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Virginia Tech opens new seafood research centre

Virginia Tech has officially opened its new Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC).

The grand opening of this US$10 million complex in Hampton Roads, Va. is meant to mark the university’s 47-year-old commitment to supporting the future of the seafood industry in the state.

“We’re here to serve the Virginia seafood industry and working to identify and respond to emerging needs and opportunities has always been the primary driver,” said Seafood AREC Director Michael Schwarz at the facility’s grand opening on Nov. 30. “The enhanced capacity of this new building will allow us to grow programs in ways that will benefit our stakeholders for years to come.”

Hampton mayor, Donnie Tuck, was among the stakeholders, industry partners and officials that attended the celebration at the Historic Hampton Post Office. The event also featured tours of the newly-built building and its laboratories, classrooms and aquaculture facilities where researchers are already conducting fish feed trials for high-protein grains.