Dermo's infective processes and devis- 

 ing a strategy for protecting oysters 

 from it. Other researchers in Maryland 

 and Virginia are working on practical 

 methods to introduce MSX-resistant 

 oysters to the bay. 



As Sea Grant develops new tech- 

 nologies that will ensure public safety, it 

 is advancing the molecular sciences and 

 applying state-of-the-art technology to 

 solve problems that inhibit aquaculture 

 and use of fishery resources. Sea Grant 

 will continue this area of marine bio- 

 technology research with $3.2 million of 

 new National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration funding in 1994. 



Research on Shrimp 

 Production 



Americans imported nearly $2 

 billion worth of shrimp in 1992, landing 

 seafood as a major contributor to the 

 U.S. trade deficit. 



But Sea Grant is working to slow 

 this trend toward farm-raised imports by 

 expanding aquaculture opportunities 

 that will produce more shrimp in the 

 United States. 



Already, aquaculture research by 

 Sea Grant programs across the country 

 has provided a basic level of technology 

 that has helped open shrimp farms in 

 Hawaii, Puerto Rico, South Carolina 

 and Texas. But these farms have been 

 only marginally successful because 

 disease, poor understanding of nutri- 

 tional requirements and inappropriate 

 temperatures for year-round growing 

 have caused inconsistent production. 



The problem would be eased by a 

 completely domesticated strain of 

 shrimp that is adapted to United States 

 growing conditions and has superior 

 commercial qualities. 



To this end, a group of scientists 

 came together for a recent Sea Grant 

 workshop to determine future directions 

 for hormonally controlling the reproduc- 

 tion and growth of crustaceans. They 

 agreed there are many tools for produc- 

 ing a truly domesticated shrimp and 

 developing improved strains for the 

 commercial industry. 



Sea Grant is now focusing its 

 research efforts on solving the problems 

 of inconsistent production. Gene probes 

 are being developed for two significant 



viral diseases that limit shrimp produc- 

 tion in several parts of the world. This 

 work will also help researchers identify 

 disease-free parental stock, called brood 

 stock, and open the door to "specific 

 pathogen-free" shrimp stocks for the 

 industry. 



Other Sea Grant researchers are 

 perfecting closed recirculating culture 

 systems that would allow improved 

 shrimp species to be grown in the 

 United States. 



Melding the domestication of 

 shrimp with competitive production 

 technology requires an intensive, coor- 

 dinated effort by researchers, universi- 

 ties and federal agencies. Sea Grant can 

 focus these aquaculture resources on 

 common goals. Plans are now under 

 way to unite researchers in a new 

 national effort to develop domesticated 

 shrimp stocks suitable for growing in 

 different systems. 



Celebrating 

 Coastal Traditions 



Thousands of folks will gather in 

 Raleigh April 16-17 to celebrate the 

 beginning of a new year — The Year 

 of the Coast. The Save Our Sounds 

 Coastal Celebration is the the kickoff 

 event for this special yearlong showcase 

 of North Carolina's coast, proclaimed 

 by Gov. Jim Hunt. 



For the past five years, the Coastal 

 Celebration has educated thousands of 

 people about North Carolina's coastal 

 treasures, how they are threatened and 

 how they can be protected. With the 

 state reviewing 20 years of its coastal 

 management program and Hunt placing 

 new emphasis on safeguarding coastal 

 resources, the 1994 Coastal Celebration 

 is more important than ever. 



This year's theme is: "Year of the 

 Coast ... For the Children." Activities 

 for children will include a touch tank of 

 live marine creatures and storytelling. 

 An array of educational materials will 

 also be available for teachers to keep the 

 message alive in the classroom. 



People of all ages can enjoy dem- 

 onstrations and displays by boatbuilders, 

 artists and craftspeople who live along 

 our beaches and sounds. Visitors will 

 also experience the offerings of master- 

 ful coastal cooks. 



Coastwatch and N.C. Sea Grant 

 will be there too with an educational 

 display and staff to answer your ques- 

 tions about marine and coastal re- 

 sources. 



The event will open both days at 

 10 a.m. in the Kerr Scott Building on 

 the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Doors close 

 at 6 p.m daily. Admission is free for 

 children; adults are asked to donate $2 

 at the door. 



Fish Banks Ltd. 



N.C. Sea Grant, the N.C. Depart- 

 ment of Public Instruction and the 

 National Dissemination Network are 

 joining forces at an innovative teacher 

 workshop at N.C. State University. 



The training workshop, scheduled 

 for April 23, revolves around Fish 

 Banks Ltd., an educational program 

 designed to teach fundamentals of 

 fisheries resource use and management. 

 Fish Banks is a simulation game in 

 which teams form commercial fishery 

 businesses with vessels to harvest 

 inshore and offshore stocks. Through 

 this game of economics and natural 

 resource utilization, participants learn 

 firsthand about risk and investment. 



"Fish Banks is a good game to 

 help all of us — whether we're stu- 

 dents, teachers or policy people — 

 understand some of the psychology 

 and decision-making of the commercial 

 fishing industry," says Sea Grant 

 marine education specialist Lundie 

 Spence. 



The curriculum is designed for 

 teachers of students from ninth grade 

 through undergraduate college level 

 and adult audiences. Materials include a 

 game board, tokens, computer program 

 (Macintosh or disk operating system) 

 and handouts. 



Fish Banks developer Bob 

 Burnette-Kurie will conduct the work- 

 shop, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 

 3:30 p.m. in Jordan Hall, Room 1 108. 

 A North Carolina fisheries biologist 

 will be available during the training to 

 relate current developments in fisheries 

 issues. 



The cost of the workshop is $5; 

 preregistration is required, and space is 

 limited. For information, call Spence at 

 919/515-2454. 



COASTWATCH 25 



