The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) is a state-of the-art, dynamic facility, showcasing new advances in aquaculture system technology such as sustainable land-based recirculating aquaculture, while also providing traditional aquaculture systems such as flow-through raceways and outdoor ponds for industry-based research projects. The facility’s overall mission is to conduct research and advance the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge for sustainable aquaculture in a northern climate and to promote aquaculture education. One of the facility’s main goals is to investigate high-value freshwater fish to support the growing demand for sustainable aquaculture products in the Midwest.
Another crucial focus is to perform industry-applied and commercially scaled research projects while demonstrating effective aquaculture systems, management practices and technologies to various audiences. To support these goals, strong collaborations exist with a variety of groups including the private aquaculture industry, tribal, state and federal hatcheries, other universities, K-12 students, educators and other organizations interested in research, demonstration and educational projects. With a professionally trained staff of dedicated aquaculturists and biologists, the facility maintains a high level of expertise for conducting projects with various cool and coldwater fish at various life stages while being a leader in developing a skilled and experienced workforce for the growing industry.
Availability of a skilled and experienced workforce is currently a major bottleneck to the advancement of aquaculture. UW-Stevens Point was the first accredited university in Wisconsin to offer an aquaculture minor. Furthermore, UWSP NADF offers paid summer internship programs to undergraduates from various universities. This incredible hands-on experience and training enables interns to be placed at UWSP NADF and partnering aquaculture entities such as private, state, federal and tribal facilities. Throughout the program, interns are exposed to a variety of species and systems at commercial or semi-commercial scale research and demonstration applications. For increased training and skill development, through current grant funding, UWSP NADF is offering 6 month paid apprenticeships, where recent graduates are placed with industry partners. Both interns and apprentices directly work with highly experienced facility staff to learn best management practices and techniques for rearing various freshwater fish at all stages of development. Due to the unique skillset achieved, commercial-level application of knowledge and building relationships with industry, job placement for these students has historically been nearly 100 percent immediately following this training program.