108,124

$202,124

2001-03

$46,500

$99,702

$146,202

TOTAL

$521,552

$1,055,868

$5,000

$334,000

$55,000

$1,449,868

$1,971,420

ECONOMICS/MARKETING^{^[2]}

Project Termination Report for the Period

September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2003

NCRAC FUNDING LEVEL: $47,916 (September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2003)

PARTICIPANTS:

Ronald E. Kinnunen	Michigan State University	Michigan
Edward M. Mahoney	Michigan State University	Michigan
William C. Nelson	North Dakota State University	North Dakota
Patrick D. O=Rourke	Illinois State University	Illinois
*Industry Advisory Council Liaisons:*
Curtis Harrison	Harrison Fish Farm, Hurdsville	Missouri
David A. Smith	Freshwater Farms of Ohio, Inc., Urbana	Ohio
*Extension Liaison:*
Ronald E. Kinnunen	Michigan State University	Michigan

REASON FOR TERMINATION

The project objectives were completed.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the potential Asupply” and Amarket” for hybrid walleye (female walleye H male sauger) and sunfish (female green sunfish H male bluegill) fillets relative to comparable fish.

Sub-objectives:

(1) To analyze information on the consumption and Asupply” of comparable fish in the U.S. and the North Central Region (NCR).

(2) To provide a technical comparison of the qualities and attributes of hybrid walleye (female walleye H male sauger) and sunfish (female green sunfish H male bluegill) fillets with those of substitute fish.

(3) Assess consumer (supermarket/consumers and restaurant/consumers) perceptions and likelihood of purchasing hybrid sunfish and walleye fillets relative to substitute fish.

(4) Evaluate the likelihood (and conditions, e.g., supply available, fillet sizes, price) that wholesaler, institutional buyers, and major fish retailers will add hybrid walleye and sunfish to their product lines.

(5) Assess the potential interest and perceived barriers to the commercial production of hybrid sunfish and walleye.

(6) Estimate the Asupply” and Ademand” for hybrid walleye and sunfish fillets.

PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS