The Texas A&M Aquacultural Research and Teaching Facility (ARTF) was established in 1973 by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences as the Aquaculture Research Center. The facility originally consisted of 24 earthen ponds of 0.10- and 0.25-acre size, and a laboratory/office building. In 1980 another building was constructed to accommodate fish culture systems for research purposes. Currently the facility has three enclosed buildings containing over 200 individual culture chambers consisting of glass aquaria and fiberglass tanks to support research in various aspects of fish nutrition, physiology and genetics. Three other buildings accommodate culture systems used for induced spawning of marine fish and live foods production. The name of the facility was changed to Aquacultural Research and Teaching Facility in the late 1980s to reflect not only its research but teaching function. The facility supports the teaching of laboratory portions of several aquatic courses as well as extension/service activities.
In 1993 the pond complex was renovated again and expanded to 36, 0.1-acre ponds each with concrete harvest basins. In the most recent renovation (beginning in 2010 and completed in 2012), the ponds were re-shaped and re-sloped with rubber liners installed to minimize soil erosion and maximize water retention. Thus, the ARTF is now comprised of modern pond and laboratory facilities to support research, teaching and outreach activities related to aquaculture and aquatic resource management which have all been continuously conducted at the facility over the past 45 years. During that time, faculty, former students and staff have made numerous contributions in advancing the scientific and technological bases of aquaculture for seafood production and fish stock enhancement. Many have also held leadership roles in various state, national and international aquaculture organizations. Some of the ongoing research and extension projects at the facility will be reviewed.