Welcome to the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Aquaculture/Fisheries - "Center of Excellence"

About Our Center

Welcome to the Aquaculture/Fisheries

(AQFI) Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The Center of Excellence was created in 1988 to combine resident instruction, research, and extension responsibilities into one comprehensive unit. Our faculty, staff and students work together, across disciplines and functions to offer research-based scientific solutions to make a difference in Arkansas and throughout the U.S.

The AQFI Center of Excellence at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is recognized as a leader in aquaculture/fisheries teaching, research and extension programs. It is the only comprehensive aquaculture program within the University of Arkansas System to support the state's $167 million aquaculture industry. This industry has an economic impact of over $1.2 billion in the Delta region of Arkansas. We have a growing natural fisheries component that provides scientific support to the recreational fishing industry that has an economic impact of over $440 million/yr in Arkansas.

The Center currently has a total of 47 faculty and staff including 17 Ph.D. scientists, 15 M.S., 10 B.S. degree staff and secretarial and maintenance personnel. The aquaculture industry in Arkansas and natural resource agencies support the UAPB program with direct financial support, in-kind contributions and through participation in the National Fisheries Advisory Council to the program. The Advisory Council provides overall guidance in terms of research priorities.

Teaching

We teach classes for undergraduate students majoring in Fisheries Biology (B.S.) and graduate students working on an M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries. Our emphasis is on hands-on, innovative teaching methods designed to prepare students for exciting careers in aquaculture and natural resources-related fields.

Research

We have a wide-ranging research program in aquaculture and natural fisheries conducted by faculty engaged with aquaculture and natural resource stakeholders to solve real-world problems. Our research involves field work in earthen ponds, both small experimental and large commercial rivers, and lakes. Samples are brought back to the laboratories for water quality, fish identification, food habitat, age, growth and other analysis. Nutrition and fish health studies are done in aquaria and tanks that are kept indoors. Data are analyzed on computers with sophisticated modeling software and analytical procedures.

Extension

We provide comprehensive extension programs and services to Arkansas and other states to transfer newly-developed techniques and research information into real-world practice. These include diagnostics services to identify fish diseases and water quality problems and, more importantly, to recommend treatments. We organize educational meetings, farm demonstrations, and field days. We also publish fact sheets on important issues and respond as quickly as we can to calls for assistance from county agents, fish farmers, farm pond owners, and natural resource managers.

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