PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The vast
size, biological richness, and cultural diversity of Louisiana’s
coastal region create unusual problems as well as research opportunities.
Sea Grant development funds enable the program to address an environmental
crisis, pursue an unanticipated research discovery, or expand an
existing project outside of the two-year fiscal cycle. These opportunities
to stimulate new research, education, or advisory activities strengthen
Sea Grant’s impact on Louisiana’s coastal and marine
environment. A partial list of current program development projects
follows.
(Also listed
under Seafood Harvesting and Production)
Intensive Propagation of Marine
Finfish in Recirculating Systems: Improving Survival and Growout
Efficiency During the Larval Stage
Chesney, E., LUMCON
Developing
reliable and cost-effective methods of rearing larvae and producing
fingerlings for rearing systems remains one of the greatest challenges
to success in marine fish culture. Closed, recirculating systems
technology is proving to be a viable approach for commercial fingerling
production that offers some distinct advantages over pond production.
However, additional research is needed to establish reliable,
efficient and cost-effective methods for intensive larviculture.
The project’s goal is to generate new knowledge for immediate
use by members of the industry. The principal investigator is
collaborating with two industry project partners on research that
will improve marine fingerling production rates and efficiency.
Specific research objectives are to reduce the reliance on live
feeds for larviculture and shorten the larval stage duration by
improving growth and survival rates in the larval stage of growout.
(Also listed
under Seafood Harvesting and Production)
Development of Formulated Diets
for Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus Aquaculture –
Part II: Replacement of Fish Meal with Plant Proteins
Reigh, R., LSU – Agricultural Center
The replacement
of fish meal with plant proteins in the manufacture of aquafeeds
is of particular interest to fish nutritionists and producers
because the global sources of fish used to produce meal are near
maximum sustained yield and world prices remain high. This economic
pressure is driving research with alternative feed ingredients
in several countries, and it is possible that plant proteins derived
from soybeans will eventually become the primary constituents
of diets for pompano and several other farmed species. The challenge
in finding substitute ingredients is two-fold: not only to reduce
feed costs, but to do so while maintaining adequate levels of
essential Omega-3 fatty acids to provide for the dietary requirements
of the fish and ultimately, fish consumers. Florida pompano is
regarded as an excellent candidate species for marine aquaculture
in the future, and the results of this project may serve as a
nutritional model for other marine species as well.
(Also listed
under Sustainable Coastal Communities)
Review of Land Use Planning In Coastal
Louisiana
Wilkins, J., LSU – Office of Sea Grant
Development
Experience from recent hurricanes has underscored the point that
any responsible course of action along the Louisiana coast, whether
it is comprehensive coastal restoration or a strategic retreat,
must recognize the need for land use planning and development
control. The degree to which that control is possible and practiced,
and its relationship to implementing coastal restoration activities
and community protection, is crucial. Louisiana State University
can assist parishes in developing the expertise and planning tools
to facilitate strategies for siting or de-commissioning infrastructure,
planning for coastal change and educating the public about risk
management. The project’s objectives include assessing the
current state of land use planning authority and practice as it
pertains to the ability of the state and local governments to
respond to coastal crises, and to provide coastal parish and state
land use planners with information on legal and policy tools that
will allow them to use available powers to achieve public safety
goals and to optimize the effectiveness and value of coastal restoration
projects. Where sufficient powers are lacking, the principal investigators
will identify these gaps and provide information to land use planners
allowing them to promote land use planning as a necessary element
in addressing land loss issues. Additional objectives include
providing lawmakers with information on land use planning that
will assist them in enacting legislation necessary to respond
to the requests and needs of land use planners for greater powers
with which to address coastal land loss issues.
