Growing Fish In An Old Utility Plant
Nova Southeastern University and the town of Davie have turned an abandoned sewer plant in Florida into the largest fish-breeding facility in the country, and one of only a few in the nation built from an old utility plant.
They're breeding thousands of tilapia--a light, white fish that tastes similar to trout--at the Davie Aquaculture Research Center plant. The town got into the whole-sale fish business by coming up with $250,000 in start-up capital and then joining forces with Nova Southeastern University, which runs the center. The center opened in February.
It's a place where students can learn, scientists can experiment and residents can reap profits from breeding and selling a hybrid version of the blue tilapia fish, originally from Africa and the Middle East. And it may herald the future of fishing.
More than 400,000 pounds of tilapia will be produced each year, bringing in $250,000 for the town within three years. Although Nova Southeastern University won't be sharing in any of the financial gains, it will control the giant outdoor laboratory, where classes will be conducted and research will take place.
By summer, four 76,000-gallon water tanks will hold 15,000 fingerlings each. Two tanks are operating already. Within two years, all eight of the plant's tanks will be operating and are expected to house some 150,000 tilapia fingerlings.
Talipia are a fast-growing and equally fast-breeding fish, explains Bart Baca, an oceanographer at Nova Southeastern University and director of the Davie Aquaculture Research Center. "We chose this fish because they're sturdy and fast breeders."
Faced with the challenge of either demolishing the old sewer plant or converting it into a lab and fish store, town officials discovered that it was actually cheaper to invest in the plant than to have it demolished.
It's important to note that these fish are not grown in sewer water. Thousands of dollars were spent sandblasting, sanitizing and retooling the facility.
"The open-air tanks also stand little risk of being polluted by the environment or contaminated by acid rain. This water is far cleaner than ocean water, which receives tons of sewage pumped into it every day."
Editors: Fish farming is nothing new but this farm certainly is since it occupies an old sewage treatment plant. And, since the ocean receives tons of sewage pumped into it every day, fish from this old sewer plant can be safer to eat than fish from the sea.
If you would like more information, feel free to contact Dr. Baca at 954-920-1909. Another good point of contact is Rob Seitz, director of public relations at Nova Southeastern University. He can be reached at 954- 262-5355 (office).
Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963 if I can be of any assistance. Dick Jones Communications helps Nova Southeastern University with some of its public affairs work.
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