Conference Agenda

Friday, November 13, 2009, 12:00 p.m. to Saturday, November 14, 5:00 p.m.

Friday, November 13

12:00 to 9:00 p.m.

12:00 - 6:00 PM: Registration

1:00 - 4:30 PM: Virginia Water Harvest - Water to Table Marketing

  • What a Supermarket Chain Wants - Hugh Davidson, Ukrop's Super Markets, Richmond, VA
  • Using Virginia Seafood Products: What a Restaurant Wants - David Everett, Owner and Chef, Blue Talon Bistro, Williamsburg, VA
  • Water to Table: A Harvester’s Perspective - Paige Hogge, Buster’s Seafood, Urbanna, VA
  • Water to Table: A Farmer’s Market Manager's Perspective - Libbey Oliver, Williamsburg Farmer’s Market
  • Water to Table: Live Marketing Options - Dan Kauffman, Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hampton, VA
  • Water to Table: Community Supported Fisheries (CSF) - Leanne DuBois, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, VA.
  • Water to Table: Available Support Services - Leanne DuBois, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, VA. Joe Cardwell, Virginia Marine Products Board, Newport News, VA

5:00 - 6:30 PM: Concurrent Sessions

  • Virginia Aquaculture Association Annual Membership Meeting
  • East Coast Shellfish Growers Association Annual Membership Meeting

7:00 - 9:00 PM: Gala Aquaculture Reception

Saturday, November 14

8:00 to 5:00 p.m.

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Registration

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks and Welcome - Troy Hartley, Director, Virginia Sea Grant Program, Gloucester Point, VA

9:15 - 9:45 AM: Aquaculture at the National Level - Michael Rubino, Director, NOAA Aquaculture Program, Silver Spring, MD

9:45 - 10:30 AM: Aquaculture Sustainability: What Does it Mean at the Farm Level? - John Hargreaves, Aquaculture Assessments, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA

10:30 - 11:00 AM: Break

11:00 - 11:45 AM: Why Have Insurance for Aquaculture? - Leon Geyer, Virginia Tech, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Blacksburg, VA

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Where We’re Going and What We’re Growing - Herman Ellison, Director, Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, Richmond, VA, and Thomas Murray, Leader, Virginia Sea Grant Marine Extension Program, Gloucester Point, VA

12:15 - 1:15 PM: Lunch

1:15 - 5:00 PM: Concurrent Sessions

Saltwater Session

  • Ocean Acidification and Shellfish, or “Death By Dissolution” - Mark Green, St. Joseph’s College, Standish, ME
  • The Potential and Challenges of Water Quality Credits for Oyster Aquaculture - Kurt Stephenson, Virginia Tech, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Blacksburg, VA
  • Break (~2:45)
  • Managing Use Conflict - Land Use Policy Considerations and Aquaculture - Lewie
    Lawrence, Director of Regional Planning, Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, Saluda, VA
  • East Coast Shellfish Culture - Status and Trends - Robert Rheault, Executive Director, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Narragansett, RI
  • Florida Clam Culture - Methods, Status, Direction - Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida, Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program, Cedar Key, FL
  • Regional BMP Development Efforts - Gef Flimlin, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Toms River, NJ. Sandy Macfarlane, Coastal Resource Specialist, Orleans, MA

Freshwater Session

  • Product Forms and Marketing Regulations - Courtney Rheinhart, Food Safety Specialist, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  • Marketing: Trends and Niches - Matt Parker, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Aquaculture Business Specialist, Elizabeth City, NC
  • Virginia Aquaculture Panel Discussion
    • Spencer Neale - Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Senior Assistant Director, Commodity Marketing, Richmond, VA
    • Robins Buck - Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Project Manager Agribusiness Development Services, State Aquaculture Coordinator, Richmond, VA
    • Lynn Blackwood - Chairman, Virginia Aqua-Farmers Network, Meherrin, VA
  • Good Aquaculture Practices - Michael Schwarz, Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Aquaculture Specialist, Hampton, VA
  • Break (~2:45)
  • Aquaculture Information and Support Resources - Brian Nerrie, Virginia State University, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Colonial Heights, VA
  • Review of Aquaculture Regulatory Agencies - Robins Buck, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Project Manager Agribusiness Development Services, State Aquaculture Coordinator, Richmond, VA
  • Start-up Bloopers and Blunders - Jesse Chappell, Auburn University, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Auburn, AL

Photo © Mike Oesterling/VASG