Exploring Florida's
Fisheries with
Leslie Sturmer, a University of
Florida Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Aquatic
Shellfish Extension Agent, serves
Florida's shellfish industry by offering
services to producers and by aiming to
advance the state's fishery industry.
She has been active in the shellfish
aquaculture industry for 30 years and
now works with second and third
generation clam farmers in Florida. She
obtained her master's degree in
Aquaculture at Auburn University and
chose not to return for her Ph.D. so
that she could start working within the
industry. Sturmer works with the
Nature Biological Coast Station (NCBS)
where she participates in collaborative
efforts with other researchers to
conserve natural resources throughout
the Nature Coast.
Sturmer conducts research in the
waters and teams up with researchers
and scientists to resolve grower's
problems and address concerns within
the industry. Aquaculture is similar to
agriculture where it is farming in water
as opposed to on land. Sturmer's
interest in aquaculture led her to a
move to Cedar Key, Florida in the
1990's where she helped with a
program that trained fisherman how to
farm oysters and clams.
Leslie Sturmer
By Kyle Knaack, University of Florida, Agricultural
Education and Communication Major
Coastline, Katie Ray/UF AEC
Sturmer was able to partner with
other scientists to come up with a
conclusion to a molluscan species' poor
shelf life in Florida due to warm
summer months and a change in water
temperature. Her conclusion of a step-
down tempering process resulted in
state and federal action. The step-down
acclimation process includes different
temperature ranges between 85 and 45
degrees Fahrenheit which gives the
clams enough time to cool down
between harvest and refrigeration
without being stressed. The newly
discovered acclamation process
ultimately led to regulation changes Leslie Sturmer,UF/IFAS/NCBS
within the country and state.
Sturmer's work with growers and "My favorite part of my
scientists provided one of the first
experiences that proved Florida's work is finding out that
aquaculture industry with UF/IFAS there is need and finding
together can conduct research and
offer solutions to continue improving ways to address that
the industry within the state of Florida.
For more information about Sturmer or
need. It is not always
Florida's aquaculture industry, visit, apparent but is always
https://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu or
https://ncbs.ifas.ufl.edu/. exciting when
implementing research
and coming to a
conclusion," Sturmer
said.