Dr. Joe Fox (TAMU-Corpus Christi) is an aquatic animal nutritionist and has more than 30 years’ experience in aquaculture systems. He has served as technical director for two international companies, both of which were strongly involved in production of marine penaeid shrimp. Dr. Fox has written several training manuals regarding commercial shrimp farming and has conducted training sessions in several countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Dr. Fox has served as PD on a USDA/HSI-funded project to introduce high school students to finfish and shrimp aquaculture. He has constructed a total of 10 shrimp hatcheries around the world and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed and industry publications on shrimp farming. Dr. Fox currently serves as Ruth Campbell Professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Dr. Patricia Varner and/or Dr. Ken Hasson (TAMU/TVMDL) have been invited to cover the subject of shrimp and marine finfish diseases and give a hands-on demonstration on sample preservation for disease testing. These two instructors have long histories of working with this course and working with shrimp and fish diseases, and both bring a wealth of information on the subject.

Dr. Russ Miget (TAMU, Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas Sea Grant) will cover post-harvest aspects of the business and how to handle the product for best processing and storage results. Dr. Miget is a well-known expert in the field of Seafood Technology and Seafood Safety (HACCP) and has over 30 years experience with the marine seafood industry in Texas.

Dr. Tzachi Samocha (TAMU, Texas AgriLife Research) will cover the zero water exchange, closed system culture and bait shrimp production aspects of the course. Dr. Samocha is an expert in this field and has worked in many countries during his long and successful career in the shrimp mariculture and closed system aquaculture industries.

Dr. Addison Lawrence (TAMU, Texas AgriLife Research) will be lecturing on superintensive culture of shrimp, and participants will visit his laboratory. Dr. Lawrence is a Regents Fellow and Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and head of the AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory in Port Aransas. (http://ccag.tamu.edu/Lawrence/lawrence.htm)

Marine Finfish Culture Lecturers:

Dr. G. Joan Holt (UTMSI FAML) is a world-renowned marine scientist and mariculture researcher. For over 38 years, her work has addressed vital issues surrounding fish ecology, captive culture and development. With projects that encompass physical, chemical and biological aspects of the early life history of marine fish species, Dr. Holt has provided influential information and guidance to decision-makers that impact one of earth’s most utilized resources. Applied conservation, responsible aquaculture and interdisciplinary cooperation have been central goals within every category of Dr. Holt’s research, and her strong interpersonal ethic has enhanced UTMSI FAML’s reputation as a leading research facility. Her mentorship has helped aspiring professionals earn six PhDs and 17 master’s degrees in Marine Science and become respected scientists at leading research institutions. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Fisheries and Mariculture at FAML. (http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu/people/faculty/g-joan-holt.html)

Jeff Kaiser’s (UTMSI FAML) current position encompasses all aspects dealing with the acquisition, husbandry/spawning and system design/maintenance used to rear various warm water marine fish species at FAML. In addition to the aquaculture research and production component of his position, the daily management and coordination with other staff, students and physical plant personnel are also his areas of responsibility. Research interests and past experience include spawning of marine finfish in captivity, juvenile production for stocking efforts and offshore cage culture in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Joseph R. Tomasso (Texas State University) will lecture on water quality and animal health, including the topics of animal stress, low salinity culture of crustaceans and hauling fish. Dr. Tomasso’s research interest is stress and environmental physiology of fishes and crustaceans. He is the Chair and a Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University in San Marcos, and he teaches courses in Aquaculture/Fish Hatchery Management, Fish Physiology, Ichthyology and Comparative Animal Physiology. His recent publications are listed on the web at http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tomasso/.

Also assisting with the course will be Cynthia Faulk, M.A., Research Scientist Associate at FAML, and Dr. Ken Webb, Research Scientist Associate at FAML, both of whom will be assisting with lectures and lab demonstrations. Additionally, Robert Adami at TPWD’s Marine Development Center, Flour Bluff, will host a tour of the TPWD/CCA marine finfish facility.