Roundup

UI reels in top fish research facility

Ending three years of occupancy under a lease, the University of Idaho has gained ownership of the Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station. A July ceremony at the station celebrated the transfer of the 4-1/2 acre facility from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the UI.

"This station positions us right in the center of the aqua-culture industry to address their specific needs,Ó said Ernie Brannon, director of the UI Aquaculture Research Institute. Idaho ranks first in the nation in production of food-size trout, producing three-quarters of the nationÕs supply at about 30 fish farms along the Snake River near Hagerman. Like the nearby fish farms, the station receives a continual supply of cold, clean spring water.

Besides aquaculture research, the laboratory supports research to aid recovery measures for IdahoÕs threatened and endangered fish species.

"It's a marvelous facility and it's going to be a heck of a lot better after we expand the infrastructure," said Dick Heimsch, director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. Having gained ownership of the station thanks to federal legislation sponsored by Senator Larry Craig, the UI is now committed to spend $1.75 million of agricultural biotechnology funds on improvements.

"I think this will be, if it's not already, an internationally known center of excellence," said Heimsch.

Over the past three years, university scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate students working at the station have sought ways to improve the genetics of farmed fish, prevent disease outbreaks, produce cleaner fish-farm effluents, and develop economical fish feeds. But, as lessees, they have been unable to make improvements to the facility or even some basic repairs.

Planned expansions include facilities for conducting research on fish disease, a tissue and gene bank for threatened and endangered species, a distance learning center, and a wet lab with tanks capable of rearing fish to maturity. The additional wet lab will allow scientists to further improve the genetics of farmed fish. According to station director Ron Hardy, "Genetic improvement of commercial fish strains is the area where the main advances in aquaculture are going to be over the next 20 years." -- Diane Noel