About the Conference
Oysters
Hard Clams
Freshwater Prawn
Tilapia
Mountain Trout
Hybrid Striped Bass
A Growing Conference for Virginia's Growing Aquaculture Industry
The biennial Virginia Aquaculture Conference is hosted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Marine Advisory Program (MAP) and Virginia Sea Grant. The conference provides an opportunity for the aquaculture industry to learn about current and upcoming issues, and explore new developments in aquaculture technology. Attendees receive tremendous value from the ability to network with other growers as well as researchers, agency staff, and aquaculture suppliers.
The conference program features two concurrent sessions—marine bivalve shellfish and other forms of culture including freshwater finfish and prawn, aquaponics, hydroponics and ornamentals. The goal of the programming is to provide information and resources for established and emerging culture industries.
The event Steering Committee is a team of academic, government, and industry partners.
- Tony Banks, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
- Ursula Deitch, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Brendan Delbos, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- Karen Hudson, Virginia Institute of Marine Science / Virginia Sea Grant [Chair]
- Jordan Krevonick, shellfish Growers of Virginia
- Chris Mullins, Virginia State University
- Michael Schwarz, VT Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center
With special thanks and recognition to former steering committee members:
- Mike Oesterling, VIMS and Shellfish Growers of Virginia, Founding Member
- Tom Murray, VIMS, Founding Member
- Spencer Neale, VFBF, Founding Member
- Robins Buck, VDACS, Founding Member
- Brian Nerrie, Virginia State University, Founding Member
- Butch Nottingham and Heather Wheeler, VDACS
- Mike Peirson, Cherrystone Aquafarms
- Lynn Blackwood Jr., Blackwood Farms
Photo Gallery: Virginia Aquaculture Conference
