Ordering off the seafood menu may help ease the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study in Arthritis Care & Research. People with RA who ate fish at least twice a week reported less joint swelling and tenderness than those who rarely or never did—and the findings suggest that the more fish they ate, the less active their disease.
The study involved 176 people with RA who answered questions about their diet over the past year. Specifically, the authors looked at responses to questions about how often people ate tuna, salmon, sardines and other fish prepared raw, broiled, steamed or baked.
They did not look at how often people ate fried fish, shellfish or fish in mixed dishes (like shrimp stir-fry, for example), because these meals tend to be lower in omega-3 fatty acids—a type of fat with anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have shown that taking fish-oil supplements (which are rich in omega-3s) may benefit people with RA, but this is among the first studies to look at the consumption of actual fish.
Mr. Alex Kramer is our newest graduate student. He is from Stuart, Virginia and would like to be called Kramer. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Roanoke College, located in Salem, Virginia, where he also did toxicology research in a zebrafish lab. Last summer he completed an Summer Intern Program - Research Experiences for Undergraduates at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) where he worked with polyploid oysters. Kramer interested in developmental biology, and genetics. I will be working with Dr. Gomelsky on koi-goldfish hybrids. Kramer has already got his hands wet assisting Dr. Gomelsky and Dr. Novelo with their high school student in the Summer Apprenticeship Program (SAP).
Cora Teets Completes Her Practicum Research Project
Cora Teets, an undergrad student at Kentucky State University, has completed her research project entitled "The effects of excess dietary branched chain amino acids (leucine and isoleucine) on growth and health of Nile tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus)" under the supervision of Dr. Vikas Kumar. Cora conducted an 8 week feeding trial as part of her practicum work study course and STEM student research assistant job at the Fish Nutrition lab throughout the months of March, April, and May. The results of this study will reveal the mechanism for the metabolism of excess branched chain amino acids in Nile tilapia. The data from this project will be published later this year in the Global Aquaculture Advocate magazine.
KSU Gold is a television show produced, edited and recorded by the College of Agriculture. The Host is KSU's own Lyndsey McGaha, Media Manager & Television Host for External Relations College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems and Land Grant Program. Dr. Boris Gomelsky, Dr. Andrew Ray and Janelle Hager were interviewed last week on the College of Agriculture's Television Show KSU Gold. The show aired on Frankfort Plant Board's Channel 10.
The Aquaculture Production Sciences Lab recently stocked brackish-water shrimp into tanks in the high tunnels. Each high tunnel has four 3,000 gallon tanks, for a total of 16 tanks.
The shrimp were stocked at two different densities and there are tanks with and without added substrate (orange construction barrier).
This study will help to illustrate the effects of shrimp density and substrate, as well as
interactive effects of the two factors, on shrimp production and water quality. The team hopes to grow shrimp in the high tunnels during the warm months, and largemouth bass during the cool season to help Kentucky farmers optimize the use of their high tunnel greenhouses.
Team Gomelsky Mentor Summer Apprenticeship Program (SAP) Student
Caitlin Ballard joined Dr. Boris Gomelsky's team for three weeks as a SAP participant. Dr. Noel Novelo is her mentor, but all group members gave a warm welcome to Caitlin and spent time with her explaining the research conducted by Team Gomelsky and the equipment they use. Caitlin's participation this week included feeding ponds, learning about recirculating systems, water quality, pipetting, stocking of Tilapia broodstock for spawning, and data collection. The title of her project is: "Investigation of Sex Ratio in the Production of Genetically Male Nile Tilapia". Next week she will be dissecting two groups of offspring from crosses of normal XY males and YY males with XX females to collect data on the sex of the fish and the gonadosomatic index. Recently our group heartily welcomed our new graduate student, Alex Kramer; we are also excited to have Caitlin as part of our team.
Welcome to Summer Apprenticeship Program (SAP) Students in Dr. Kumar's Lab
Two high school students, Jacinta Emodogo and Clamesha Alexander, from Memphis, Tennessee are taking part in the SAP (Student Apprenticeship program) at Kentucky State University.
They have joined Dr. Kumar's lab for summer research work. Students have started a research project on using insect (Black Soldier Fly Larvae) protein and oil for Tilapia feed. These larvae have been grown on by-products (brewers' grain) of brewery industry. These students have used this protein and oil to manufacture fish feed.
This project is a practical approach for bioconversion of organic waste into Tilapia feed. They will feed these insect based diets to Nile tilapia, and at the end of experiment they will get the data for growth and health related parameters. These students are working under the mentorship of Kristy Allen and Cora Teets. Both students will present this data at the end of the program.
Welcome Dr. Habte-Michael Habte-Tsion A. to Dr. Kumar's Team
Dr. Michael has joined as a Researcher in the Fish Nutrition lab. He is originally from Eritrea east Africa and has completed B.Sc. in Marine Biology at the University of Asmara, Eritrea. Prior to Kentucky State University, Dr. Michael was in China for five years, and has completed his M.Sc. and PhD in Aquaculture Nutrition from Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU), China. At KSU, Dr. Michael will be mainly involved to assist Master students with their thesis projects and also will conduct independent research under supervision of Dr. Kumar. His research will help to develop nutritionally balanced, environmentally sound and cost-effective diet for commercial fish and shellfish culture. In addition, he will also pursue further research on the interaction of nutrient and gene i.e., "Nutrigenomics" or "Molecular Nutrition".
Fisheries Research Associate From Idaho Department of Fish Visited KSU Aquaculture Research Center
Fisheries Research Associate from Idaho Department of Fish & Game Ms. Liz Mamer visited KSU Aquaculture Research Center this week. Scientists from Idaho Department of Fish & Game, led by Dr. Dan Schill, plan to use methods of sex control and chromosome set manipulation to decline populations of invasive common carp in Idaho water bodies. Liz has spent several days in the hatchery participating in koi spawning performed by Dr. Gomelsky's group which includes Dr. Noel Novelo and graduate student Jeffrey Warner. Liz learned methods of spawning and raising koi which are used and applied by KSU's scientists. Dr. Gomelsky shared his experience on production of monosex, polyploid and gynogenetic common carp progenies. Liz will use knowledge and skills acquired at KSU in activities in Idaho.
Zack will be working with the Sahara Sustainable Agriculture's Ecoponics Group. They are a sustainable agriculture business in Aswan, Egypt. Aswan, a city on the Nile River and has been southern Egypt's strategic and commercial gateway since antiquity. It contains significant archaeological sites like the Philae temple complex, on Agilkia Island near the landmark Aswan Dam.
Zack will be very busy during this internship and working in a extremely hot climate where temperatures are often over 100 degrees F. Nonetheless, this is a great opportunity for any undergraduate student. He will give a presentation at the Aquaculture Research Center on his experience when he returns. His responsibilities are listed below in the job description.
Job Description: To learn, problem solve, run and maintain the daily tasks necessary to operate an aquaponics/hydroponic system (AQ). Willing to plant, sustain and harvest vegetables in this system as well as raise fish. Possibly manage local hired help from time to time. Carry out market research and analysis including getting products to the market. To experience creating aquaponic systems in a low resource environment.
Rick Hulefeld Harvests His Thesis Research Project
Richard Hulefeld, a graduate student in the Aquaculture Graduate Program has completed his Largemouth bass feeding trial in research ponds at Aquaculture Research Center. This was the second, and final objective of his Master Thesis under supervision of Dr. Kumar. Rick has conducted a comparative study titled "Improved Soybean Meal, and Conventional Soybean Meal as Substitute of Fish Meal in Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Diets and Assessed Growth,Physiological and Histological Parameters."
Improved soybean meal (high protein, 58% and oligosaccharides, 0%) is developed by the Ohio Soybean Council and its research partners Kentucky State University and Battelle (nonprofit research organization, Ohio). Mr. Hulefeld has stocked the fish in early July, 2016 into 12 ponds and harvested all fish by the third week May, 2017. By collecting these samples and acquiring this data he was able to meet the goal of assessing the nutritional value of optimized soybean meal based diets for Largemouth
bass. The data from this project will be presented by Richard Hulefeld at Aquaculture America 2018. The results of this study will help to develop cost-effective, environmental friendly feeds for bass which is very useful to Aquaculture industry.
Aquaculture is drawing entrepreneurs and investors, in an overfished world with a growing appetite for the healthy protein.
Farmed or wild? Local or imported? Organic? Or some certification you've never heard of?
Anyone who has tried to be an eco-conscious seafood consumer—or seen headlines about plummeting wild fish stocks or antibiotic-laden seafood from farms in China—has faced these questions.
There are many more. Take farms, whether inland or in the ocean. So much depends on the particular operation. Are antibiotics used to fight disease in overcrowded pens? What's the feed made from, and is too much provided? How much waste do the fish create? Are the currents strong enough to disperse all of that? What is the ocean floor like? Are the fish native?
"With fish, people come in and debate," said TJ Tate, director of the Sustainable Seafood Program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. "Consumers want to see a tag, a label, a box, something they can feel confident about, and grab it and go."
"A lot of labels are private or secretive or changing or flexible," said Marianne Cufone, executive director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition. Some are more respected than others, and it's hard for the average consumer to know the difference. While Canada and the EU have organic seafood standards, the U.S. does not.
Now, entrepreneurs, investors, and some environmentalists are beginning to coalesce around aquaculture as a potential long-term solution to the depletion of the oceans and the world's increasing appetite for this healthy protein. A 2016 report from the United Nations found that 31.4% percent of the world's stocks were overfished and another 58.1% fully fished. Meanwhile, aquaculture surpassed wild-caught fish as a source of seafood for human consumption in 2014. Many see it as the next frontier in sustainable food production.
"We're eating more seafood globally, which is a good thing because it's healthy, but we're taking more than the ocean can naturally replenish," said Amy Novogratz, managing partner of Aqua-Spark, a Netherlands-based investment fund focused on sustainable aquaculture businesses. "Aquaculture is known a little bit for its bad reputation, and some of it is deserved," she said, referring to issues like China's use of antibiotics and fish feed made from wild-caught species. "But it's a young enough industry that you can go in and rebuild it a little, so as it grows, it grows more sustainably."
KSU Aquaculture Collaborating on Research of a New Spawning Aid (GnRH IIa)
Researchers at four institutions are collaborating in a project with the
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center to evaluate the efficiency,
reliability, safety, and mode of action of GnRH IIa in a range of species
encompassing food-fish, baitfish and ornamentals. KSU investigators
are comparing the performance of the new hormone in Largemouth
Bass with proven spawning aids like HCG and Ovaprim. In order to
obtain data from individual fish, eggs are collected in the hatchery rather
than allowing the fish to spawn naturally.
Title of the project is "Improved Reproduction in Food-fish (Catfish and
Largemouth Bass), Baitfish, and Ornamentals using a New Spawning
Aid (GnRH IIa)." This is year 1 of a two year project.
Amit Kumar Yadav has successfully completed the fish feeding trial for his Master's thesis research entitled "Essential fatty acids requirement of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides): Insight into molecular and physiological approaches". This project was funded by an Evans-Allen USDA Grant. His research was primarily focusing on estimation of optimum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio and their requirements for juvenile Largemouth Bass. He had 12 treatments and each treatment had 3 replicates, for a total of 36 tanks. The experiment lasted for 11 weeks, and all fish were sampled on April 19-20, 2017.
At the end of the study, final body mass was measured. Blood was drawn from fish and their complete diagnostic profile and blood chemistry were analyzed by Vetscan Analyzer and Vetscan iSTAT (ABAXIS, USA) respectively. Fish were carefully dissected to isolate the intestine, muscle, and liver and were stored for determination of activities of digestive, protein metabolism and antioxidant enzymes. In addition, tissue for liver, intestine and muscle were stored for gene expression pattern and histological studies.
The data from this project will be presented by Amit Kumar Yadav at the Kentucky Academy of Science conference 2017 and Aquaculture America 2018. The results of this study will help to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly feeds for bass.
Team Semmens Transport Hybrid Catfish to London, KY
Dr. Semmens and a team of staff and students harvested research
ponds and moved the hybrid catfish to the London Kentucky Waste
Water Treatment Plant where they will be grown out to market size.
The fish were provided by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
James Schwartz Completes Research at Nofima Norway
James Schwartz, a graduate student has just returned from his trip to Norway where he has completed the second, and final objective of his Master thesis research project. James is working under the supervision of Dr. Vikas Kumar. He has conducted a comparative study of improved soybean meal, soy protein concentrate and conventional soybean meal as substitute of fish meal in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets and assessed growth, digestibility and physiological parameters at the Nofima land-based research station in Sunndalsora, Norway. Improved soybean meal (high protein, 58% and oligosaccharides, 0%) is developed by the Ohio Soybean Council and its research partners Kentucky State University and Battelle (nonprofit research organization, Ohio). Mr. Schwartz has completed a 10 week feeding trial that concluded on March 30th 2017, and the fish were weighed and sampled for histology, microarray, feces and production parameters. By collecting these samples and acquiring this data he was able to meet the goal of assessing the nutritional value of optimized soybean meal based diets for Atlantic salmon. Overall the results of this research is very useful to producers of soybean meals and the aquafeed industry.
Team Ray Stocks Shrimp in the Sustainable Aquaculture Development Lab
The Production Sciences team stocked an experiment in the Sustainable
Aquaculture Development Lab (SADL) which will evaluate the effects of
three different light levels on water quality dynamics and shrimp
production in recirculating aquaculture systems.
The LED lights are expected to increase algal abundance in the water
column which may help with reducing nitrogenous compounds such as
ammonia and nitrate. Shrimp are also able to consume algae and
therefore may benefit from supplemental nutrition provided by increased
algal abundance.
Nutrition and Production Sciences Teams Stocked Pacific White Shrimp in the KSU High Tunnels Complex
The Nutrition and Production Sciences teams stocked Pacific white shrimp for a new diet trial experiment. The experiment is designed to evaluate various dietary inclusion rates of filtered solids from last year's tilapia study at the KSU High Tunnel Complex. Last year tilapia were grown in biofloc based systems in the high tunnel tanks; some of the suspended biofloc solids were filtered from the water and sundried in shallow troughs. This diet trial is exploring a way of potentially recycling that material into diets for shrimp. The material is being evaluated as both an attractant at lower inclusion levels to help entice shrimp to consume more plant-based feed ingredients, and it is being evaluated as a potential protein source at higher inclusion levels.
US aquaculture producers should be able to transport live fish across state boundaries without the prospect of inadvertently triggering draconian penalties, following a ruling by a Court of Appeal last week that deems that the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) does not have the authority to prohibit interstate transport of injurious wildlife.
Dr. Andrew Ray Published in the Journal Aquacultural Engineering
Dr. Andrew Ray, along with two co-authors (Thomas Drury and Adam Cecil), published a new paper in the journal Aquacultural Engineering. The paper describes an experiment conducted at the Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) which compared two types of production systems for growing marine shrimp indoors.
Dr. Ray is an Assistant Professor of Aquaculture Production in the
Aquaculture Division, Thomas Drury was an intern at the ARC from the University of Miami who now works for Pentair Aquatic Ecosystems, an international aquatic supply company, and Adam Cecil is a recent (December 2016) graduate of the Agriculture, Food, and Environment Bachelor of Science Program at KSU.
U.S. Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish Publications Available for Education and Promotion
U.S. Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish Publications
Available for Education and Promotion
The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) has developed a variety of fact-based, high-quality, full-color and reader-friendly brochures. These publications communicate to consumers, buyers, chefs or health care professionals the quality, value and wholesomeness of U.S. farm-raised fish and shellfish as well as the federal and state regulations that govern production, handling and processing.
Locally Farmed Seafood: Safe & Sustainable encourages consumers to buy locally farmed fish and shellfish for their safe, wholesome and nutritious benefits, environmental sustainability, and the positive impact on local economies.
U.S. Farm-Raised Seafood and Food Safety describes non-voluntary and voluntary federal and state food inspection and safety programs and the incredible nutritional values of farm-raised fish and shellfish.
U.S. Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish Q&A answers commonly asked water quality, sustainability, drug and chemical use, diet and food safety questions with science and regulatory facts.
U.S. Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish for a Healthier & Happier Life provides in-depth nutritional information for children, teens and adults as well as the health benefits of consuming fish and shellfish during pregnancy. The facts concerning Omega-3 fatty acids, mercury and PCBs are also presented.
United States Aquaculture: Fact & Fiction corrects erroneous perceptions concerning fishmeal, food safety, drug and chemical use, Omega-3 fatty acids, mercury, environmental effects, sustainability, PCBs, and eco-labels.
Farm-Raised in the USA is a poster 34 fish and shellfish farmed in the United States. Each species is depicted in full-color and identified by market, scientific and common name.
Each of these attractive, educational publications can be previewed at: http://thenaa.net/publications. Call or email the NAA office at 850-216-2400 or naa@thenaa.net to order copies for public or promotional events, buyer meetings, or mail-outs.
The Seafood Health Facts Website is designed to be a comprehensive resource on seafood products for healthcare providers and practitioners and their patients. It is also intended to be a resource for consumers to obtain objective information on seafood products. In today's information age, consumers and healthcare providers are frequently exposed to information on a single topic that may or may not provide a complete picture of all of the issues that can help them make informed choices about the seafood they consume. The Seafood Health Facts is designed to provide information and resources on risks, benefits and product choices that can help consumers make informed decisions and help healthcare providers give balanced objective information to their patients.
The information on this site is organized by topic and includes resources for seafood nutrition and the benefits of seafood consumption, seafood safety and the risks associated with certain types of seafood, a comparison of the risks and benefits of seafood consumption, and the seafood supply in the U.S. It is also organized to provide different types of resources appropriate for different groups of people. It has organized the educational materials and other resources for each of the seafood and health related topic tabs at this site into three different sections based on their usefulness for: the general public; healthcare professionals; and scientific publications for all groups.
For further information please visit the site by clicking the link:
Dr. Sid Dasgupta and Richard Bryant Have Published a New Book Chapter
Dr. Sid Dasgupta, Professor at Kentucky State University and Research Associate, Mr. Richard Bryant have recently published a book chapter in Tilapia in Intensive C0-culture. Their chapter, chapter 17, is titled, "The Economics of Small-Scale Tilapia Aquaculture in the United States."
Tilapia in Intensive Co-culture
Peter W. Perschbacher (Editor), Robert R. Stickney (Editor)
ISBN: 978-1-118-97066-9
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Please follow the link below for more information on this publication:
The U.S. Aquaculture Society (USAS), North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) and National Aquaculture Association (NAA) produced an aquaculture webinar series during 2016 that features 14 current and timely aquaculture topics presented by knowledgeable speakers. The webinars were:
Aquaponics - How to do it yourself!
Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes
Labeling Requirements for Siluriformes Fish and Fish Products
What You Need to Know About Biosecurity
How to Design Your Biosecurity Plan
Recreational Fish Pond Management
The HACCP Approach to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species by Aquaculture and Baitfish Operations
U.S. Farm-Raised Finfish and Shellfish 101
Regulatory Costs of U.S. Aquaculture Businesses
Branding Opportunities for Oyster Farmers
Seafood in the Diet: Benefits and Risks - Farm-Raised and Wild
Use of Veterinary Feed Directive Drugs in Aquaculture
Social Media: An Introduction for Successful Use
Fish Health: What You Need to Know as an Aquaculture Producer
To access these webinars, visit http://thenaa.net via your desktop computer or mobile device and select "Webinars" from the menu.
The NAA website is packed with information. Please explore NAA's webpages to find downloadable publications, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Kids Corner, recipes, video interviews describing aquaculture sustainability and the value and benefits of seafood to human health, and a wealth of additional information. If there is a topic that is missing, please contact the NAA office at 850-216-2400 or naa@thenaa.net.
New Edition of the Guide to Using Drugs, Biologics and Other Chemicals in Aquaculture Available
A new edition of the Guide to Using Drugs, Biologics, and Other Chemicals in Aquaculture has just been released. The new edition includes updates regarding recent changes to antibiotic drug accessibility and descriptions of the most common fish diseases.
All aquaculture operations have occasional demand for drugs, biologics, and other chemicals, collectively referred to as "regulated products." The Guide was developed by the American Fisheries Society, Fish Culture Section, as a comprehensive introduction to the use of regulated products in aquaculture and a resource for fisheries professionals.
The Guide provides updated information on aquaculture drugs and contacts for providing feedback. A companion treatment calculator is available in Excel formats. These tools are indispensable for those in need of detailed information regarding the legal and judicious use of these products in aquaculture.
Forbes recently published an article titled, The Future Of Food Is Wet And Salty, detailing aquaculture as food.
Aquaculture is an umbrella term that describes seafood farming in all its iterations, including growing saltwater fish and shellfish in the ocean, and freshwater fish in recirculating systems on land. Aquaculture isn't new–some methods, like traditional Hawaiian fishponds and oyster farming as practiced in Ancient Rome, are age-old practices. But much of the rapidly expanding aquaculture industry today is thriving on new technologies and techniques. And this industry–especially the ocean-based iterations of it–represents the future of food.
Dr. Andrew Ray Publishes Article in Ohio State University Newsletter
Dr. Andrew Ray, Assistant Professor of Aquaculture Production, published an article in the December issue of Buckeye Aquafarming, an extension publication from Ohio State University. The article is titled "The basics of biofloc aquaculture systems," and details some of the opportunities and issues surrounding the intensive aquaculture systems that Dr. Ray works with at KSU.
Biofloc systems get their name from small "floc" particles suspended in the water column which are largely composed of microorganisms. These microbes help to maintain proper water quality and provide supplemental nutrition to animals such as shrimp, thereby recycling nutrients and lowering the animal feed conversion rate.
Americans Are Eating More Fish, But Still Not Enough
This week is all about turkey. But year round, Americans are making room on their plates for more fish and other seafood.
We ate an average of 15.5 pounds of it in 2015, continuing a three-year rise, says a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
But here's the catch: That's roughly one 4-ounce serving each week, or half the 8 ounces recommended for most adults in U.S. dietary guidelines. The American Heart Association also urges adults to eat two fish meals a week.
New FDA Aquacultured Seafood Information Page
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has developed a webpage focusing on this topic which was designed to "... provide content about aquacultured seafood, including consumer information, guidance for industry, and education and outreach. The webpage covers topics specifically related to the safety of aquacultured seafood, and sections of the webpage are Facts about Aquacultured Seafood, Foreign Country Assessments, Good Aquaculture Practices, Frequently Asked Questions, and Additional Resources ..."
Web site: Source: November 10, 2016 FDA Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance e-mail update, titled "Aquacultured Seafood Webpage Now Available"
Questions about aquaculture may be directed to the Office of Food Safety of the Division of Seafood Safety, a unit of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, Maryland at 240 402 2300; e-mail: SeafoodHACCP@FDA.gov
Certificate Degree in Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences
Certificate Degree in Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences
In the United States over 90% of the seafood consumed is imported. Aquaculture is now the world's leading provider of seafood and the fastest growing segment of world agriculture. The Division of Aquaculture is KSU's Program of Distinction and is highly regarded in both research and academics. KSU offers more online aquaculture courses than any university in the U.S. A Certificate Degree in Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences can be earned by completing 12 hrs of Aquaculture (AQU) courses, with a grade of "C" or better, within five years of beginning the initial course work. Courses can be online, classroom, or any combination. To enroll, students must first be admitted to the University on either a degree seeking or non-degree seeking basis. Work completed for the Certificate Degree may later be applied toward the Bachelor of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (AFE) degree.
Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences Certificate Program
The Certificate Degree in Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences will require a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work chosen by the student from the Division of Aquaculture offerings (AQU prefix). These can either be classroom or online classes. Only classes in which students receive a "C" or better will count toward the Certificate Degree. These classes can also count toward the Aquaculture Systems option for the B.S. in Aquaculture, Food, and Environment (AFE) and/or the Aquaculture Minor should the student pursue a high degree.
Available Online Courses
To earn the Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences Certificate entirely online, you must complete four (Students choice) of the following online courses:
Dr. Boris Gomelsky Has Published Amazon Kindle eBook "Fish Genetics"
Dr. Boris Gomelsky has recently published an Amazon Kindle eBook "Fish Genetics". This eBook is intended for koi hobbyists and culturists. Below is the corresponding link to the book:
If you click on the book cover on the Amazon website, you can see a preview of the book.
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10 - Year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision
"10-Year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision". The purpose of this 10-year vision is to: (1) determine Sea Grant's most appropriate roles over the next 10 years; and (2) identify priority research and outreach strategies leading to sustainable economic development, environmental conservation and social well-being.
Please Click the Link Below for the Full Publication:
Constructing Fish Tanks in High Tunnel Greenhouses
This video was shot at the Kentucky State University High Tunnel Complex. High tunnels are relatively simple greenhouse structures commonly used to extend the growing season of crops. In this video Dr. Andrew Ray describes some large fish tanks that have been constructed with wooden frames and rubber liners. The fish tanks are being used to grow tilapia, with the goal of getting market-sized fish in one growing season in Kentucky. Time-lapse and underwater video footage help to illustrate Dr. Ray's points.
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Dr. Sid Dasgupta, Richard Bryant, and Alejandro Velasquez recently published an article in World Aquaculture Magazine titled, "Local Food Markets For Catfish In Kentucky."
Dr. Gomelsky and his team recently published two articles in new issues of North American Journal of Aquaculture. The first article describes ploidy variability and viability of fish obtained from triploid koi females. It is typically considered that triploid fish are sterile. However, triploid
koi females, which were obtained at the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University, developed large ovaries and appeared to be fertile. The data presented in the article shows that fish obtained by crossing triploid koi females with normal diploid koi males are aneuploids and
have intermediate ploidy between diploid (2n) to triploid (3n) level. This indicates that triploid females produce aneuploid eggs with unbalanced chromosome numbers.
The second article describes inheritance of red eyes in koi. Red eyes is a trait typical for albino fish or other animals. However, data presented in this article shows that trait "red eyes" in koi is under control by not albino but by another demelanization mutation. In experimental progenies red-eyed fish with black (melanin) pigmentation on body were identified. Also, crossing of red-eyed koi with wild-type colored common carp resulted in appearance of fish with black eyes and light body color. These studies were supported by USDA Evans Allen and State's Program of Distinction funds.
Dr. Boris Gomelsky Publishes Video On Koi Breeding
Dr. Boris Gomelsky and KSU Aquaculture graduate students spawned koi in the hatchery this Spring. Video was recorded, edited and posted onto YouTube. This video demonstrates the process of koi artificial breeding and includes stripping of eggs and sperm from koi broodstock, and artificial fertilization of eggs. In order to remove adhesiveness, after fertilization eggs are placed in McDonald incubation jars where they are vigorously moved in water/milk suspension by air bubbles for 50-60 minutes. Then air flow is substituted with water flow for further incubation of eggs.
Video edited by Charles Weibel
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Scale-Transparency and Red-Eye Mutations in Koi
Dr. Boris Gomelsky, KSU Aquaculture Professor, describes two mutations in koi and demonstrates mutant fish from experimental progenies.
Video edited by Charles Weibel
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Growing Marine Shrimp in a Biofloc System
This video was shot during a harvest of the indoor marine shrimp production system at Kentucky State University's Aquaculture Research Center. Dr. Andrew Ray describes some of the benefits and concepts behind biofloc-based aquaculture. The video serves as an introduction to this relatively new and exciting topic which can be used to grow marine shrimp in practically any building, allowing fresh, whole, jumbo shrimp to be grown near and sold to a variety of inland markets.
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Dr. Jim Tidwell on GCTV with Bill Miller
Dr. Jim Tidwell, Chair of Kentucky State University's Division of Aquaculture and past-president of both the US Aquaculture Society and the World Aquaculture Society, discusses how to deal with dwindling fish supplies and overfishing.
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Aquaponics - An Integrated Fish and Plant Production System
Alltech-KSU Research Alliance Focus on Aquaculture Sustainability
To learn more about aquaculture & agriculture sustainability and the research alliance between Alltech and Kentucky State University, click on the link below.
Fish Genetics 
Principles of Aquaculture 
