May 29, 2008

USDA opens new aquaculture research centre
  
 

USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has opened its new National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Centre (NCWMAC).

The Centre's research is focused on developing technologies to improve sustainability and profitability of cold-water marine aquaculture and to ensure safe and abundant seafood for US consumers and will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Maine's Aquaculture Research Centre and the university's Centre for Cooperative Aquaculture Research.

The new ARS centre will also support national and international research programmes and aquaculture initiatives. The domestic aquaculture industry is growing in importance due to the annual US seafood trade deficit of more than US$9 billion.

Commercial seafood producers in Maine and other northeast states are expanding their efforts to meet the growing consumer demand for high quality seafood, said ARS administrator Edward Knipling.

NCWMAC's research will support the seafood producers and industry in developing cost-effective and sustainable practises to meet the demand, he added.