Leslie Sturmer

Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture

Florida Sea Grant Extension
Cedar Key Marine Field Office
PO Box 89, Cedar Key, FL 32625
(352) 543-5057
(352) 543-6958 fax
LNST@ufl.edu
UF/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension

Responsibilities

Provides extension support concerning aquaculture to the molluscan shellfish industry sectors in Florida. Audience groups include marine shellfish culturists, commercial shellfishers, state/federal marine resource regulators, shellfish dealers, and interested general public. Conducts applied research projects in all phases of production management including genetic improvement, management strategies, and evaluation of alternative molluscan shellfish species for culture. Species include hard clams, oysters, and potential aquaculture species, such as ark and sunray venus clams.

Specialties

• Production aquaculture
• Molluscan shellfisheries and restoration
• Rural economic development
• Water quality

Outreach

Provides educational programs for shellfish farmers high lighting growout production technology, seed production, product quality, water quality, health monitoring, species diversification, and organizational development; programs for new growers foster economic development in rural coastal communities; programs in water quality include a broad range as it relates to molluscan shellfish, such as monitoring, restoration, and citizen stewardship.

Education

• MS, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Auburn University
• BS, Zoology and Fisheries, North Carolina State University