Overcoming Barriers to Expanding Aquaculture in Texas
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi,
University Center, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Workshop Goals:
- Characterize the status of aquaculture at the state and national levels.
- Identify actions that facilitate responsible expansion in terms of policy or legislation.
- Develop a strategy for educating and training an aquaculture workforce.
- Identify priorities for research, technology, and market development.
Expected Outcome: A roadmap leading to sustainable expansion of aquaculture in Texas.
Monday January 22, 2024
8:00 Registration
8:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Ahmed Mahdy, Vice-President for Research, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Janet Donaldson, Associate Vice President for Research, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Jim Ekstrom, President, Ekstrom Aquaculture, LLC
Penny Riggs, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
8:45 Status of Texas Aquaculture
Fritz Jaenike, Executive Director, Texas Aquaculture Association
9:15 Status of U.S. Aquaculture
Sebastian Belle, Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Association
Session 1 – Opportunities
9:45 Opportunities for Offshore Aquaculture
Ken Riley, Chief, Science Branch, NOAA Fisheries
10:15 Opportunities for Shellfish Aquaculture
Chris Hollenbeck, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
10:45 Break
11:00 Aquaponics
Joe Masabni, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
11:30 Species of Interest
Todd Sink, Associate Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
12:00 Lunch
Kent Satterlee, Executive Director, Gulf Offshore Research Institute & CEO, Blue Silo Aquaculture
1:00 Development of Aquaculture Markets
Lindy Zaleski, H-E-B Seafood Procurement – Business Development Manager
1:30 Aquaculture Research and Technology Transfer
Caird Rexroad, National Program Leader for Aquaculture, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Session 2 – Challenges
2:00 Responsible Growth/Engaging NGOs/Social License
Sebastian Belle, Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Association
2:30 Meeting Regulatory Requirements for US Aquaculture
Carole Engle, Owner, Engle-Stone Aquatic$
3:00 Break (15 min)
3:15 Aquaculture Economics and Marketing Priorities
Shraddha Hegde, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
3:45 Investing in Aquaculture
Max Holtzman, Principal, Ocean14 Capital
4:15 Labor and Workforce Development
Christian Brayden, Project Manager, Maine Aquaculture Association
5:00 Texas Aquaculture Association Business Meeting (Optional)
7:00 Dinner – El Camino restaurant, 314 N Chaparral Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, catered by Water Street Oyster Bar
Brad Lomax, Owner, Water Street Oyster Bar
Tuesday January 23, 2024
Session 2 – Challenges (continued)
8:00 Barriers to expansion of Catfish/Redfish/Hybrid Striped Bass- research &
technology needs
Todd Sink (moderator), Mark Kubecka (Homegrown Seafood), Jim Ekstrom (Ekstrom Aquaculture), Shane Nicaud (Gulf States Aquaculture), Chase Holub (Holub Fish LLC), Darrell Bowers (5B Farms)
8:30 Generating State and Federal Level Support
Paul Zajicek, Executive Director, National Aquaculture Association
9:00 Water Rights/ Land Availability & Cost and Long-term Sustainability
Jim Ekstrom (Ekstrom Aquaculture)
9:30 Aquaculture Extension Panel
Todd Sink (moderator), Mario Marquez (Aquaculture Specialist, Texas Sea Grant), Michael Schwarz (Director, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center), Jimmy Avery (Extension Professor & USDA SRAC Director, Mississippi State University), Dennis McIntosh (Professor and Extension Specialist, Delaware State University)
10:30 break
Session 3 – Solutions
10:45 Seafood Processing Discussion – Any needs/limitations? Opportunities?
Penny Riggs (moderator)
11:00 Breakout Groups – Working Discussions
Attendees will form small groups centered around workshop goals.
What did we miss, what changes are needed?
What are the barriers, what are the solutions to outline in the roadmap?
12:00 Working Lunch – Summarize and Close
Breakout sessions will continue into lunch. Groups will report
2:00 Tours – Texas A&M AgriLife oyster research facility and TPWD fish hatchery or
Texas Oyster Company.
4:00 Tours Conclude
Wednesday January 24, 2024
8:00 – 3:00 Optional Farm Tours (weather permitting)– Fish Farms and PMAR Shellfish
Research Facility, Palacios, TX
Bowers & Saha redfish and Hybrid Stiped Bass farms and Palacios Marine Agriculture Research Facility.