SRAC: Background

The Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) is one of five regional aquaculture centers established by Congress. The designated regions are Tropical/Subtropical, Western, Northeastern, North Central, and Southern. Authorization for the establishment of these Centers by USDA was provided in Title XIV of the Agriculture & Food Act of 1980 and the Food Security Act of 1985 (Subtitle L, Section 1475[d]). SRAC began organizational activities in 1987, and the first research and extension projects were initiated in 1988. The thirteen states and two territories included in the Southern Region are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Virginia.

Projects that are developed and funded by SRAC are based on industry needs and are designed to directly impact commercial aquaculture development in the Southern Region.

Organizational Structure:

The Board of Directors, the policy-making body for SRAC, utilizes recommendations from an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and a Technical Committee (TC) to determine priorities for new and continuing aquaculture research and extension projects for the Southern Region. IAC membership represents different segments of the aquaculture industry throughout the region and provides an open forum wherein maximum input from private and public sectors can be gained and incorporated into annual and on-going plans for SRAC. The TC is composed of research and extension scientists from essentially all states within the region and identifies priorities from a technical perspective. These groups provide valuable inputs into the SRAC program by identifying and developing priority research and extension needs in aquaculture. Using recommendations from these two groups, the SRAC Board of Directors selects priority categories for project development and funding.

Most SRAC projects are developed using the Work Group method. For further information on Work Groups, Steering Committees, and other components of the SRAC program, please see our Operations Manual.

Where We Are:

The SRAC Administrative Office is located at the Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, Mississippi (see map to DREC). Mississippi State University serves as the Host Institution. All necessary support services for the Board of Directors, Industry Advisory Council, Technical Committee, Steering Committees and project Work Groups are provided by the Administrative Office.

Map of Mississippi

Map of Greenville and Leland

Map of Leland, and Delta Research and Extension Center

Administrative Office Contacts:

Southern Regional Aquaculture Center

127 Experiment Station Road
P.O. Box 197
Stoneville, MS 38776
Phone: 662-686-3269
Fax: 662-686-3320

Dr. Jimmy Avery, Director

Phone: 662-686-3273
Email: javery@drec.msstate.edu

Kristen Thompson, Business Manager

Phone: 662-686-3269
Email: k.thompson@msstate.edu