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Atlantic Salmon & Walleye in the Spotlight
UWSP-Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility
Summer Newsletter 2018
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Sea Grant Funds Walleye & Hybrid Research
UWSP NADF is currently undergoing two research projects funded by WI Sea Grant which is helping to enhance sustainable production of walleye and hybrid in intensive systems...
Walleye Density and Water Quality Project in RAS and Aquaponics:
Recently, walleye were harvested out a recirculating aquaculture system after being raised intensively for one year at UWSP NADF. The fish averaged around one pound raised at three varying densities. Fillet yield, final fish length, weights and survival will be analyzed as well as water quality data throughout the year. The fish were donated to the tribal elderly program as well as the local community of Bayfield and Redcliff. Walleye were also reared at the UWSP Aquaponics Innovation Center at the same densities and are being harvested to compare with UWSP NADF's RAS system. The data from this year’s walleye production as well as last year’s saugeye rearing at UWSP NADF and UWSP AIC will be compiled to create biological and economic models for raising this species intensively and will be publically available.
Hybrid Walleye Micro-diet Study:
Larval saugeye (hybrid walleye) have been reared for 30 days post hatch in an intensive system at UWSP NADF on 5 different microfeeds. The feeds success will be determined based on fish survival, deformities, growth, and final fish weights and lengths. Next year the project will continue, raising saugeye intensively using the two best micro feeds from this year to raise fish at three densities in the larval tanks. Enhanced production of high quality fry and fingerlings reared intensively on commercial feed is a key target for successful expansion of the Wisconsin aquaculture industry. The results of this project will be most beneficial for companies currently raising or looking to raise walleye and saugeye intensively for food fish production or stocking.
Photos:
Cover- UWSP NADF staff hold up intensively reared walleye raised intensively on formulated feed in a water reuse system at the facility as part of a Sea Grant funded project.
Top- One year old walleye raised intensively on formulated, commercial feed in a water reuse system.
Middle-30 day post hatch hybrid walleye raised on various microdiets for intensive rearing.
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Salmon Raised in World's Largest Aquaponics Facility Now Freshly Available
UWSP NADF partners, Superior Fresh, LLC., harvested their first group of Atlantic salmon to go to market. The fish will be harvested weekly to guarantee freshness and can be purchased at Festival Foods across the state. Superior Fresh, located in Hixton, WI is world's largest cold water aquaponics facility and raising Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Check out the story on WQOW News...
While continuing this public/private partnership via technical assistance, internships and cold water species expertise, UWSP NADF is currently performing a pilot project with Superior Fresh to study Atlantic salmon water quality parameters in recirculation systems. Also partnering with Dr. Steven Summerfelt (Past Director of Aquaculture Systems Research for The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute in West Virginia) who has recently accepted a position as Chief Science Officer at Superior Fresh. Dr. Summerfelt is world renowned for his research and expertise in RAS as well as raising Atlantic salmon.
Photos:
Top: Fresh harvest of Atlantic salmon fillet from Superior Fresh. Photo Credit: Superior Fresh, LLC.
Bottom: Post smolt Atlantic salmon at UWSP NADF as part of a project with Superior Fresh, LLC.
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Supporting Aquaculture Workforce Development
New Staff at UWSP NADF:
UWSP NADF has accepted two UW-Steven’s Point students for the summer Aquaculture internship program, Logan Mueller and Mike Engel, both majoring in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Four other UWSP students are involved in aquaculture internships across Wisconsin. These students are working at UWSP AIC, Superior Fresh and Iron River National Fish Hatchery. This funding comes from both the organizations of where the interns are stationed as well as USDA NIFA grant as part of an aquaculture boot camp training program. In addition, past inern Josh Siebert has been accepted as UWSP NADF aquaculture technician, which is a USTE position.
UWSP NADF Technician, Jared Neibauer has recently accepted a new position at the facility as Advanced Aquaculture Technician which is a full time university staff project position at UWSP NADF. Jared received a B.S. in biology from UW Superior and has been working at the facility since 2015 as a USTE technician. Through UWSP NADF, Jared has gained experience in various aquaculture systems including incubation, larval, RAS, raceways, and pond systems. He has also gained experience in both cold and cool water species at all life stages, from egg to broodstock.
Aquaculture Boot Camp Free Training Program:
UWSP NADF continuing the ABC program one Saturday each month for one year. UW-Stevens Point has collaborated with Ohio State University, Wisconsin Aquaculture Association, and Nelson and Pade, Inc. to offer this to 35 selected applicants that include educators, horticulturists, hobbyists, current aquaculture producers, researchers, and business prospectors. The applicants represent not only Wisconsin but also Minnesota and Illinois. The session locations include UWSP Campus, UWSP Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (Bayfield,WI), UWSP Aquaponics Innovation Center and Nelson & Pade, Inc. (Montello, WI) and Lac du Flambeau Tribal Hatchery to learn about various topics in aquaculture. This free program highlights 12 important topics of aquaculture, bringing in experts for presentations and resources. Last month the group was up at Lac du Flambeau for the Pond Culture session, and this month at UWSP NADF for the Water Quality session.
Free Aquaponics Master Class for Educators:
UW-Stevens Point has collaborated with Lake Superior State University, Iowa State University, and Nelson & Pade, Inc.to offer an aquaponics master class to educators. As part of a grant to promote aquaculture education in the schools funded by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC), 20 educators were able to register free of charge. This three day course, offered by Nelson and Pade, Inc., is geared towards teaching aquaponics and includes learning the STEM of aquaponics, state standard lesson plans, hands on exercises and recommendations for classroom systems. The course will be held in August and will take place at Nelson and Pade, Inc.®’s business campus, which includes a 14,000 square foot greenhouse facility, a comfortable classroom, commercial aquaponics greenhouse, home aquaponic food system greenhouse and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-Aquaponics Innovation Center.
Photos:
Top:UWSP NADF Summer interns, Logan Mueller (left) and Mike Engel (middle) as well as UWSP NADF New Aquaculture Technician, Josh Siebert (right).
Middle:
-Jared Neibauer, UWSP NADF Advanced Aquaculture Technician, holds up an Atlantic salmon as part of a broodstock program at the facility.
-Pond aeration demonstration by Bob Robinson, Sales Manager at Kasco Marine, at the ABC session on Pond Culture. This was held at Lac du Flambeau Tribal Hatchery and led by Larry Wawronowicz, Natural Resources Director.
Bottom:
Nelson and Pade co-founder Rebecca Nelson teaching at the Nelson and Pade Aquaponics Master Class in the Nelson and Pade commercial greenhouse. Photo courtesy of Nelson and Pade, Inc. www.aquaponics.com
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Public Education & Outreach
Since the new year, UWSP NADF has outreached to 700 students and educators with tours, classroom visits and public events. Tours for school groups include hands on activities that include feeding and sampling fish, dissections, as well as learning about fish at all life stages and in various systems.
In June, UWSP NADF was involved in Kids Fishing Day a free event hosted by Ashland's Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center which included over 400 students and families to learn about various fishing and natural resource topics. At the aquaculture booth, students "caught" and learned about why and how we raise various fish species with UWSP NADF Outreach Specialist, Emma Wiermaa.
 Visitors from across the U.S. and even internationally travel to UWSP NADF for technical tours of the facility. Here, Kendall Holmes (UWSP NADF Foreman) is demonstrating walleye quantification with a Jensorter larval counter to the USFWS from Vermont.
Photos:
Top-Washburn Lake Superior Studies group learn the external anatomy of a lake trout at UWSP NADF.
Middle- Students hold up their catch at the UWSP NADF aquaculture booth during kids fishing day.
Bottom- USFWS Vermont during a technical tour of UWSP NADF.
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WALLEYE FINGERLINGS AVAILABLE
To help promote, stimulate and advance the production of walleye for food fish aquaculture in Wisconsin, UWSP NADF is offering walleye fingerlings to aquaculture or aquaponics facilities for purchase. The fish are 4" intensively, pellet reared fingerlings that have been fish health certified. Wisconsin schools and farms will have first priority. These walleye are surplus fish leftover from larval research projects.
If interested please email Emma Wiermaa: ewiermaa@uwsp.edu the following information:
- Fish Farm Registration Number (even if you have a school system, you need to be registered)
- Culture System (We ask that the fish remain on commercial feed and in indoor systems. They make great candidates for recirculation or aquaponics systems).
- Fish Purpose or Project
- Number of Fingerlings Requesting
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UWSP NADF as well as other great research and Great Lakes Projects are featured in
Aquatic Sciences Chronicle
which highlights news, events and projects through the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute & the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute
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Walleye raised intensively for one year on commercial feed in a water reuse system at UWSP NADF as part of a project funded by WI Sea Grant Institute.
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Aquaculture Events
- Aquaponics Master Class for Educators: First ever course offered by Nelson and Pade, August 13-15, 2018, at the state-of-the-art commercial greenhouse demonstration facility in Montello, Wisconsin. This three day course will cover the science, technology, methods and hands-on learning activities for aquaponics in education. This course provides the tools needed for incorporating aquaponics in the classroom. Learn More...
- Aquaponics Master Class offered by UW-Stevens Point business partner, Nelson and Pade Inc.® September 20-22nd, 2018. This is a comprehensive course covering all aspects of aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture. This 3-day Aquaponics Master Class® is intended for anyone seriously considering aquaponic food production, or those already doing aquaponics who want to learn more about the technology. The course is offered at Nelson and Pade, Inc.®’s demonstration greenhouse in Montello, WI. Nelson and Pade, Inc.®, in a partnership with the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP), offers our Aquaponics Master Class® attendees the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate credit through an accredited university, the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. The credit is transferable to other colleges and Universities. Learn more...
- Water Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Course October 9th-12th, 2018 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This four-day course presented by The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute will cover the fundamentals of water reuse systems for fish culture including circular task design and management, and include a discussion of system operation & management, and system design. Other course modules include Carrying capacity, Biofiltration, Solids control, Oxygenation, Carbon dioxide control, Water quality, Ozonationation & UV, Fish health & biosecurity, and Pumping and piping. Learn more...
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