AES Issues Forum
July 23-24, 2008 - Roanoke, Virginia

The AES Issues Forum occurs immediately before the Recirculating Aquaculture conference and is also held at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. Gregory Boardman (AES President) and George Flick are hosting this "Members Only" Issues Forum. The forum is designed specifically for AES members to gather and discuss advances and current issues in the field of aquacultural engineering. The 1.5 day forum focuses on two special topics: (1) Production of New Species, and (2) Design, Loading, and Water Quality in Recirculating Systems for Salmonids. The sessions consist of a mix of invited and contributed presentations.

Check-in registration begins at 11:00 a.m. on July 23. The sessions conclude at 5:30 p.m. on both days. A reception and dinner will be held after the first half-day session on July 23. Continuous refreshments are provided throughout the program and lunch is served on the second day. Registration also includes a CD of the forum proceedings. Selected papers from the Issues Forum will be published in a special issue of Aquacultural Engineering. Visit the web site for abstract submission guidelines. Abstracts are due by February 29. Papers not accepted for the forum will automatically be considered for the Recirculating Aquaculture conference.

Registrations received before June 16 will be $265 and can be submitted on-line or by using the form in the brochure. Those who are not members of AES can participate in the forum by simply joining AES and paying the $25 AES membership fee (also on the registration form). Please contact Greg Boardman by phone at (540) 231-1376, or e-mail: gboard@vt.edu for more information about the 2008 AES Issues Forum.

See the Online registration form

Download a PDF of the agenda: AES_Agenda.pdf

Special Session (half day): Production of New Species (Greg Boardman and George Flick)

The focus of this session is on the production of emerging species of finfish. The session includes both invited and submitted abstract presentations. Aquaculture researchers will share their experiences in culturing species that appear to show promise for culture in recirculating systems. Session authors should plan on addressing the challenges faced in culturing the species, special requirements (such as feeds, water quality, and system configuration) of the species and future research areas.

Special Session (one day): Design, Loading, and Water Quality in Recirculating Systems for Salmonids (Steve Summerfelt and Asbjorn Bergheim)

Session organizers are inviting presentations on case studies and research that describe the interaction between recirculating system design, loading, and water quality in salmonid production systems. Presentations should also include details on water use (e.g., kg feed per m3 makeup), system exchange rate (e.g., % system volume flushed daily), culture tank exchange rate (e.g., hydraulic retention time), system production (tons per yr), unit process treatment efficiency (e.g., waste removed each pass through the unit), system waste capture efficiency, fish performance, and energy consumption (e.g., KW per kg produced). Presentations that discuss the important interaction between salmonid welfare and water quality in recirculating systems will also be considered.

Other Learning Opportunities

Water Reuse for Intensive Aquaculture
July 28 - August 1, 2008
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute offers this short course in Shepherdstown, WV, USA. The four-and-a-half day course covers the fundamentals and details of design and management of water reuse systems. Course lectures are held at the National Conservation Training Center. Laboratory activities are held at the Freshwater Institute's state-of-the-art fish culture research facility, which produces some 35 tons of fish per year using system design and management concepts covered in the course.

Tuition is $750, and enrollment is limited. The deadline for enrollment is June 6. For a course brochure and registration form, please contact Margarita Carey, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV at (304) 876-7924, or mcarey@conservationfund.org, or visit the web site: http://www.conservationfund.org/node/665

14th Annual Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course
July 28-31, 2008
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

This course provides thorough coverage of the design, operation, and management of water reuse systems for finfish, with limited coverage of indoor shrimp production. Professors Michael B. Timmons of Cornell University and James E. Ebeling of Aquaculture Systems Management (Baton Rouge, LA) teach the course. At the conclusion, participants should be able to design their own water reuse systems and have a fundamental knowledge of the principles influencing design decisions. The following topics are covered:

• Overview of recirculation systems engineering
• Water quality monitoring and measurement
• Economics and risk evaluation
• Engineering design of individual unit processes
• System management
• Fish health management
• Indoor shrimp and heterotrophic system

The fee for the hands-on course is $750 and covers the textbook, lunches, and a banquet. Pre-registration and a $250 deposit by June 30 is required.

For more information, contact: Michael B. Timmons, Mbt3@cornell.edu, or (607) 255-1630 or James Ebeling, james@beadfilters.com, or (800) 939-3659, or visit the web site: http://www.bee.cornell.edu/outreach/aquaculture

Midwest Aquaculture Conference
September 18-20, 2008
Milwaukee, MI

The U.S. Trout Farmers Association invite you to the Midwest Aquaculture Conference at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 18-20, 2008.

Room rates: $109 single/double (ask for Trout Farmers group rate)
Hilton : 414-271-7250 or www.hiltonmilwaukee.com

12 minutes from General Mitchell International Airport; covered parking; indoor waterpark; spa; fitness center; restaurants, pubs, and much more!

Registration Fee:

Entire conference: $130 (includes meals), after 8/31 - $170
One day: $70 (does not include banquet)
Banquet: $45

The US Trout Farmers Association have an exciting meeting planned with a trade show and producer sessions of interest to all fish farmers (not just trout farmers). The show will run immediately after the American Zoological Society tradeshow and conference so you could do both and save time in money and travel. We expect between 300-400 fish farmers from around the nation, with most coming from the Midwest. Topics of discussion from local, regional and national speakers will include:

• VHS Summit
• Water Quality and Recirculating facilities requirements
• Emerging and alternative species
• Alternatives to fish meal as a feed ingredient in fish feeds
• Current Status of Salmonid diets (Research and Industry)
• Fish health management
• Follow-up to the USDA ARS/CSREES Stakeholders workshop. Review of the outcomes of the KC meeting and present plans for 5 year projects.
• General information exchange ("on the farm fish tales")
• Aquaculture library: aquaculture reference books, industry catalogs, directories, conference proceedings, and journal articles, etc.
• And much, much more..... this is an event like no other ever planned for fish farmers in the Midwest!

It is appropriate that the Midwest Aquaculture Conference is meeting in the attractive port city of Milwaukee, which translates to "gathering place by the waters". Although the city's commercial fisheries have been replaced in part by light industry, sport fishing remains a prime recreational pastime of the local populace and visitors alike. The annual Milwaukee Sport Fishing Classic tournament produces catches of Chinook salmon weighing up to 20 pounds; and lake, brown, and rainbow trout up to 15 pounds - evidence of Lake Michigan's dramatically revitalized salmonid population.