About the Program

The workshop is dedicated to the design and operations of various types of aquaculture facilities. Over the course of 2.5 days, Harry Westers and Chris Weeks of Aquaculture Bioengineering Corporation (ABC) will lead you through the basic principles of designing and operating aquaculture facilities. You will also perform a series of calculations necessary in designing aquaculture facilities and be introduced to a computer program that will enable you to readily complete the calculations. Geoff Knobl of Virginia Tech will assist with the computer applications portion of the workshop. A copy of the computer software is included in your workshop materials.

Stay in touch with the program developments and other Aquaculture programs through our web site at: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/aquaculture.htm

Intended Audience

This workshop is recommended for fish culturists/biologists, fish producers, farmers, biologists, engineers/environmentalists, natural resource agency personnel, town/city planners, managers of aquaculture facilities, state and federal regulatory personnel, academicians (K-12 and post-secondary), and others involved or interested in aquacultural programs.

Sponsored By:

• Virginia Tech's Commercial Fish and Shellfish Technologies Program
• Department of Food Science and Technologies -College of Agriculture
• Division of Continuing Education
• Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement
• Virginia Sea Grant College Program
• American Fisheries Society-Virginia Tech Chapter
• Aquaculture Bioengineering Inc.

About the Speakers

Harry Westers, M.S., the president of Aquaculture Bio-engineering Corporation, provides consultation services for conceptual designs of intensive fish production systems. His professional experience includes 34 years with the State of Michigan, serving as Statewide Technical Hatchery Manager for 11 years and as Chief of State Hatchery Operations for eight years. Check the website for a list of his publications.

Chris Weeks, B.S., M.S., has worked several years as the manager of recirculating and flow through aquaculture systems in Michigan and Wisconsin. He is currently the vice-president of ABC and is working on the design of fish production facilities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and New Mexico.

Geoffrey Knobl, B.A., has worked as a computer programmer for Virginia Sea Grant for over 13 years. He has developed databases for a recirculating aquaculture facility, databases and spreadsheets for use in the seafood business, programs that help predict blue crab meat yield, and programs that monitor food-processing operations. He has created websites and served as the network administrator for the Commercial Fish and Shellfish Technologies (CFAST) program at Virginia Tech.

Registration

Workshop Registration Includes:

• Admission to all sessions
• Refreshment breaks on Tuesday through Thursday
• Continental breakfast breaks on Wednesday and Thursday
• Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday
• Workshop notebook and computations software
• Certificate for 2.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for 20 hours of instruction

Register Early and Save $70!

Register On-Line.

For More Information

For further information about the workshop, please contact Emmett Wright, Virginia Tech, Mail Code 0364, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (540) 231-7084 or e-mail your questions to: aqua@vt.edu