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Extension Program – What We Do

Aquaculture/Fisheries Center personnel conduct a broad range of extension programs.

The major program areas and a few of the activities are: 

  1. Improving the Efficiency of Baitfish Production.
    Fish health education and services. Farm-level inspections, APHIS certified laboratory for exports. Personnel include two American Fisheries Society (AFS) certified aquatic animal health inspectors and an AFS certified fish pathologist.
    Assistance with the Arkansas Safe Bait Program.
    Water quality analyses.
    Biosecurity and HACCP for baitfish
    Holding shed water quality improvement.
    Aeration and bloom management.
    Fish transportation.
    Increasing fry survival.
    Baitfish hatchery vats on a commercial farm in Arkansas
  2. More Efficient Production & Marketing of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish
    Fish health education and services.
    Water quality analyses.
    Biosecurity – fish diseases and exotic species.
    Financial workshops on evaluating farm operations and indicators.
    Split ponds and other alternative aquaculture systems.
    Documenting the economic impact of the catfish industry in Arkansas.
    Catfish research verification program (formerly known as yield verification)
  3. Recreational Fishing in the Delta.
    Farm pond recreational fishing.
    Aquatic weed control and assorted pond problems.
    Joint Farm Pond management publications with Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and a Sportfish Suppliers Directory.
    Community fishing program with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
    Crappie are the most popular panfish caught by anglers in Arkansas
  4. Beginning and Alternative Aquaculture
    Getting started in aquaculture.
    Alternative species – information on marine shrimp in freshwater, freshwater prawns, crawfish, largemouth bass, hybrid bream, crappie, hybrid crappie, hybrid striped bass, tilapia, etc.
    Small scale aquaculture.
    Water gardening.
    Aquaponics.
    Classroom aquaponics system in Hazen, Arkansas
  5. Youth Aquatic Education
    Partner with the Cooperative Extension Service on 4-H fishing education and agriculture awareness.
    4-H baitcasting and sportsfishing O’Rama activities
    Derbies with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
    Support for High School Agri-Science programs
  6. Other
    Use of drones as a method to move birds off ponds and to assist with bloom management on ponds If it swims or lives in water, we probably have had a question about it!