Al Stokes, biologist at the WaddellMaricultureCenter spoke to the Bluffton Rotary on October 1, 2008.
The James M. Waddell Research and DevelopmentCenter is one of the country's largest and most sophisticated facilities for mariculture research. It was constructed in 1983-84 to develop propagation and farming techniques for marine and brackish water species of finfish, mollusks, crustaceans and plants. The Center's large physical plant allows researchers to extend to a commercial scale promising laboratory work.
Research and development at the WaddellCenter are directed toward the culture and practical production of aquatic species, which appear to be of economic importance to the state. Over the past two decades, the center has worked with a variety of species including striped bass, white bass and their hybrids, two species of sturgeon, cobia, whiting, red drum, black drum, flounder, seatrout, tilapia five species of marine shrimp, freshwater prawns, hard clams, bay scallops and oysters. The scope of work varies widely among species, especially in response to grants from the federal government and private businesses.
Scientific and educational programs at the Center are conducted by the Marine Resources Research Institute doctorate level scientists and other staff members with expertise in finfish, crustacean and molluscan aquaculture, marine chemistry, fisheries management, phytoplankton ecology, statistics, system design, economics and marketing. Cooperative aquaculture activities are conducted in conjunction with ClemsonUniversity, the University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. Faculty members from these affiliated institutions expand the Center's capabilities in genetics, developmental biology, pathology, nutrition, microbiology, food processing and engineering.
For more information on the Waddell Center
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