More money to research center

Leetown, West Virginia, is the home of one the United State’s state of the art aquaculture research facilities, The National Center for Cool and Cold Water. As the name indicates, its focus is on cool and cold water aquaculture species such as rainbow trout, Arctic char and salmon. . The funding was proposed by US Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia democrat, who in the past has helped secure more than USD 15.9 million to previous funding for the construction of the center. According to an article in the local West Virginia newspaper, The Journal, the Leetown facility houses the nation’s most advanced research programs for raising and harvesting of cool and cold water fish, such as arctic char and rainbow trout. Senator Byrd told The Journal that “The cutting-edge research taking place at this facility will continue to reap benefits for our state and for America’s fish production industry. “The center’s scientists will have more opportunities to further their efforts to strengthen U.S. aquaculture through the development of sustainable fishing practices and important research into animal health, aquaculture engineering and nutrition.” The mission of the National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture NCCCWA) is to support and enhance the nation's cool and cold water aquaculture production through research and technology transfer. The goals of the program are to improve production efficiency, aquatic animal health, and product quality through the development of economically and environmentally sustainable commercial systems and practices. Research encompasses applied genetics and breeding, integrated aquatic animal health, aquaculture engineering, nutrition, physiology, facility operation and management, and product quality. The focus of the research programs is cool and cold water aquaculture species including, but not necessarily limited to rainbow trout, Arctic char and salmon.  Picture: National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture in Leetown, West Virginia, focusing on rainbow trout, Arctic char and salmon.