Sturgeon aquaculture. (Photo: Mote Marine Laboratory)

Aquaculture research laboratory receives substantial grant

The U.S. Commerce Department has provided the Mote Marine Laboratory with a grant worth USD 2 million. The funding will be used to construct a new facility at the Mote Aquaculture Research Park in Sarasota, Florida, which will allow for further research on farmed fish.

The Mote Marine Laboratory was founded in 1955 as an independent nonprofit organisation, it is currently one of the global leaders in marine science with several centres in a 10.5 acre campus, each focusing on its own specialty. Also included in the area is a public aquarium, which serves nearly 400,000 visitors a year.

Mote claim that construction of the new research building will begin within the next six months, which is likely to create up to 40 new jobs.

The facility will further their development of new, cost-effective systems to grow marine and freshwater fish whilst using environmentally sound practices.

However, the CEO of Mote, Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, believes that further investments need to be made in the aquaculture industry, as it would help the United States to enhance its seafood exports, reports cfnews13.

The aquaculture industry currently generates USD 70 billion each year, however according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in America it has the potential to triple in size by the year 2025.

Mote Marine Laboratory currently produces and sells snook, sturgeon, red fish, pompano and caviar, harvesting a total of 120 tonnes of sturgeon for meat and caviar production.

Their scientific research includes studies on sharks and rays, marine mammals and sea turtles, coral reefs, eco-toxicology, including red tides, coastal ecology, fisheries restocking programs and aquaculture research and development.

By Brian Loubet Jambert
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Address:	1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
City:	Sarasota
State/ZIP:	Florida (FL 34236 )
Country:	United States
Phone:	+1 941 388 4441
Fax:	+1 941 388 4007
E-Mail:	[email protected]
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