FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To be archived (Ag. & Natural Resources) after February 1, 2008
West Virginia University’s annual Aquaculture Forum will spawn new interests in January 2008 when it moves to Charleston and offers a pre-conference field trip to nearby West Virginia Aqua, the state’s largest private aquaculture facility.
Considered the place to be for anyone who wants to grow fish “to eat, to watch or to sell,” the forum will open its full schedule of workshops and presentations Saturday, Jan., 19, at the Ramada Plaza in Charleston.
The day before, however, participants may take a different type of fishing trip that will mark another first for the forum.
On Friday, Jan. 18, preregistered participants will travel to West Virginia Aqua in Man (Logan County) to see the production and processing facilities that provide freshwater Artic Char to consumers in West Virginia and throughout the East Coast.
On Saturday in Charleston, participants will learn about recent advances in aquaculture research, fish health and regulations. Pond owners will find information about managing ponds and aquaponics.
In previous years, the forum has been held at WVU Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp, near Weston. The popular event, drawing participants from West Virginia and surrounding states, always showcases West Virginia aquaculture products.
Other attractions include the business meeting of the West Virginia Aquaculture Association and opportunities to speak with “fish folks” from the region, according to Ken Semmens, the WVU Extension aquaculture specialist who coordinates the forum.
Forum sponsors are the WVU Extension Service; WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences; West Virginia Aquaculture Association, West Virginia Department of Agriculture; and West Virginia State University,
The early registration fee is $15 before Jan. 12. After that date, the registration will be $25 and can be paid by mail or at the forum on Jan. 19.
Reservations must be made by Jan.12 for the West Virginia Aqua field trip. The excursion has an additional $10 fee.
More details about the forum, registration and lodging are available at county WVU Extension Service offices and on the Web (www.wvu.edu/~agexten/aquaculture/).
Information is also available from Becky Casteel, WVU Extension Service, by phone (304-293-6131, ext. 4231) and e-mail (Becky.Casteel@mail.wvu.edu).
—WVU-ES—
Ann Bailey Berry (Ann.Berry@mail.wvu.edu)
WVU Extension Communications
Office: (304) 293-5691 x 3416
fsm 12/21/07
Last modified
January 4, 2008
Comments to: Extension Service Web
