2020-21 Success Story covering period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences, School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Casework and Inspections, and Establishing and Developing the Aquaculture Extension Team

Submitted by Robert Durborow, Ph.D., Associate Research Director; John Kelso, Extension & Research Assistant; Tifani Watson, Graduate Research Assistant; and Tyler McKay, Graduate Research Assistant

Situation

Aquaculturists must maintain the health of their fish and the quality of their water in order to make a profit. There is a need for a fish disease diagnostic laboratory, FDDL, able to diagnose for fish pathogens and water quality problems, and to recommend proper treatment. Use of the FDDL to inspect fish for specific pathogens before they can be transported or shipped out of state is also essential for enabling fish owners to sell out of state.  In addition, establishing an organized network of aquaculture Extension specialists and associates/assistants/technicians in educating those in the aquaculture industry is important.        

Response

During this impact period (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021), 25 fish disease cases and seven (7) water quality testing cases were performed at the Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences (CACS), School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FDDL). In addition, six (6) fish health inspections at the FDDL were performed. While interacting with FDDL clients, the State Extension Specialist for Aquaculture Dr. Robert Durborow (American Fisheries Society Certified Fish Pathologist, #57) and Extension & Research Assistant John Kelso were able to share Best Management Practices with them. This help from our KSU FDDL enabled our clients to adopt practices that are economically and environmentally sound as well as safer for them. Also, KSU School of Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences M.S. graduate student Tifani Watson collected FDDL data on the Lab’s effectiveness in accurately diagnosing diseases and recommending successful treatments for her thesis research. And graduate student Tyler McKay used laboratory data to build a mobile responsive clinical fish health database (with accompanying learning machine technology) for his non-thesis M.S. project.

To organize our CACS scientists to better serve the aquaculture industry, Dr. Durborow established and developed the Aquaculture Extension Team comprised of 17 CACS personnel involved, at least partially, in some capacity in aquaculture. This Team’s goals were to implement more aquaculture stakeholder workshops and in-service trainings to Extension field staff, initiate fact sheet publications, and help to revitalize the Kentucky Aquaculture Association, enabling members to work together in establishing markets for their products while serving as spokespersons for the state’s aquaculture industry.

 Results/Impact

Accurately diagnosing diseases and recommending appropriate treatments has an approximate value of $3000 per case, so these 25 cases saved the aquaculture industry in Kentucky and surrounding states approximately $75,000. Water quality samples submitted to the FDDL helped farmers and pond owners know how to treat their bodies of water to maximize fish growth and survival and prevent establishment of aquatic weeds. Using an estimated value of $2000 per water quality case, the seven cases would have a value of approximately $14,000. Additionally, the six fish health inspections (which are now routinely required for shipping live fish into many states) would ordinarily cost fish producers about $3000 each, saving Kentucky growers about $18,000. Immediate savings to Kentucky residents benefiting from these services (fish disease diagnostics, fish health inspections, and water quality testing) was approximately $107,000. Diagnostic and treatment success analysis by KSU M.S. graduate student Tifani Watson is still underway, and a M.S. thesis will be written and published based on her results. Also, FDDL data continue to be used in the development of graduate student Tyler McKay’s mobile responsive clinical fish health database.

After establishing the Aquaculture Extension Team, Dr. Durborow initiated a leadership change to Dr. Noel Novelo, chair of the Team, and to co-chairs Janelle Hager, Chelsea Walling, Forrest Wynne, and John Kelso. In addition to establishing a new KAA board of directors, the Team also implemented a new Aquaculture Seminar Series including trainings for stakeholders and Extension field professionals in bait fish production, marine shrimp farming, fish production in floating raceways, using LED lighting to increase plant production in aquaponics systems, establishing high school courses in aquaponics, teaching limited-resource beginning farmers, presenting health and nutrition benefits of eating fish, raising koi in ponds & recirculating systems, and treating plant diseases in aquaponics systems.