The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) has experienced substantial success for over ten years raising walleye in recirculating aquacutlure systems (RAS). By using specialized larval rearing systems, enhanced husbandry, indoor closed-loop production, and optimized starter diets we have been able to assemble systematic culture protocol that has advanced walleye for food fish production.
Due to increasing interest of this species, UWSP NADF created an instructional package for the intensive rearing of walleye purebreds and hybrids in tanks. This package consists of two products: a series of how-to videos consisting of chapters for each life-stage from egg to broodstock, and a detailed instructional manual to accompany the videos. Both the instructional videos and manual are based on past success for raising walleye, sauger and saugeye in intensive systems on commercial feeds. Both show examples of systems, techniques and procedures done at UWSP NADF and are comprehensive learning tools to intensively culture purebred and hybrid walleye in tanks.
Educational how-to videos have become increasingly popular and sought after for aquaculture practices. UWSP NADF is continuing to utilize video in several research and demonstration projects to showcase the research, explain the results, and provide future best management practices or techniques that have been learned from the results. Video will continue to be used as a tool for future outreach initiatives and has shown to be a successful and important addition to the current program. These videos and technical manual have become a model for outreaching to the industry about specific fish culture.
As UWSP NADF continues to reasearch walleye for commercial food production, the manual and videos will be updated with new findings. Current research at the facility regarding walleye involves out-of-season spawning of walleye to produce eggs and fry throughout the year, a major bottleneck to the expansion of the industry. At the completion of this and future projects, new information will be shared within the manual and videos, which are currently available on the UWSP NADF website: aquaculture.uwsp.edu