Source(s):
Brian Scully scully@ifas.ufl.edu, (772) 468-3922 ext. 112
LeRoy Creswell lcreswell@ifas.ufl.edu, (772) 462-1660
Ferdinand Wirth ffwirth@ifas.ufl.edu, (772) 468-3922 ext. 111

FORT PIERCE, Fla.—To celebrate the first harvest of shrimp at the University of Florida’s new Aquaculture Demonstration Project in Fort Pierce, researchers and industry officials will gather at St. Lucie County extension offices Monday (Nov. 15) at 2 p.m. for an open house event and shrimp boil.

The shrimp farming demonstration project, conducted by research and extension faculty at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, was spearheaded by Frank “Sonny” Williamson, a longtime Okeechobee County citrus grower and cattleman.

He said work on the project began five years ago with the organization of an aquaculture subcommittee at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce. Williamson, who serves as chair of the committee, said growers in the area are looking for ways to diversify their farming operations, and studies show that shrimp farming has the greatest potential to be a successful alternative crop.

“We’ve looked at many different options for growers in the Indian River area, and shrimp aquaculture is one of the most promising,” Williamson said. “We know we can raise high quality shrimp, but we need to determine if the cost of production is efficient and how much consumers are willing to pay for farm-raised shrimp.”

Williamson and about 150 local officials and aquaculture industry representatives are expected to attend the open house and shrimp boil celebration.

Brian Scully, professor and director of the Fort Pierce research and education center, which oversees the project, will welcome participants to the event. Joe Joyce, executive associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources, will speak on behalf of UF/IFAS. Sherman Wilhelm, director of aquaculture for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will discuss the project’s importance to the state’s growing aquaculture industry. Ann Bolduc will represent State Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, whose support led to project funding.

Other speakers include Ferdinand Wirth, an assistant professor of agribusiness marketing at the Fort Pierce center and leader of the shrimp aquaculture project. He said the Florida agriculture department provided nearly $250,000 to start construction of the project in 2002. UF/IFAS provided additional funding for the project, which is the first publicly owned food-species aquaculture research and extension facility south of Gainesville.

LeRoy Creswell, a UF/IFAS multi-county extension agent based in St. Lucie County who assists Wirth, will speak about his outreach role to help farmers learn about aquaculture. A past president of the World Aquaculture Society, Creswell’s experience spans 20 years as an international marine biologist, and he is well known in the industry for his work with aquaculture farmers in the Caribbean region.

“Growers interested in producing aquaculture products may contact me directly for assistance in site and crop selection,” Creswell said. “I will be available to help meet their startup, and long-term production and marketing needs.”

Durwood Dugger, an internationally recognized aquaculture specialist, will speak about the planning, design, construction and production stages of the project. He said the shrimp harvests from the project’s four grow-out ponds should produce an “outstanding yield and quality product.”

Scully said the Aquaculture Demonstration Project will include research on other commodities that could be grown in South Florida, utilizing the region’s abundant water resources.

“During our first year of year of research, we’ve had good production with very little loss,” Scully said. “Now, we want to try other commodities such as cobia and other finfish. With the data collected from farming shrimp — and with the additional product research findings — we can provide solid recommendations for the growers in the region who may be considering aquaculture products as alternative crops.”

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