March 10, 2010

The Volusia County ECHO Board approved a $600,000 grant that will enable work to begin on the hatchery property. Along with $130,000 in match from the City of New Smyrna Beach, $10,000 from the Artist's Workshop and $10,000 from the Marine Discovery Center, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida provided $150,000 for demolition of substandard structures and the restoration of one building for use as an education and outreach center.

March 2, 2010

Last Thursday a planning meeting was held to discuss the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute's (HSWRI) proposed hatchery and research facility on Indian River Lagoon.  The meeting included staff from notable elected officials, state and local government representatives, partners from FIT, CCA, FWC and FWS.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the long-term strategy for the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative at IRL and the Atlantic Coast.  

The Governor's website posted the following item:

http://flarecovery.com/about/state-and-local-projects/other-aid/fish-hatchery-construction-and-oyster-reseeding

On March 6, members of the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement
Initiative gathered to discuss the initiative’s progress. With the current
economic issues in mind, members used video-conferencing, audioconferencing
and Web-based presentation tools to participate, keeping costs
down.

At the meeting, the four FMFEI working groups provided updates to the
group. Overall, organizational membership, cooperation and coordination of
FMFEI continue to grow and deepen.

Zero discharge hatchery design is the leading edge of aquaculture thinking and directly confronts the issues of green design sustainability that the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative has set as a goal.  At the Mote Aquaculture Park, which is located 20 miles inland from the Gulf, the first research efforts on making this sustainable dream a reality are underway.

Hatchery manager Paul Wills gave the team a briefing on redfish production and research efforts underway at Harbor Branch.

This zero emmissions home in NSB was designed by local architect Kevin Schweizer. The team made a site visit and plans to come back and see the completed home.
[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]