AQUACULTURE DIVISION STAFF

RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

Rolland Laramore, Ph.D.
(Technical Director, Aquatic Animal Health Lab) - rlaramore@hboi.edu

Dr. Laramore is the Technical Director of the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory at HBOI. As the lab director, he provides technical advice and health screening services to a variety of HBOI projects and clients around the world. Dr. Laramore is one of the world's leading experts on shrimp nutrition, health management, genetic selection for disease resistance and overall shrimp culture practices. He is current president and director of research at the firm of Bonney, Laramore and Hopkins, an aquatic animal health management company in collaboration with HBOI. He worked with Shrimp Culture Technologies Inc. (SCTI) to develop an SPF shrimp genetics improvement program. When he was with Granada Genetics, Dr. Laramore developed a method for controlling Baculovirus in shrimp hatcheries through the elevation of the water temperature and the isolation of the rearing tanks. Dr. Laramore also worked with Ralston Purina, where he was responsible for the bacteriological and viral testing of domestic animals; responsible for the testing of disinfectants, antibiotics and vaccines, submitted to USDA for registration by for Purina's Health Industry Group.

Selected Publications:
- Laramore, C.R., S. Allen, P. Hitchens, X. Romero and A.M. Schuur. Induction of active accommodation for WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei with tolerine products. Proceedings of the 4th Latin American Aquaculture Congress. (In press).
- Laramore, S., C.R. Laramore and J. Scarpa. 2001. Effect of low salinity on growth and survival of postlarvae and juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. J World Aqua Soc. 32:385-392.

Susan Laramore, M.S.
(Director, Aquatic Animal Health Lab) - slaramore@hboi.edu

Susan is the Director of the Aquatic Animal Health Lab, which provides diagnostic services for shrimp, fish and bivalves, including general necropsies, histology, and disease identification through PCR. Her main interest is in shrimp diseases, particularly shrimp viruses. In addition to the health lab she is also teaches disease management and bio-security classes in conjunction with ACTED and IRCC. Susan received her M.S. at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in Molecular Biology in 1994 and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Tech, where she is working with various strains of the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV).

Selected Publications:
- Laramore, C.R., S. Allen, P. Hitchens, X. Romero and A.M. Schuur. Induction of active accommodation for WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei with tolerine products. Proceedings of the 4th Latin American Aquaculture Congress. (In press).
- Laramore, S., C.R. Laramore and J. Scarpa. 2001. Effect of low salinity on growth and survival of postlarvae and juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 32: 385-392.
- Laramore, S., J. Scarpa and W.J McGraw. 2003. Concentracion de iones requirida para el cultivo de Litopenaeus vannamei en agua dulce. Panorama Acuicola Magazine, 8(2): 60-63.
- Laramore, S. 2003. Farming Shrimp in Low Salinity. Shrimp News International.
- Laramore, S. 2004. Biosecurity Practices - Effective or Merely Window Dressing. GAA October, 2004.
- Laramore, S. 2004. Recommendations for Preparing Aquatic Animal Specimens for Disease Diagnosis. FFN July, 2004.

James Webb, M.S.
(Production Manager, STARR Facility) - jwebb@hboi.edu

In 2000 James shifted his career focus from protein biochemistry to aquaculture. He received his M.S. in Aquaculture from the University of Tasmania (Launceston, Australia) where he conducted research on feeding and production strategies for marine flatfish. James received his Masters degree in Aquaculture from the University of Tasmania (Launceston, Australia) where his research focused on production strategies for marine flatfish. James has also worked commercially with a number of different culture methods and species, including offshore sea cages (salmonids), marine flow-through systems (abalone), freshwater ponds (cichlids) and marine/freshwater recirculation systems (salmonids, prawns). Since joining the Aquaculture division in 2003, James has focused primarily on the design and fabrication of new recirculating culture systems and facilities. As these facilities have become completed, James develops the operational and management protocols necessary for technology transfer to the research staff.

Selected Publications:
- Webb, J. and M. Davis. 2004. Quarantine facility: design criteria, management. Fish Farming News. Jan/Feb.

Amber Shawl, M.E.M
(Research Associate II) - ashawl@hboi.edu

Amber initially conducted research at HBOI as an intern in 2000 and helped design the first recirculating conch captive breeding system. In May 2001, she received her master's degree from Duke University, and returned to HBOI and the conch program. She spent her first few years developing the conch research and education program. For two years, she worked as the Conch Hatchery Manager for Oceans, Reefs, and Aquariums and was responsible for the sale of Florida fighting conch for the aquarium market. Amber currently works as an aquaculture educator and research scientist for the Harbor Branch Aquaculture Division, where she's involved with public education, the IRCC degree program, and a variety of research projects. She also serves as the Education and Outreach Director of the Conch Heritage Network; an organization founded at HBOI in 2001 that is dedicated to protecting the queen conch through education and outreach programs.

Selected Publications:
- Shawl, A., M. Davis, R. Glazer, K. Main, K. Leber, and G. Delgado. 2003. Conch Heritage Network: Conserving queen conch for future generations. In: Aldana-Aranda, D. (ed.) El Caracol Strombus gigas: Conocimiento Integral para su Manejo Sostentible en el Caribe. Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo. Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, pp. 163-165.
- Shawl, A.L. and M. Davis. 2004. Captive breeding behavior of four Strombidae conch. Journal of Shellfish Research 23(1): 157-164.
- Shawl, A.L., M. Davis and J. Corsaut. 2003. Captive breeding for the gastropod conch (Strombus spp.) Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 54: 427-436.
- Shawl, Amber, Dave Jenkins, Megan Davis and Kevan Main. Growth of Florida fighting conch, Strombus alatus, in recirculating systems. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. (In press).

AQUACULTURE TECHNICIANS

David Wood, B.S.
(Research Technician) - dwood@hboi.edu

After completing his service in the United States Marine Corps, David Wood received his BS degree in Marine Science from Savannah State University in 1998. After receiving his degree, David worked for several years as a NMFS Observer and Marine Mammal Biologist in Alaska. Later, he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers transporting juvenile salmonid species down the Snake and Columbia Rivers for release. David got his initial aquaculture experience working for the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation in Alaska raising Pacific Salmon. He moved to Florida in 2001 and worked for the University of Florida Natural History Museum Ichthyology Department as a Shark Biologist. David joined the staff of the HBOI Aquaculture Division in 2003 and works in the Sustainable Tank Aquaculture Recirculating Research (STARR) Facility located in the Harbor Branch Aquaculture Park.