Franklin County Farmers Market Cooking Demonstration By Angela Caporelli
Let our chefs teach you about cooking simple, healthful meals with seasonal ingredients from the farmers market! Once each month, the Franklin County Farmers Market welcomes local chefs for a morning of cooking, sampling and chatting about your favorite foods.
On October 6, Angela Caporelli, of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, will offer food samples and demonstrate how to cook fall farmers-market favorites, including a dish with Dan Moreland Farms fresh-water prawns. Angela's interest in aquaculture began in the Peace Corps in Zaire. Since then, she's worked in all areas of aquaculture, from commercial diving to assisting fishing families. Today, she is the president of the US Aquaculture Society and is the Aquaculture Marketing Specialist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Saturday, October 6, 2018 (9am - 12pm)
Riverview Park
404 Wilkinson Blvd., Frankfort KY
40601
October 6: Angela Caporelli of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
November 3: Tanya Whitehouse of the University of Kentucky's The Food Connection
Presentations from the Indoor Shrimp Farming Workshop held on September 14-15, 2018 for Download
Below are pdf. presentations from the September Indoor Shrimp Farming Workshop held at Kentucky State University. These presentations are available for download. Audio versions of the presentations will be available on our YouTube channel in the future.
Josh Dusci Conducts Trials Using Prawns in Aquaponic Systems
Josh Dusci is implementing Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) as a biological solids control in an aquaponics system. They will be placed in the plant troughs, "downstream", from Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). As the Tilapia are fed they produce solids waste which if not removed via mechanical/physical removal can cause an array of problems within the system. This research will be studying the impacts of prawns on solids reduction within the aquaponic systems.
Future Koi Farmer Visits the Aquaculture Research Center
Chris Ward from Denver, Colorado visited the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University. Chris's dream is to establish private farm to produce and raise koi for local hobbyists. Chris has Master's degree in paleontology but now he is more interested in aquaculture and fisheries. During his visit, Dr. Boris Gomelsky thoroughly described all necessary steps of koi spawning and raising that is take place at KSU's Aquaculture Research Center. Also, Dr. Robert Durborow and Richard Bryant shared useful information with Chris on opening a private aquaculture farm and the experience of working at a koi commercial farm, respectively.
2018 International Indoor Shrimp Farming Workshop at Kentucky State University
KSU's Aquaculture Research Center hosted the 2018 International Indoor Shrimp Farming Workshop at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm. The workshop was a great success with 216 participants attending the event. Some participants traveled very long distances to attend the workshop including locations like Germany, Canada, Slovakia, and Mexico. The United States was also well represented with people attending from 28 states, including Hawaii and California. There were 27 participants from Kentucky that attended the workshop. Most participants were from the shrimp aquaculture industry.
Presenters included government officials, industry leaders, and academic scholars. A mixture of
presentations, tours, and engaging discussions helped to bring to light some of the most important topics facing this rapidly growing industry.
Team Ray and other faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture, Communities and the Environment worked hard the make the two-day event a success.
Dr. Andrew Ray and Mr. Leo Fleckenstein Help Co-Author Publication
This paper examined two methods of stunning in three model crustaceans. Stunning is used to reduce sensory perception prior to euthanizing animals. This is especially important in places such as Europe where some markets require that animals are electrocuted prior to slaughter to prevent pain in the animal. However, this paper found that electrocution only paralyzed the three species (blue crab, red swamp crayfish, and Pacific white shrimp); the heart rate was decreased temporarily, then increased but was irregular. Immersion in an ice slurry below 4 degrees C resulted in sedation within seconds for shrimp and crayfish, but not crabs. The ice slurry stopped the shrimp heart the quickest, indicating that an ice slurry may be the most humane method of stunning these animals.
Brandylyn Thomas Starts Her Thesis Research Project
Brandylyn Thomas master's thesis research project is an investigation of genetic variability in Nile tilapia using microsatellite DNA markers. Yesterday fin clips from YY tilapia males obtained from Fishgen Ltd. in Wales, United Kingdom were taken and preserved in alcohol for further analysis. Totally, the genetic variability of fish from nine different groups will be analyzed in the frame of this thesis project. Brandylyn's Major Professor is Dr. Boris Gomelsky and also has Dr. Noel Novelo, and Alex Kramer to help her with this research project.
Professional Mentorship Program High School Student Works with Genetics Team at the Aquaculture Research Center
Kaleb Thomas is part of the Frankfort High School Professional Mentorship Program in which senior high school students engage in a 14 week placement, exploring potential career pathways. Kaleb shadows Dr. Gomelsky's graduate students: Brandylyn Thomas and Alex Kramer. He is provided hands-on experience on feeding fish, husbandry of recirculating systems, and activities such as collecting fin clips samples and preserving them in alcohol for genetic analysis, and measuring weight and total length of the fish sampled. KSU provides mentorship, and experiential learning to Kaleb. Kaleb is the fifth high school senior to work in Reproduction and Genetics Laboratory at Kentucky State University's Aquaculture Research Center.
Dr. Boris Gomelsky Presents at the "AQUA 2018" International Conference on Aquaculture
Dr. Boris Gomelsky, Professor and Principal Investigator at the KSU Aquaculture Program, attended an International Conference on Aquaculture "AQUA 2018" which was held in Montpellier, France. This conference took place in Montpellier's Palace of Congresses "Le Corum" and gathered 2,500 attendees from 60 countries.
Dr. Gomelsky has gave two oral presentations at the session "Sex Determinism and Control". In the first talk, Dr. Gomelsky presented results of comparative raising of tilapia crosses obtained using YY males and normal XX females of different origin; this study was performed in frame of the USDA Capacity Building Grant to KSU. In his second, invited presentation titled, "Sex Control in Common Carp: Theoretical and Practical Aspects." Dr. Gomelsky summarized known information on sex control in this species, which is an important aquaculture fish in many countries in Europe and Asia.
In 1953, not long before President Dwight Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in office, the social scientist Leland Allbaugh published “Crete: A Case Study of an Underdeveloped Area.” The landmark analysis of the eating patterns of an isolated Greek population strongly suggested that a calorie-limited diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil and low in animal protein, particularly red meat, could lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes, decrease chronic disease and extend life.
Medical research over the last half-century has largely borne out this initial finding. Weight-loss fads and eating trends come and go, but the so-called Mediterranean diet has stood fast. “Among all diets,” Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health concluded in an email, “the traditional Mediterranean diet is most strongly supported for delivering long term health and wellbeing.”
Kentucky State University's Aquaculture Research Center hosted an Introduction to Aquaponics Workshop on Friday, July 20, 2018. Over fifty participants loaded into the provided transportation and started the morning off with a tour of Bluegrass Aquaponics located in Midway, Kentucky. After the tour, they returned to KSU's Aquaculture Research Center where Tilapia and lettuce grown at Bluegrass Aquaponics and KSU's ARC were served for lunch. Information on taste, quality, and overall opinion of aquaponic products were collected to help provide consumer feedback to producers.
Kentucky State University's Aquaculture Research Center conducted a "Build Your Own
Aquaponics System Workshop," on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Participants had the opportunity to learn the basics of system design, how to build their own systems, and acquired the tools to maintain their own backyard aquaponic system.
Many of the items used for their systems are affordable and can be easily acquired. The Intermediate Bulk Containers or IBCs are lightweight, durable, corrosion resistant and can be purchased at most farm stores. The bottom portion of the IBC's were cut off and used to hold the grow media for plants and the top portion will be utilized to rear fish in the aquaponic system.
At the end of the day, participants got to take their systems home. Staff at the Aquaculture Research Center will be checking in on the success of the participants and how well they did with their backyard aquaponic systems.
Team Ray Publishes Two Part Series in the Journal of Aquaculture Engineering
Tom Tierney and Leo Fleckenstein published a two part series in the Journal of Aquacultual Engineering. Both papers looked at the effect of various RAS filtration systems on water quality and animal production metrics. Tom's paper examined those effects on shrimp and included a survey of stable isotope dynamics among the animals, while Leo's paper examined the impacts of the filtration techniques on juvenile tilapia. Both papers explore ways that farmers can produce fresh seafood year-round without much water use, thereby helping to facilitate sustainable food production.
Thomas Delomas Earns his Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resources and Position as Fisheries Research Geneticist
Recently, Thomas Delomas, former KSU Master's Aquaculture student, was hired as a Fisheries Research Geneticist at the Eagle Fish Genetics Lab of Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Boise, Idaho).
Thomas earned his Master's Degree in Aquaculture in 2015 and earned his Ph.D. in Environment and Natural Resources from Ohio State University in 2018.
At his new position, Thomas will perform studies on genetics and bioinformatics in frame of projects supported by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). Additional information on Thomas's new position can be found at:
'The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018' is the title of a report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which found that "... global fish production will continue to expand over the next decade even though the amount of fish being captured in the wild has leveled off and aquaculture's previously explosive growth is now slowing ... [The] report projects that by 2030 combined production from capture fisheries and aquaculture will grow to 201 million tonnes ... That's an 18 percent increase over the current production level of 171 million tonnes ... In 2016, production from aquaculture reached 80 million tonnes, ... providing 53 percent of all fish consumed by humans as food ... Some 59.9 percent of the major commercial fish species that FAO monitors are now being fished at biologically sustainable levels, while 33.1 percent are being fished at biologically unsustainable levels ... The other 7 percent are underfished ..."
The title of the July 9, 2018 FAO News Article is "Is the planet approaching "peak fish"? Not so fast, study says; Significant production increases foreseen over coming decade - Sector faces major challenges"
July 9, 2018 FAO News Article
Web site: The July 9, 2018 FAO News Article is posted at
Alexander Kramer's research thesis project is on the evaluation of the reproductive ability of triploid koi x goldfish hybrids. This year the reproduction of triploid females having two haploid genomes of goldfish and one haploid genome of koi was investigated.
During spawning, these triploid females were crossed with males of koi and goldfish. Obtained larvae were stocked for raising in outdoor round tanks.
In three to four months the ploidy of juveniles from these progenies will be determined by flow cytometric analysis of DNA content in the erythrocytes. Based on these data, some conclusion on ploidy of eggs produced by triploid females will be made.
The Aquaculture Production Sciences Team helped harvest fish at Versailles Montessori School (VMS). As part of the teaching component of an 1890 Capacity Building Grant, Dr. Ray's team has been working with VMS to construct and utilize a high tunnel greenhouse with two recirculating aquaculture systems and two large plant beds in it to facilitate hands-on STEM learning activities.
This semester the elementary school students grew largemouth bass. Parents and students from the school helped fillet the fish, and a large fish-fry was held to help raise awareness about the project.
Amit Sharma is currently working on his thesis research titled "Evaluation of Spawning
Aids for Induced Spawning of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)". In this study
he is comparing GnRHIIa with HCG and GnRHIIa+Domperidone combination in induced
ovulation and spermiation of female and male largemouth bass respectively. He is
studying ovulation related parameters in female largemouth bass and investigating effects of different hormone injection in sperm quality (sperm density and sperm motility) of male largemouth bass.
It is part of a project with the Southern
Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) titled "Improved Reproduction in Foodfish (Catfish
and Largemouth bass), Baitfish, and Ornamentals using a New Spawning Aid (GnRH
IIa)".The project involves collaborative work of four institutions on studying efficacy,
reliability and safety of GnRH IIa in various species.
The work at Kentucky State
University features evaluation of this spawning aid for induced spawning of Largemouth
Bass. The safety and performance information from the study will help forming FDA
compliant trials for approval of an INAD (Investigational New Animal Drug).
Kasondra Miller is continuing to conduct her thesis research on the dietary phosphorus requirement of Largemouth bass fed plant based diets. Plant based diets result in antinutritional factors. Phytic acid; found in corn, wheat, and soybeans; impacts the digestion and absorption of phosphorus. The aim of adding additional phosphorus in plant based diets is to supplement to account for the unavailable phosphorus bound up in the phytic acid.
Kasondra and her colleagues in the nutrition department harvested and processed the Largemouth bass for plasma, molecular analysis, organ indices, proximate analysis, and carcass mineral composition.
2018 Outstanding Graduate Student Award Goes to Gagan Devaiah Kolimadu
The 2018 Division of Aquaculture Outstanding Graduate Student Award was given to
Gagan Devaiah Kolimadu for his leadership and academic excellence while working as a
graduate student at the Kentucky State University Aquaculture Research Center. Gagan
works under the supervision of his Major Professor Waldemar Rossi.
Spring Spawning Continues at the Aquaculture Research Center
Spring at the Aquaculture Research Center is one of the busiest times of the year.
Faculty, staff and students work long days that sometimes extend into the late
hours of the evening.
Last week Dr. Gomelsky and Dr. Semmens spawned Largemouth bass with
students enrolled in the AQU 528 Fish Reproduction & Spawning Techniques class/lab. Students gain plenty of hands on experience during spawning season and throughout the year at the ARC. They administered hormonal injections for spawning, stripped gametes and fertilized eggs from various species. Offspring will be used for future research at the Aquaculture Research Center at Kentucky State University.
Aquaculture Graduate Students in the AQU 527/528 Fish Reproduction and Spawning
Techniques class and Lab will be spawning fish for the next few weeks. This week they have
been working with Paddlefish. Students used gill nets to capture fish at the Aquaculture
Research Center, moved them to the Aquaculture Hatchery and injected the fish with
hormones to speed up the reproduction process. This hands on work is part of the students
class. Two females, three males were chosen to spawn.
Students handle the fish and make direct observations that complement printed materials,
videos, and other class materials. The class is taught jointly by Dr. Gomelsky and Dr.
Semmens. Dr. Steve Mims, who taught at the Aquaculture Research Center before retiring,
also assisted with spawning this week.
KSU is known for our work with paddlefish so it is a bit of a tradition as well. The students
certainly enjoy it and are not likely to get this experience at other locations.
The hatchery lab course covers induced spawning of paddlefish, largemouth bass, koi, and koi
x goldfish hybrids. Dr Gomelsky covers tilapia and there are field trips – for example, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources Peter W. Pfeffer Fish Hatchery to observe spawning of sauger.
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 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.
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:
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.
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 
