Robert "Bob" Fenner

Robert (Bob) Fenner has "lived" the science, hobby and business of aquatics in the Philippines, Japan and United States. All phases; collector, wholesale, jobber, retail, design, construction and maintenance. All levels; manager, owner, hatchery worker, retail clerk, technician. Except for a stint teaching high school sciences for four years, he has worked all his life in the field of ornamental aquatics.

Academic experience includes eleven years of college, a couple of life science degrees and a teaching credential for chemistry, physics and biology. Published works include several studies on aquatic biological and chemical questions, and an extensive publishing and photographic background in the industry and hobby of aquatics. Have taught High School sciences and Marine Sciences and Aquariology courses at the State University, University of California levels.

Bob has been an avid aquatic hobbyist since day one and is active in hobbyist and scientific organizations. He has served on numerous Boards, judged shows and given many programs.

Helped form and run (President) of the employee-owned corporation, Nature Etc., Inc. in San Diego, started in 1973; a turn-key operation in the field of ornamental aquatics, designing and building ponds, lakes, fountains and waterfalls (Aquatic Environments), designing, installing custom aquarium systems and maintenance (Aquatic Life Services), and operating retail outlets (Wet Pets).... currently does consulting, content provision to the trade, sciences and hobby of aquaristics.

ABSTRACT:

"Aquaculture: Controlled Production and Rearing of Marine Ornamentals "

Aquaculture is the controlled growth of aquatic source protein for human consumption, study or ornament. Most of us are interested in just the last two. We are, indeed, all aquaculturists; some more scientific than others.

As a person who has made their living for decades by spanning between the often times entirely seperate realms of science, business and hobby aspects of aquatics, I assure you that you possess tremendously important, possibly unique information of economic importance to aquaculture. Mariculturists and fresh-water growers of fishes, invertebrates and algae would do well to associate with aquari culturists .

Several species of marines, pet, food, and just scientific, have been bred and raised in captivity. Techniques employed range from environmental and hormonal manipulation, to "just plain luck". The present situation finds only a few species of fishes (clowns, cleaner gobies) and algae raised in commercial numbers with many "pilot" programs investigating the culture of invertebrates (corals, crustaceans and more).

There has been a long-standing economic and quality bias against aquacultured specimens. With improving technologies, legal regulation and economies of scale the future looks bright for captive propagation and grow out.

The presentation is a brief overview of the opportunities, challenges and underlying principles of aquaculture.