Culture of hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops has been increasing in selected regions of the United States. Because of their thermal tolerance, hybrids may have potential as a new commercial aquaculture species in the Midwest. In these studies, hybrid striped bass were reared in cages located in southern, central and northern Indiana and offered one of three practical diets. Diets contained either 32, 36 or 40% crude protein. Additionally, a preliminary 8 wk laboratory experiment was conducted in which fish were offered the same diets. All diets were formulated to meet the established dietary lysine requirement; optimal levels of other essential amino acids in the diet were predicted by the whole‐body essential amino acid profile of hybrid striped bass. In the laboratory experiment, weight gain of fish fed 36% crude protein was significantly higher than those fed either other level of dietary protein. After 205 days, final average weight gains of fish in the field experiment were not significantly different and ranged from 233 to 426 g with an overall average daily gain of 1.6 g/fish/d. Overall survival was 89.1%. Dress‐out percentages were 81.2, 69.8, and 34.9% for eviscerated, eviscerated and headed, and fillets, respectively. Those values were not significantly different among dietary treatments or sites. Lipid content of fillets from fish fed 32% dietary crude protein was significantly higher than in fish fed 36 or 40% crude protein.

No abstract

Three sample sites on the north side of Dauphin Island, Alabama, were used to evaluate two different types of floats, Taylor (surface area of 0.74 m 2 ) and Eastfields (surface area of 0.35 m 2 ), for the culture of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, for oyster gardening. Three replicated treatments containing 1,014, 676, or 338 oysters/m 2 were stocked into Taylor and Eastfields floats. Growth and survival of oysters in each float type were compared and correlated with water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity) for 36 weeks. Oysters in the Eastfields floats demonstrated greater total growth at all densities than oysters in Taylor floats. Survival of oysters was similar in each float type. Average survival of oysters ranged from 30.1% to 56.4% among the three treatments and two float types. There was a very weak positive correlation (r = 0.30) between temperature and mortality, and a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.70) between temperature and growth in both types of floats. The Eastfields floats required more maintenance and were less durable than Taylor floats. However, the Taylor floats were cumbersome and became too heavy to lift without mechanical assistance due to biofouling and the weight of oysters. Modifications and a Please note that this electronic prepublication galley may contain typographical errors and may be missing artwork, such as charts, photographs, etc. Pagination in this version will differ from the published version.

In response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) was formed to answer oil spill–related scientific questions. However, peer-reviewed scientific discoveries were not reaching people whose livelihoods depended on a healthy Gulf of Mexico. GoMRI and the four Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs partnered to develop a regional Extension program with a team of multidisciplinary specialists and a regional manager embedded within the Sea Grant programs. The team answered oil spill science questions from target audiences. The program leaders also identified the value of adding a regional Extension communicator to enhance their Extension products.