Facilities

The Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program is housed within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Marine Laboratory in Cedar Key, Florida, where the hub of the clam aquaculture industry is located. The Marine Lab provides a classroom for workshops and seminars, a conference room for meetings, and wet and dry laboratory space. Field personnel for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) also maintain office space in the Marine Lab, including Shellfish Environmental Assessment Section staff who manage and monitor shellfish harvesting waters in the Big Bend region, a shellfish processing plant inspector, and an agriculture law enforcement officer.

Shellfish Aquaculture Research and Education Facility

Adjacent to the FWC Marine Laboratory in Cedar Key is the Shellfish Aquaculture Research and Education Facility which serves as a field station for University of Florida (UF) extension faculty, as well as research faculty in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Funding for this facility was provided in 2002 through a special research grant awarded to the UF Agricultural Experiment Station by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. These funds were allocated to address priority needs of the shellfish and food fish aquaculture industries in Florida. The facility may also accommodate other research pertaining to shellfish aquaculture through other funding opportunities. Since the facility is conveniently located just 60 miles west of UF’s main campus in Gainesville, it is anticipated that faculty and graduate students will use the new facility as a remote field station while maintaining office space on campus.

The 1,400 square foot “pole-barn” structure sits atop of a pile-supported dock over a saltwater tidal creek. Located on county property, the Levy County Board of County Commissioners provides support for this facility through a lease agreement with the University. An excellent source of sea water is available from a deep water channel through a delivery system consisting of submersible pumps and dual intake lines. The design of the facility emphasizes versatility so as to address multiple needs. Water filtration components, plumbing and fiberglass tanks of several sizes are installed to allow for the greatest amount of flexibility to accommodate various projects. Completed in 2003, research efforts presently underway include evaluation of genetic diversity in clam strains and development of alternative molluscan shellfish species for culture. The facility also supports educational and demonstration efforts. For example, a "shore-based" demonstration of clam farming promotes understanding of the industry by school, 4-H and other groups.

Best Management Practices Exhibit

On-farm use of best management practices (BMPs) for marine bivalve facilities, such as hatcheries and nurseries, are displayed and demonstrated at the Shellfish Aquaculture Research and Education Facility. Thirteen colorful educational signs provide information on site selection, placement of pipes, discharge, erosion control, wetlands protection, seed shipment, health management, genetics protection, record keeping and compliance. Designed and installed by the DACS Division of Aquaculture, the permanent exhibit, funded through a grant under the Clean Water Act as administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, provides a continuous and “hands-on” source of information for clam farmers to learn about BMPS to achieve the State of Florida’s environmental management goals for commercial aquaculture.

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