The Mississippi State University - Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center (NWAC) is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research and Extension program located in Stoneville, Mississippi. The aquaculture program in Stoneville began in 1980 with the NWAC formally organized in 1997. Its mission is to provide solutions to the most pressing problems of the aquaculture industry through basic and applied research, Extension, and diagnostic services. Mississippi State University is represented by the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Extension Service, and College of Veterinary Medicine. USDA is represented by the ARS Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit and the NIFA Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. The NWAC has over 6,300 m2 of lab and office space and 119 hectares of ponds. Current staffing includes 15 scientists/faculty and 40 support staff.
MSU and USDA scientists conduct research to solve problems that can be solved in the short-term as well as those that threaten the long-term viability of the industry. Research program areas include water quality, pond ecology, production system development, economics, nutrition, fish health management, genetics, diagnostics, and clinical research. NWAC Extension activities focus on the dissemination of research-based information to the aquaculture industry and to provide technical expertise to those commodity organizations that support aquaculture.
Research milestones include facilitating the registration of the antibiotics Romet® 30 and Aquafor®, identification of the causative organisms and management strategies for off-flavors in channel catfish, developed treatment strategies to combat the Bolbophorus digenetic trematode, alternative feed ingredients, developed a live attenuated vaccine for ESC disease, development of the split-pond and intensively aerated pond systems, hybrid catfish production, improved broodstock and spawning technologies, genome sequencing of channel catfish, blue catfish and microbial pathogens, and much of the research used by EPA to develop the final rule on aquaculture effluents. Extension milestones include development of programs pertaining to disaster assistance, foreign competition, and transition to the USDA FSIS Inspection program.
Current water quality and fish heath research emphasis includes chemical control, epidemiology, surveillance, and rapid diagnostics for various pathogens and environmental stressors. The nutrition group is focused on intestinal health and microbiota, feed additives/alternatives, and feed management. MSU Economists are conducting research on production costs and adoption of various production practices. USDA scientists are improving catfish genetics through selective breeding of channel and blue catfish lines, improved hybridization techniques, and improved production environments through pond ecology and water quality research. Current Extension emphasis includes adjusting to an increasingly stringent regulatory environment and producers’ adoption of new production techniques.