The Cooperative Extension Service is a partnership of county, state, and federal government which serves the citizens of Florida by providing information and training on a wide variety of topics. In Florida, the Extension Service is a part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food an Agricultural Sciences with selected programs at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
Extension touches almost everyone in the state from the homeowner to huge agribusiness operations in such areas as food safety, gardening, child and family development, consumer credit counseling, youth development, energy consumption, sustainable agriculture, competitiveness in world markets, and natural resource conservation. Each of Florida’s counties has an extension office.
For information about these offices, go to the UF Extension Offices web page.
Extension Programs
Fishing for Success
Fishing For Success (FFS) is a multifaceted program that uses fishing and other related activities as the “hook” to introduce children of all ages to various aspects of fisheries and aquatic environmental sciences. The current program began in 1998, and has constantly evolved to meet the needs of 4-H extension faculty, teachers, youth group leaders and the community at large. The initial focus of the program was to provide mentoring and career counseling to a small group of underprivileged youth.
Florida LAKEWATCH
Florida LAKEWATCH is a volunteer citizen lake monitoring program that facilitates “hands-on” citizen participation in the management of Florida lakes, rivers and coastal sites through monthly monitoring activities.
Florida Shellfish Aquaculture
The mission of the extension program is to support and enhance environmentally and economically-sustainable shellfish aquaculture in Florida. The industry produces over 150 million hard clams annually while providing hundreds of jobs in rural coastal communities. The program addresses the needs of the industry through integration of applied research projects with outreach and educational efforts.
Extension Publications
For information on FAS Extension Publications, click here or use the link on the left menu.
Extension Contacts
Have a question about fisheries, aquaculture, or pond management? Extension staff associated with the department will be happy to help.
Contact Person |
Phone, Fax, E-mail |
Area of Expertise |
Shirley Baker |
Phone: (352)273-3627 Fax: (352) 392-3672 email: sbaker25@ufl.edu |
Marine Invertebrates Coastal Ecology More Info |
Eric J Cassiano |
Phone: (813) 671-5230 ext. 109 Fax: (813) 671-5234email: ericcass@ufl.edu |
Ornamental aquaculture, marine aquaculture, recirculating systems, and live feeds |
Frank Chapman |
Phone: (352)273-3602 Fax: (352) 392-3672 email: fchapman@ufl.edu |
Food and ornamental fish culture Fish reproduction and spawning Hatchery management Larval fish rearing Vo-Ag Education- Aquaculture recirculating systems |
Chuck Cichra |
Phone: (352)273-3621 Fax: (352) 392-3672 email:cecichra@ufl.edu |
Coordination of Extension Program Youth education Farm pond and lake management Fee fishing Urban fishing Environmental education More Info |
Matthew A. DiMaggio |
Phone: (813) 671-5230 Fax: (813) 671-5234 email: mdimaggi@ufl.edu |
Ornamental aquaculture Fish reproduction and larval rearing Marine baitfish culture More Info |
Jeff Hill |
Phone: (813)671-5230 x118
Fax: (813)671-5234 email: jeffhill@ufl.edu |
Non-native and invasive fish; non-native and invasive aquatic animals; fish identification |
Joshua Patterson |
Phone: (813) 419-4917 Fax: (813) 41+4929 email: joshpatterson@ufl.edu | Restoration Aquaculture More Info |
Leslie Sturmer |
Phone: (352) 543-5057
Fax: (352) 543-6958 |
Shellfish hatchery and nursery technology Shellfish grow-out Marine aquaculture Shellfish (Clams/Oysters) More Info |
Craig Watson |
Phone: (813) 671-5230 Fax: (813) 671-5234 email: cawatson@ufl.edu |
Ornamental aquaculture Aquascaping Aquatic plant control |
Huiping Yang |
Phone: (352) 294-0671 FAX: (352) 392-3672 email: huipingyang@ufl.edu |
Molluscan Shellfish Aquaculture and Restoration More Info |
Roy Yanong |
Phone: (813) 671-5230 FAX: (813) 671-5234 email: rpy@ufl.edu |
Fish health management Water quality and ornamental fish More Info |