Participants have a choice of three tours. A separate fee of $50 is required and includes transportation, admission to the tour location, and lunch. SPACE IS STRICTLY LIMITED, SO REGISTER EARLY-tours are likely to fill before the conference begins.

Register for the facility tours on the conference registration form included with the brochure, or online at: Participant Registration

Tour Option A (www.freshwaterinstitute.org)
The Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, West Virginia and the nearby USDA Aquaculture Facility

The Freshwater Institute is the premier coldwater research facility in the world, conducting research on aquaculture technology development, application and demonstration. The Institute has a successful partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service as it works to research and develop technologies to increase food-fish production, reduce costs, and add to product value and quality, while encouraging industry-wide implementation of environmentally responsible production systems. Participants visit the wet lab where research is conducted on ultra intensive, large-scale recirculating systems, with a particular focus on the needs of cold- and cool- freshwater species, centered around a fish culture module built on a one-tenth commercial scale, with an annual production capacity of 50 tons of market sized product. The tankpad supports studies for improving fish health and growth by investigating new engineering designs for better systems management and effluent treatment, optimizing water quality, and improving husbandry. Past studies have included evaluation of non-proprietary double-drain technology for circular tanks, carbon dioxide exposure, and tank velocity studies. The trip from Roanoke to Shepherdstown is approximately three hours by bus through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Tour Option B
Virginia Tech Recirculating Aquaculture Center

This recirculating aquaculture facility is one of the most technologically advanced university facilities in the world. The complex consists of a 11,066 square foot recirculating aquaculture laboratory designed to test components and optimize system management. The trip to the Virginia Tech Recirculating Aquaculture Center in Blacksburg is approximately one hour by bus each way.

Tour Option C
Mabry Mill and Chateau Morrisette Winery

This tour has been cancelled

All tours depart from the North Lobby Entrance of The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.