Professional experience

January 1998 to present: Coop Unit Leader and Adjunct Assistant Professor, West Virginia Fish
and Wildlife Coop Unit, USGS/BRD, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
October 1995 to January 1998: Fishery Biologist, Division of Hatcheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Washington, DC
January 1990 to October 1995: Research Physiologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Southeastern
Fish Cultural Laboratory, Marion, Alabama

Research Focus

Future and on going aquaculture studies include: (studies on rainbow trout unless otherwise indicated)

• determining the interactions between water velocity, feed levels, health (physiological stress) and fillet texture and quality
• determining effects of antioxidants (vitamin E) on stress response and fillet texture and quality
• determine effectiveness of Aqui-S? (clove oil) in anesthetizing rainbow trout and arctic charr
• determine optimum carbon dioxide levels for harvesting (euthanizing) fish and the effect on fillet texture and quality
• determine the effectiveness of using ice (euthanizing) in harvesting fish at different ambient temperature and the effect of fillet texture and quality
• determining optimal feed regime during elevated carbon dioxide levels
• determine the effects elevated carbon dioxide levels on the stress response and fillet texture and quality in Arctic charr
• determine the effects of various oxygen levels on the stress response and fillet texture and quality in Arctic charr

Current research on Brook trout restoration:

• Combining geomorphological, biological and physical (water quality) data to develop a model that can be used to predict the response of instream conditions and trout population in other similar watersheds
• Using micro-satellite DNA analysis to quantify genetic relatedness among populations throughout the watershed.

Current research on WV statewide contaminant levels in sportfish:

• determining mercury and PCB levels in edible fillets for sportfish in the watersheds of WV

Two critical issues facing aquaculture in WV and the region?

1. Effects of aquaculture stressors (CO2, etc) on fillet quality and texture. In the food fish industry we can’t compete with Idaho, but can in a high quality niche market. In this area, we need to look to quality over quantity.
2. Impaired waters. WV and the region have impaired waters we are not currently using and these can be used for the Aquaculture industry.