Message from the Chair
Hello, and thank you for visiting Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Science within the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. If you’re a farmer looking to learn more about growing fish, shrimp, or any other aquaculture product, or you want information about our academic programs or online courses, we want to hear from you. Please let us know how we may assist you.
School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Science
Aqua Research Center
103 Athletic Dr.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Email: Aqua@kysu.edu
Phone: (502) 597-8104
Fax: (502) 597-5088
History
The School of Aqua was initiated in the mid-1980s. Originally, it was exclusively dedicated to research and extension activities. However, in 1990, the first course was offered on an experimental basis. By 1992, an undergraduate minor in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences was first available, and in 1999 the Council on Post-Secondary Education approved KSU to offer a Master of Science Degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences.
Until the establishment of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences was the only program at KSU that addressed all three of the traditional Land Grant university roles: research, teaching, and extension. The School has class offerings over the full spectrum of aquaculture, including reproduction, nutrition, water quality, physiology, production systems, economics and marketing, and fish disease. The School also offers online classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
FACULTY IN THE SCHOOL OF AQUACULTURE AND AQUATIC SCIENCE
Andrew Ray, Ph.D.
Office: (502) 597-8109
Email: andrew.ray@kysu.edu
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Associate Professor
- Chair, School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Science
Dr. Ray runs a productive research program that focuses on areas such as recirculating aquaculture systems development and management, water quality dynamics, water filtration technologies, denitrification, functional microbial ecology, brackish-water aquaponics, inland production of marine species, artificial seawater formulation, consumer perception and acceptance of seafood products, STEM education for a variety of student age groups, and farmer risk and needs assessment. He teaches the courses Water Quality Management, Water Quality Management Laboratory, and Recirculating Aquaculture. Dr. Ray works primarily with marine shrimp and marine fish so that farmers in inland locations can produce high-quality, sustainable, fresh seafood near consumer markets.
Key Words: aquaculture, RAS, marine shrimp, marine fish, microbial ecology, aquaponics, seawater formulation, risk assessment, water quality, denitrification, nitrification, filtration, new technology, teaching, mentoring
Kenneth J. Semmens, Ph.D.
Office: (502) 597-6871
Email: ken.semmens@kysu.edu
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Associate Professor - Physiology and Reproduction
Dr. Semmens supports research and teaching to address production and marketing issues facing the aquaculture industry relevant to small farms in the state of Kentucky and the region. His research has focused on design and management of floating raceways, induced spawning and production of largemouth bass, holding systems for marketing food fish, integrating aquaculture and water reuse for decommissioned wastewater treatment facilities, aquaponics, and culture of paddlefish. He has developed curriculum for entry level undergraduate course, implementing both dual credit and online sections. He teaches Fish Morphology/ Physiology (AQU 412, 512), Fisheries for an Educated Consumer (AQU 201), Survey of Production Methods (AQU 451/551), and co-teaches Fish Reproduction Lab (AQU 428,528).
Noel D. Novelo, Ph.D.
Office: (502) 597-8108
Email: noel.novelo@kysu.edu
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Assistant Professor
- President-Elect of the Kentucky Academy of Science 2023 Governing Board
- Faculty Advisor to the KSU United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit
Noel D. Novelo, Ph.D., is of Yucatecan Maya and Spanish (Mestizo) descent. He is from Belize, but he currently lives in Kentucky and works as an Assistant Professor in Aquaculture Genetics and Extension in the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Â鶹ֱ²¥ (KSU). He serves as President-Elect of the Kentucky Academy of Science 2023 Governing Board (Board term 2022-2025), and as Faculty Advisor to the KSU United States Aquaculture Society Student Subunit. His academic training includes Multi-Cultural English Literature, Natural Resource Management, Public Administration, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, and Wildlife and Fisheries Science. He has 20 years of experience in reproduction, culture, and genetics of farmed Aquatic species, specializing in Ornamental (Koi) Carp, Channel Catfish, and Nile Tilapia. His program of work seeks to expand agricultural production by securing and diversifying food production, developing and improving on Aquatic genetic resources, and creating resources based on assistive reproductive technologies such as ultrasound imaging and cryopreservation to advance Kentucky and U.S. aquaculture production, and to expand human health and business opportunities for minority and limited-resource farmers and U.S. consumers. He seeks to establish and expand collaborative efforts within the USA, and internationally— with Central America, the Caribbean, and other global regions.
Robert Durborow, Ph.D.
Office: (502) 597-6581
Email: robert.durborow@kysu.edu
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Professor
- State Extension Specialist for Aquaculture
- Assistant Research Director
Dr. Durborow directs the KSU Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory that includes a mobile responsive clinical fish health database. Dr. Durborow performs and directs research in the KSU College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, including projects involving the KSU FDDL, treatment efficacy, medicated feed accessibility, increasing shelf life of processed fish, and occupational safety and health for aquaculturists and Gulf Coast seafood workers. Dr. Durborow teaches Fish Diseases (online and on campus) and Fish Diseases Laboratory (on campus) to undergraduate and graduate students.
Key Words: aquaculture, fish production, fish health, fish disease, fish disease diagnostic laboratory, microbiology, bacteriology, parasitology, pond management, Aquatic weed control, water quality management, food systems leadership, occupational safety and health, directing agricultural research, Extension specialist, fish diseases course, fish diseases laboratory course, online courses, on-campus courses
Waldemar Rossi Jr, Ph.D.
Office: (502) 597-8130
Email: waldemar.rossi@kysu.edu
College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Professor
- Aquaculture Nutrition Research Program Leader
Dr. Waldemar Rossi leads the Aquaculture Nutrition research program, which focuses on the nutritional optimization of feeds for finfish and crustacean species of commercial relevance in aquaculture. Primary research interests include raw material evaluations, determination of nutritional requirements, testing of feed additives, and feed formulation. Within the M.S. in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Program, Dr. Rossi teaches Fish Nutrition, advises graduate and undergraduate students, and provides technical support to stakeholders in aquaculture nutrition-related areas.
Key Words: Aquaculture nutrition, nutritional requirements, raw materials, additives, supplemental enzymes, aquafeeds, feed formulation, finfish nutrition, shrimp nutrition.
Dr. Erbland has 25 years of experience in aquaculture and aquatic ecology working across many sectors including regulation, restoration, research, education and industry. He is especially interested in research and development of systems and species to produce sustainable seafood with minimal environmental footprint. He has previously worked with land based, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), shellfish aquaculture, microalgae production and sustainable feed production. Dr. Erbland teaches the Principles of Aquaculture (AQU 422/522) and Survey of Production Methods (AQU 451/551) courses.
Keywords: aquaculture, recirculating aquaculture, RAS, fish production, marine biology, aquatic ecology, water quality, filtration, technology, automation, sustainability, aquafeeds
Assistant Professor
Pond Management and Aquaculture Extension
Contact Information
Office: Aquaculture Research Center, Â鶹ֱ²¥
Phone: (502) 597-8107
Email: dayan.perera@kysu.edu
Dr. Dayan A. Perera is an Assistant Professor of Pond Management and Aquaculture Extension in the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Â鶹ֱ²¥. He leads the University's statewide Extension program in pond management and aquaculture, providing science-based education and technical assistance to producers, landowners, Extension agents, natural resource professionals, and the general public throughout Kentucky. His program is dedicated to improving the health, productivity, and sustainability of Kentucky's thousands of private ponds while supporting the continued growth and economic development of the Commonwealth's aquaculture industry.
Dr. Perera's Extension and applied research program focuses on the management of ponds used for aquaculture, recreational fisheries, and other multiple-use purposes. His areas of expertise include pond water quality, aquatic weed identification and management, fish health, pond ecology, aquatic habitat improvement, and sustainable aquaculture production. He works closely with clientele across Kentucky through on-site consultations, diagnostic services, educational workshops, field demonstrations, Extension publications, and producer training programs that promote science-based management practices and long-term stewardship of aquatic resources.
Originally from Sri Lanka, Dr. Perera has more than 20 years of experience in aquaculture research, teaching, and Extension. Prior to joining Â鶹ֱ²¥, he served as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he developed nationally recognized Extension programming and conducted applied research in aquaculture production systems. His research and professional collaborations have taken him throughout the United States and internationally, including projects in Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Canary Islands.
Dr. Perera teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in aquaculture and aquatic sciences while mentoring the next generation of aquatic resource professionals. His research integrates applied science with Extension outreach and focuses on developing practical, science-based solutions that improve pond management, enhance aquaculture production, and strengthen aquatic resource stewardship. Through collaborative research and stakeholder engagement, his goal is to improve the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of aquaculture and private pond management throughout Kentucky.
Current Research & Extension Interests
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Pond water quality monitoring, assessment, and management
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Aquatic weed identification and integrated management
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Farm pond and recreational fisheries management
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Commercial aquaculture production systems
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Split-pond and in-pond raceway production technologies
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Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
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Fish health, biosecurity, and disease prevention
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Sustainable aquaculture and best management practices
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Pond habitat enhancement and aquatic ecosystem management
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Aquaculture Extension education and workforce development
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Producer outreach and stakeholder engagement
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Applied research supporting Kentucky's aquaculture industry
Key Words: Aquaculture; Aquaculture Extension; Pond Management; Water Quality; Aquatic Weed Management; Fish Health; Pond Ecology; Recreational Fisheries; Farm Ponds; Aquaculture Production; Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS); Split-Pond Systems; Sustainable Aquaculture; Extension Education; Producer Outreach; Aquatic Resource Management.