11:00 am – 4:00 pm
REGISTRATION (Grand Ballroom Foyer)

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm   
TRADE SHOW OPENING (Grand Ballroom)

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Bivalve Shellfish (Pearl Ballroom)
1:00 pm Grower Panel – Good Neighbor Strategies to Avoid User Conflicts   Growers relating their experience with good neighbor strategies – one of the key elements of the industry’s best management practices document. MRR 2008-10_BMP for VA culture industry

Panelists: Patrick Oliver, Rappahannock Oyster Co.; Chris Ludford, Pleasure House Oysters; Chris Buck, Ruby Salts Oyster Co.  

2:00 pm Ask a Regulator – Open forum with your agency staff.   VDH Shellfish Safety:  Danielle Schools, Plant Program Manager; Adam Wood, Growing Area Manager.  VMRC:  Andrew Button, Head of Conservation and Replenishment; Ben Stagg, Director Shellfish Aquaculture Leasing and Mapping

Finfish (Grand Ballroom III & IV)

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Research and Extension Updates

VT-VSAREC

• Michael Schwarz – New facilities, programs, & IALR update
• Jonathan van Senten – Economics, marketing, and regulations
• Reza Ovissipour – Sustainable Food Production Systems

VT – Blacksburg

• David Kuhn – Aquaculture Production Innovations and Post-Harvest Quality

 VSU

• Chris Mullins – Aquaponics
• Brian Nerrie – Pond Aquaculture
• Martin Crosby – Fish Health

2:00 pm VDGIF Aquaculture Program Updates – Brendan Delbos, State Aquaculture Coordinator, VDGIF

2:15 pm Aquaculture Round Table (Producers and Associations)

Moderated by Brian Nerrie, Extension Specialist, Virginia State University

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
NETWORKING AND TRADE SHOW BREAK
(refreshments provided)

3:00 pm- 4:00 pm
BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Bivalve Shellfish (Pearl Ballroom)
Rapid Fire Student Research – Part 1
Graduate student research supported by Virginia Sea Grant. The presentations will be short and targeted to what’s most relevant for shellfish growers. Moderated by Abigail Hils, Virginia Sea Grant.

• Do larval conditions in the hatchery impact field performance of juvenile oysters? (Annie Schatz)
• Hard Clam Genetic Structure and Tool Development for Industry (Ann Ropp)
• The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecast System: real-time information for the aquaculture industry (Fei Da)
• Social, regulatory, and spatial constraints in VA’s oyster aquaculture expansion (Jennifer Beckensteiner)

Finfish (Grand Ballroom III & IV)
3:00 pm Resources for your New or Expanding Aqua-Business – Stephen Versen, Manager, Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development, VDACS

3:30 pm A Partnership Approach to Strengthening Aquatic Animal Health – Paul Zajicek, Executive Director, National Aquaculture Association

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm  Shellfish Growers of Virginia (SGV) (Grand Ballroom III & IV)

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER – Jim Perdue, Chairman and Advertising Spokesman of Perdue Farms .  Moderated By Tony Banks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
(Pearl Ballroom)

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
AQUACULTURE RECEPTION  (Grand Ballroom)
(provided)  Featuring a taste of Virginia’s finest farm-raised seafood products. Enjoy preparations of local clams, mountain trout, tilapia, and catfish. The reception will also feature a  ‘merroir to terroir’ experience thanks to our Virginia Oyster Trail partners! This “water to land” palate experience showcases member pairings of fresh, farmed oysters with Virginia wine and beer companions. Sample “York River Oysters” paired with Alewerks‘ exclusive batch of “York River Oyster Stout” and Rappahannock Oyster Company‘s “Olde Salt” oysters paired with Saude’ Creek Vineyards signature “Pearl” vintage.  Featuring special guest, Deborah Pratt, Virginia’s National Oyster Shucking Champion.

Additional menu items will be available. Guest tickets are available for purchase.