Craig A. Watson

Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Sciences

Craig A. Watson

Coordinator, Research and Facilities

M.Aq., 1988
Auburn University

B. S. Biology, 1981
Florida State University

More Photos Below

Craig Watson, a native of Miami, began his career at a tropical fish farm in 1974. He joined UF as a multi county aquaculture extension agent in April of 1988. In 1997 he was appointed director and research coordinator for the newly established Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, Florida. His primary interests are in development of techniques for commercial production of new species, drug and chemical labeling, and public policy issues.

E-mail: caw@ifas.ufl.edu

Phone: 813-671-5230 ext. 107

Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Craig Watson,
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
1408 24th Street SE
Ruskin, FL 33570

Selected publications

Crosby, T. C., J. E. Hill, C. A. Watson, R. P. E. Yanong, and R. Strange. 2006. Effects of tricaine methansulfonate, Hypno, Aquacalm, quinaldine, and salt on plasma cortisol levels following acute stress in three spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 18: 58-63. pdf

Watson, C.A., Hill, J. E., Design Criteria for Recirculating, Marine Ornamental Production Systems, Aquacultural Engineering, In Press

Yanong, R. P. E., J. E. Hill, C. J. Daniels, and C. A. Watson. 2006. Efficacy of 17-a-methyltestosterone for expression of male secondary sexual characteristics in the swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii. North American Journal of Aquaculture 68(3):224-229. PDF

Oi, David H., Watson, C. A., and Williams D. F..2004. Monitoring and Management of Red Imported Fire Ants in a Tropical Fish Farm, Florida Entomologist: Vol. 87, No. 4, pp. 522–527.

Wilson, J., Osenberg, C. W., St. Mary, C., Watson, C., and Lindberg, W. 2001. Artificial Reefs, the Attraction-production Issue, and Density Dependence in Marine Ornamental Fishes Aquarium Sciences and Conservation , Volume 3, Numbers 1-3, March 2001, pp 95 - 105

	UF/IFAS' Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory facility in Ruskin is located near Tampa where the heaviest concentration of tropical fish farms exist in the United States. The newly renovated building, previously a US Weather Service office includes over 5,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, two new wetlabs, and a classroom for workshops and courses. The staff assists Florida's ornamental aquaculture industry by providing research and extension programs at the facility. A full diagnostic fish health laboratory is now up and running and a full-time wildlife biologist is on hand to assist with nuisance wildlife problems.
	Craig Watson gets his feet wet in one of the 55 newly acquired grow-out ponds being prepared for research use at UF/IFAS' new tropical aquaculture laboratory in Ruskin, Florida. The ponds are located on what was formerly a 6.5 acre tropical fish farm. The land was purchased in 1998 for use by the University of Florida.
	Aquatic plants were second in net sales for Florida aquaculture in 1997. Aquatic plant sales include those used for aquariums, outdoor ponds, and farm-produced plants used in wetlands restoration.
	Freshwater tropical fish are the focus of studies at the University of Floridaís Tropical Research Lab in Ruskin.

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