Leslie Sturmer
Ex Officio Board Member
Leslie works at Florida SeaGrant Extension in Cedar Key, providing extension support concerning aquaculture to the molluscan shellfish industry sectors in Florida. She works with marine shellfish culturists, commercial shellfishers, state/federal marine resource regulators, shellfish dealers, and the general public. Leslie conducts applied research projects in all phases of production management, including genetic improvement, management strategies, and evaluation of alternative molluscan shellfish species for culture. Species include hard clams, oysters, and potential aquaculture species, such as ark and sunray venus clams.
Specialties
- Production aquaculture
- Molluscan shellfisheries and restoration
- Rural economic development
- Water quality
Outreach
Leslie provides educational programs for shellfish farmers, highlighting grow-out production technology, seed production, product quality, water quality, health monitoring, species diversification, and organizational development; programs for new growers to foster economic development in rural coastal communities; programs in water quality that include a broad range as it relates to molluscan shellfish, such as monitoring, restoration, and citizen stewardship.
She earned an MS in Aquaculture and Fisheries from Auburn University and a BS in Zoology and Fisheries from North Carolina State University.
Contact Leslie at:
Florida Sea Grant Extension
Cedar Key Marine Field Office
PO Box 89
Cedar Key, FL 32625
352- 543-5057 (w)
352-543-6958 (fax)