Chuck Weirich Joins NC Sea Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
E-Ching Lee, North Carolina Sea Grant, 919-515-9098, eching_lee@ncsu.edu

Posted Thursday, February 19, 2015

Chuck Weirich recently joined North Carolina Sea Grant as marine aquaculture specialist. He is based in Morehead City.

“Chuck brings a wealth of experience in research, operations management and extension. He understands the importance of results-based research and knows that producers must be both economically profitable and friendly to the natural environment if they are to operate successfully in the long run,” says Jack Thigpen, Sea Grant extension director.

In his new duties, Weirich will focus on developing North Carolina’s marine aquaculture industry — encompassing the production of molluscan shellfish, crustaceans and finfish — through outreach and technology transfer activities.

He will oversee and assist with research and demonstration projects designed to improve and refine production methods for the aquaculture industry.

“The potential to expand marine aquaculture in North Carolina is tremendous,” Weirich states. “It is exciting to work as part of the Sea Grant team because it provides me with the opportunity to assist in the further development of a sustainable marine aquaculture industry that will greatly benefit the state’s coastal communities and their economies for generations to come.”

Weirich has held positions with universities, federal and state governmental agencies, and the commercial aquaculture industry. Prior to joining Sea Grant, he was director of facilities and development with Atlantic Caviar and Sturgeon in Lenoir.

He also has served as a research fisheries biologist for the Sustainable Marine Aquaculture Program with the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ft. Pierce, Fla.; chief scientist and director of marine operations with Aqua Green, LLC, in Perkinston, Miss.; and hatchery manager at Rancheros del Mar in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

A native of the central Texas Hill Country, Weirich holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree from Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University) and a doctoral degree from Clemson University.

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