Project Number: 1930-32630-001-01
Project Type: Grant

Start Date: Sep 01, 2001
End Date: Aug 31, 2006

Objective:
The overall goal of this research is to identify the physical, natural resource, environmental and economic constraints to expanded, sustainable aquaculture production in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands of West Virginia. To accomplish this, the following objectives will be addressed: 1) A GIS model will be developed that incorporates data important to aquaculture production and integrate different "layers" of information to evaluate potential production constraints; 2) Water sources will be identified and assessed with respect their capacity to support production of fish that are free of mercury; and 3) Econometric information will be appraised for its impact on aquaculture production.

Approach:
Objective 1 requires the development of a knowledge base and a database of pertinent information relative to aquaculture information in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands. Water quality and quantity data will be collected on known water supplies and undiscovered water supplies will be identified via new technology (Light Detection and Ranging ¿ LIDAR) and used, along with data other critical aquaculture factors, to evaluate locations for aquaculture production. Objective 2 will be addressed via water quality analysis, fish analysis and geospatial risk analysis to evaluate the potential for raising mercury-free fish. Objective 3 will involve gathering data from a case-study of a fish processing facility and analysis of this information in conjunction with the previously developed geospatial model to evaluate the impacts of market and other distribution factors on the West Virginia aquaculture industry.