Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- ️Wed Mar 12 2025
LEADING THE MIDWEST IN SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
A UNIQUE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY
The UWSP NADF joins only a handful of facilities in the nation that offer similar capabilities in research, demonstration and education.
Increase by 15
COLD AND COOLWATER FISH SPECIES RESEARCHED
7
AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS DEMONSTRATED
100Percent
JOB PLACEMENT RATING FOR STUDENTS TRAINED IN THE PROGRAM
IMPORTANCE OF AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture, or the culture of aquatic organisms, is currently the fastest growing segment of food production globally and now supports over 50% of seafood consumed. With the world’s population increasing and the high demand for seafood, aquaculture is working to meet this demand with wild caught fisheries.
PROTECTING AND PRESERVING WILD FISH WHILE PROVIDING SAFE, HEALTHY SEAFOOD FOR A GROWING WORLD
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) is the university’s northern most campus located in Bayfield, Wisconsin. The University’s College of Letters and Science directs the facility in collaboration with various partners based on projects and program goals.
ABOUT US
UWSP NADF is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Midwest and joins only a handful in the U.S. that provide applied research, demonstration, education and workforce development capabilities. The state-of the-art, dynamic facility, showcases new advances in aquaculture system technology such as sustainable land based recirculating aquaculture, while also providing traditional aquaculture systems such as flow through raceways and outdoor ponds for industry-based research projects. The facility is national leader in aquaculture training and skill development, leading to nearly 100% job placement for aquaculture technicians and interns.
Our mission for the UWSP-Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility is to promote public education and advance the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge for sustainable aquaculture in a northern climate.
Our vision for the facility is a center that shall be recognized for promoting sustainable aquaculture among the public, private and tribal sectors through technology transfer, applied research, demonstration, and outreach.
Wisconsin’s has over 2,000 registered commercial fish farms, 14 state hatcheries, 2 federal hatcheries and all the resources needed to accommodate significant expansion. The facility serves as an incubator for new aquaculture practices, providing students and faculty resources for the development of life-long learning.
Commercial Application of Research and Demonstration
The facility operates a variety of semi-commercially scaled systems including incubation, larval and grow-out systems with tanks ranging in size from 260L to over 11,000L.
The facility’s main 790m2 (8,500 ft2) aquatic production barn contains adaptable, open work areas with access to both cold and heated water, aeration, and oxygen support.
The aquatic barn contains:
- Custom Bell jar and Heath tray egg incubation systems for various cold and coolwater fish.
- Two larval rearing rooms with 43 replicated 260L tanks with complete water temperature, turbidity, lighting, tank inflow, and environmental control.
- Two modern semi-commercially scaled 23,000 – 44,000L RAS grow-out systems (cool-water and cold-water, respectively) with 6-8 replicated tanks. These main recirculating systems utilized for grow-out include modern efficient technologies such as Cornel-style dual drain tanks, microscreen drum filter, fluidized sand biofiltration, degassing column, temperature control, oxygen cone or low head oxygenators, and ultraviolet sterilization.
- Six 1,780L replicated RAS systems with 24 tanks, 260L each. These systems include Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) controlled pumping stations, solids removal, moving bed biofiltration, various oxygen supplementation and UV sterilization.
- Analytical water quality testing and research laboratory.
Outdoors the facility operates:
- Four, 0.16-hectare aerated clay lined, drainable ponds with a common fish collection basin for harvest.
- A high-tunnel building containing two, linear raceways (20.4 m3) with flow through, degassed and aerated, cold (7.6°C) water.
- A second high-tunnel building containing partial RAS technology utilizing dual-drain round 1960L tanks with integrated radial flow separators, degassing/aeration column, common sump and pump station.
- Two effluent drainage settling ponds and a created wetland for final polishing of effluent water before discharge into an intermittent stream.
The University’s College of Letters and Sciences directs the facility along with various partnerships based on projects and program goals. Our partnerships include federal, tribal, and state fish hatcheries, natural resource agencies, private fish farms, various universities, Wisconsin public schools (K-12) and others. These partnerships may involve technology transfer, providing fish and assistance, outreach and demonstration, education, and research.
The facility has a wide range of partnerships from private, federal, state and tribal hatcheries and facilities to various schools, universities and other organizations.
“The NADF provides a range of invaluable and unique services for Wisconsin and the Midwest…Presently, we are working cooperatively with at least three stakeholders that rely heavily on the NADF facilities for research and support.”
-Dr. Steven Summerfelt
Past Director of Aquaculture Systems Research
The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute, West Virginia
CURRENT PROJECTS
The UW-Stevens Point aquaculture program and NADF has been awarded over $6 million in federal and private grant funds to support and advance Wisconsin Aqua-business (Aquaculture and Aquaponics). These projects involve scientific and technological entrepreneurship that impacts education, applied research, commercialization, new venture creation and regional economic development. Throughout the year, our projects also include tours and technical assistance as well as technical presentations. Operational funding for NADF is derived from tribal gaming revenue, not Wisconsin taxpayers. Grant and private funding is used to conduct individual research projects.
THE ANNUAL WISCONSIN AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE
EVALUATION OF ATLANTIC SALMON STRAINS IN RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS
SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS SUPPORTING ATLANTIC SALMON
IDENTIFYING THE THERMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL REPRODUCTION OF WALLEYE
ADVANCING THE GREAT LAKES AQUACULTURE COLLABORATIVE (GLAC)
INITIAL PROTEIN SOURCE FOR SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION OF PERCID FINGERLINGS
EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY GREAT LAKES AQUACULTURE THROUGH VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS
PARTNERING TO BOOST AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN WISCONSIN
Application of Bile Acids to Improve Larval Fish Production
Physiological and Economic Evaluation of Cold Banking Walleye Fingerlings for Year-Round Market Supply
Strengthening disease identification, prevention, and mitigation by providing fish farmers with tools to respond to fish health problems
AQUACULTURE EDUCATION
WORLD CLASS AQUACULTURE EDUCATION
UW-Stevens Point is leading the nation in aquaculture and aquaponic education opportunities through Wisconsin’s first aquaculture minor, aquaculture courses, K-12 student and educator opportunities, as well as hands-on internships and trainings at the state-of-the-art UWSP NADF.
AQUACULTURE LEARNING PATHWAYS
AQUACULTURE INTERNSHIPS & TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM
K-12 EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
RECENT NEWS
Articles, Publications, Conferences
Article by Wisconsin Sea Grant
Coloring and sticker book teaches kids about fish farming
New Project Deliverable
The Sea Grant-funded book is the first of its kind and is part of a study on how the Great Lakes aquaculture industry could expand through value-added products like fish dips, pre-seasoned fillets and ready-to-eat foods like fish sticks. Hartleb, who co-led the research team, said one goal of the coloring book was to raise awareness of aquaculture products for kids. Read the article or order your copy!
PRESENTATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
WISCONSIN AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE 2025
FEBRUARY 21-22ND, 2025
The 2025 Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference, was held on February 21-22nd at Hotel Marshfield, Marshfield, Wisconsin. Presentations are now available from the conference, click on the link below.
Advancing Commercial Walleye Aquaculture
Out of Season Spawning of Walleye Broodstock
New Publication!
The commercial viability of walleye as an aquaculture species requires that walleye gametes are available year-round so that multiple cohorts of walleye can be brought to market throughout the year. This study aimed to apply photothermal manipulations to three groups of walleye broodstock to induce out-of-season spawning and obtain a year-round supply of fertilized walleye eggs. Check out publication in arrow below or watch a short summary video of this project.
Research Highlight
Optimizing the Depuration Process
New Video
It is critical to understand the depuration or purging process prior to harvest for fish raised in a recirculating system. This video highlights the current practices as well as research that is looking to optimize this process.
Best Management Practice
Treating Eggs in Aquaculture
New Video
When incubating fish eggs, it is critical to keep the eggs clean and healthy. A best management practice in limiting bacteria and fungus growth is to treat eggs with formalin and hydrogen peroxide during the incubation process. This video explains a straightforward process in treating eggs during this time period.
Intensive Walleye Larviculture
Unobserved Mortality Occurs Early in Larval Walleye (Sander vitreus) Aquaculture
New Publication!
Newest publication looks to solve the mystery of high unobserved mortality rates in walleye culture at the larval stages.
NEW VIDEO
RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS IN ACTION
SYSTEMS HIGHLIGHT
Tyler Firkus, UWSP NADF Operations and Research Programs Manager, takes us on a live tour of the facility’s two semi commercial scale recirculating systems raising Atlantic salmon and walleye.
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