Animal Sciences Commons^™

Testing Raised Footlines In Virginia's Striped Bass Fishery: A Gear Based Method Of Reducing Sturgeon Interactions In Anchored Gill Nets, George Earl Trice Iv

Reports

This project was conducted over a period of 39 days using two different net configurations and fishery locations in order to test methodologies to reduce the bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon while not affecting the striped bass fishery. Nets were hung using conventional methods allowing the net to rest on the bottom of the waters. Experimental nets were hung with a 3' bottom panel with no mesh allowing bottom dwelling fishes to swim under the "floated" net mesh. Nets were hung using mesh sizes ranging from 5.5" to 8". All catch was recorded and compared to determine the effects of the …

Early Spat On Shell Setting, Rufus H. Ruark

Reports

Setting for spat on shell typically beings when water temperatures reach about 20° C. This optimal temperature is normally reached in Virginia's climate by May. Setting spat on shell is completed by September; this gives the spat just enough time to grow before the cold of winter puts them in hibernation. Hatcheries start spawning oysters as early as February. By heating the water and adding food they can successfully produce millions of larvae during the cold winter months. When the ambient water temperature rises it brings more food but in many cases poor water conditions. Unfortunately, in the heat of …

Reduction Of Crab Mortality In Seed Cages, Richard W. Harding Jr.

Reports

The purpose of this project is to find out what cage design works best to let the crabs escape and reduce m01tality. My hope is this study will help others in the aquaculture industry reduce mortality and get more yield from their seed.

Testing Scottish Seine In Virginia's Waters, Jeffrey A. Hammer

Reports

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of A Recirculating Aquaculture System For Early Larval Culture Of Crassostrea Virginica, Michael Congrove

Reports

Oyster aquaculture in Virginia is a rapidly developing industry with greater than 75 million oysters planted in 2010, this compared to just 6 million in 2005 (Murray and Hudson 2011). Necessary to support this rapid development, among other things, is a large and consistent supply of larval and seed oysters, from which oyster growers start their crops. Providing this product to the aquaculture industry are hatcheries.

Hatcheries represent the tip of the pyramid in oyster aquaculture. Only a few hatcheries with a handful of workers support a much larger industry of many growout operations collectively employing hundreds of workers. Hatcheries …