Monday, October 23, 2000

WILMINGTON ­ The U.S. Congress this month approved a $325,000 allocation for UNCW's Mariculture Program for fiscal year 2001. This funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Program director Wade Watanabe said the money will be used to continue the installation of critical facilities at Wrightsville Beach, including recirculating growout systems and a fish hatchery, as well as support staff and graduate students.

"It will also provide funds to continue our work on controlled breeding, larval culture and growout of new candidate marine fish species for U.S. agriculture," Watanabe said. "The goal of our research is to help the state of North Carolina and the U.S. establish a viable commercial flounder agriculture industry and to bring new species, such as sea bass, to the commercial realm in the future."

Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) joined efforts with Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) to secure passage of the legislation.

"North Carolina is blessed with a beautiful coast, and mariculture gives us a way to tap into the economic potential of our coastal resources without damaging our environment," Sen. Edwards said. "I am proud to see the University of North Carolina at Wilmington continue to be a leading center for mariculture research."

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More information on the research efforts at UNCW's Mariculture Center can be obtained by calling Dr. Wade Watanabe at 910.256.3721, extension 245.