Meet Our Aquaculture Team

Area Extension Agents

Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture

252.531.0556 (Cell)

Marine Aquaculture Research Center (MARC)

Mr. Frinsko provides technical training and assistance to commercial aquaculture producers in the Southeast Extension District. Mike works with numerous warmwater species, focusing on Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass production, larviculture, fish nutrition, larval feed manufacture and Artemia replacement microdiets. Mike also serves these 17 counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Johnston, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, Wayne, Wilson Counties

Vacant Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture Northeast Extension District

Responsibilities of NE Area Aquaculture position include providing technical training and assistance to commercial aquaculture producers in the Northeast Extension District as well as other aquaculture education programs in the state. Most of this work focusing on channel catfish, hybrid striped bass and crayfish production; soil and water quality management; and pond construction. While the position is currently vacant, we hope to have it filled by the end of the year. This position serves these 21 counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Wake, Warren, Washington Counties

George Selden Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture gselden@ncsu.edu (828) 456-3575 (Office) 870-540-7805 (Cell) Haywood County Center

Mr. Selden is primarily responsible for planning, developing, executing, evaluating and reporting the impacts of high-quality research-based extension programs in the field of aquaculture, over a designated multi-county area in western North Carolina. Works collaboratively with county agents and Extension/research faculty from NC State University, NC A&T State, as well as industry clients, county leaders, and other partners. Focus is on trout culture, carp fishing ponds, and issues related to private ponds. George also serves these 16 counties: Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey Counties

Research/Extension Specialists

Tal Ben-Horin Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Sciences CMAST-303 College Circle Morehead City, NC 28557 P: 252.222.6312 E: tbenhor@ncsu.edu	Dr. Ben-Horin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine. He directs the Shellfish Pathology Program at CMAST which conducts applied research on pathology and disease impacts to fish and shellfish aquaculture.

Alex Chouljenko Assistant Professor and Director NCSU Seafood Laboratory CMAST- 303 College Circle
Morehead City, NC 28557 Phone: 252-222-6304 avchoulj@ncsu.edu
Dr. Chouljenko is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences. He is Director of NC State’s Seafood Laboratory at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) in Morehead City. His group focuses on extension and research activities that generally include post-harvest fish and shellfish safety and quality during handling, processing, and storage, as well as value addition to seafood byproducts

Steve Hall Associate Professor and Director, Marine Aquaculture Research Center (919) 515-2694 (Office) shall5@ncsu.edu Biological & Agricultural Engineering Dr. Hall is a research and teaching Associate Professor of aquacultural, resource and water engineering; and coastal bioengineering. As Director of the NC Marine Aquaculture Research Center (MARC), he maintains a focus on numerous diverse topics ranging from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and oyster aquaculture to automated larval fish-feeding technology and macro-algae production.

Bald man with glasses in orange striped shirt selfie by lake and rocky shore

Craig Harms Professor, Department of Clinical Services -CMAST (252)222-6339 (Office) craig_harms@ncsu.edu College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Harms directs the Marine Health Program at CMAST, and conducts clinically applied research on health and diseases of aquatic and nondomestic species in the course of delivering veterinary services and support at area research aquaculture facilities, Morehead City/Beaufort area marine laboratories (the "coastal research triangle"), the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, marine mammal and sea turtle stranding networks, and back-up veterinary support for the NC Aquariums.

Ben Reading Assistant Professor David Clark Labs 236 919.515.3830 (Office) bjreadin@ncsu.edu Dr. Reading is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Ecology. The focus of his work is on numerous areas related to Striped Bass breeding and reproduction with an emphasis in understanding the fundamentals of oogenesis and egg quality in fishes. As Director of National Program for Genetic Improvement and Selective Breeding. Dr. Readings's research has resulted in producing superior strains of Striped Bass that will enable commercial aquaculture producers to raise fish in less time and with greater feed efficiency. Dr. Reading also serves at the Aquaculture Co-Coordinator of the USDA National Animal Genome Program.

Michael Joseph Faculty/EHRA Scott Hall 234E 919.515.2493 (Office) mvjoseph@ncsu.edu Dr. Michael Joseph is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. His work covers many areas related to animal feed technology. A principle focus involves developing enhanced aquaculture feeds including specialized larval microdiets and extruded growout diets formulated with innovative extrusion technologies and novel ingredients.

Affiliated Faculty and Staff

Dr. Abby Armwood Assistant Professor Department of Population Health and Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine 919-515-8993 arwisnet@ncsu.edu
Dr. Abby Armwood is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine. She is anatomic pathologist and performs diagnostics on aquatic species with specialization in fish. She conducts applied research on natural diseases in fish with a focus in infectious diseases including bacterial, fungal, viral, and mesomycetozoal pathogens.

Bald man with short beard in striped polo standing before dock and boat mural showing "AZU"

Greg Bolton Laboratory Research Specialist CMAST 303 College Circle
Morehead City, NC 28557 Phone: 252-222-6336 greg_bolton@ncsu.edu
Mr. Bolton is a Seafood Research Specialist in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences. He assists in extension and research activities conducted by the Seafood Laboratory at CMAST. Greg develops science-based seafood safety programming and conducts workshops in Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). Other work includes heat penetration and shelf life studies for the seafood industry.

Harry Daniels Senior Associate Dean CALS Office of the Dean Patterson Hall harry_daniels@ncsu.edu As Warmwater Aquaculture Specialist, Dr. Daniels has led numerous aquaculture activities throughout his career. Hybrid Striped Bass, Southern Flounder and Channel Catfish, have been focal areas of his research as well as providing much assistance on topics related to water quality management. Now serving in an administrative capacity through the Office of the Dean, Dr. Daniels remains engaged when possible to support activities within the aquaculture team.

Ryan P. Kelly Extension Associate Marine Aquaculture Research Center rpkelly@ncsu.edu Biological & Agricultural Engineering Mr. Kelly is the Marine Aquaculture Research Center (MARC) facility manager where he assists with the sites ongoing RAS mariculture projects. Ryan also assists in numerous Extension activities related to coastal fish and shellfish projects.

John Davis Research Operations Manager: Grinnells Aquatic Facility Grinnells Lab 1212 jhdavis4@ncsu.edu Mr. Davis is the Grinnells aquaculture laboratory facility manager. His work includes organizing and maintaining the many aquaculture related research projects at the site on campus.

Nadya Mamoozadeh

Assistant Professor

Extension Specialist

Pond Management

919-515-8792

nrmamooz@ncsu.edu

Dr. Mamoozadeh is faculty in the Department of Applied Ecology and conducts extension efforts in the areas of fisheries and pond management. In this position, Nadya provides assistance to pond owners throughout NC to improve the quality of their fishing experience. Nadya also conducts research to address information needs in support of fisheries management. Given the applied nature of this research, Nadya often works hand-in-hand with biologists and managers at fisheries management agencies.

Man in dark suit and patterned tie wearing a blue lanyard, facing camera

Rob Richardson

Professor and Extension Specialist Aquatic and Non-Cropland Weed Science

Williams Hall 4401B

919-515-5653

rob_richardson@ncsu.edu

aquaticweeds.ncsu.edu

Dr. Richardson’s appointment as Aquatic and Non-Cropland Weed Scientist in the Department of Crop Science is 60% research and 40% extension. The primary responsibility of this position is aquatic weed management and the secondary responsibility is invasive plant management in non-cropland. This position is critical for development of integrated and sustainable weed management programs for reservoirs, lakes, ponds, other bodies of water, and non-cropland in North Carolina and the surrounding region. Vegetation on these sites must be managed in an environmentally sound manner to improve or maintain fish and wildlife habitat, improve biological diversity, and reduce the size and scope of alien plant invasions.

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Written By

Mike Frinsko Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture