People

Dr. Daniel Benetti

Professor and Director of Aquaculture
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Benetti’s research interests are focused on the development of aquaculture techniques, management and tools. Benetti has twenty years of experience in marine fish aquaculture world-wide, especially in hatchery (maturation, spawning, larval rearing and nursery) grow out in cages. Currently Principal Investigator of a DOC/NOAA/NSG funded project on hatchery production of mutton snapper, cobia and amberjack for grow out in offshore cages. He is also technical director of Snapperfarm Offshore Aquaculture (UM Industry partners). Currently leading the Aquaculture Program at UM’s Rosenstiel School and carrying out interdisciplinary research and technology transfer for the development of sustainable aquaculture projects in the US and several countries.

Jorge Arturo Suarez

Post-doctoral Research Associate
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Dr. Jorge Arturo Suárez is a Research Associate III at the Aquaculture Program at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric Science. He is the manager of the Aquaculture Nutrition Unit and advices graduate students and technicians conducting research in the field of aquatic nutrition. He is the Co-PI of current grants and contracts aimed at formulating and developing practical diets for high-value marine fish by reducing fish meal and fish oil utilization. Dr. Suárez has over 15 years of experience in applied research of shrimp and fish, including genetics, physiology and nutrition. He has published several articles on the replacement of fish meal with alternative protein sources and energy budget for Penaeid shrimp and is now focused on marine fish research.

Ron Hoenig

Fish Hatchery Manager
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Ron Hoenig has been a part of the University of Miami Aquaculture Program’s groundbreaking research team for more than five years. He is currently the manager of the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery, overseeing operations, including fingerling production, project development and technology transfer. Hoenig graduated from RSMAS in 2009 with a Master of Arts in Marine Affairs and Policy, focusing on the development of aquaculture techniques for a number of different marine finfish species. His master’s thesis investigated the economic feasibility of commercial scale hatchery production of goggle eye fingerlings. Upon graduation, Mr. Hoenig was hired as a Research Associate working on improving methods for broodstock collection and management, captive spawning, and larval rearing of goggle eye (Selar crumenophthalmus), blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and cobia (Rachycentron canadum). He has been a co-author on several recently published papers on cobia aquaculture and the sustainability of carnivorous finfish production.

John Stieglitz

Research Assistant / PhD Student
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John Stieglitz is currently pursuing a PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries at RSMAS. His research focuses on developing sustainable aquaculture techniques and technology for use in hatcheries and offshore aquaculture sites. He completed a Master of Science in Marine Affairs in Policy at RSMAS in 2010, and his thesis research focused on the optimization of juvenile live cobia transport. He is currently working on the creation of economically viable production methodologies for pelagic fish such as tuna (Thunnus spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), goggle eye (Selar crumenophthalmus), mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) in an effort to further develop these species for use in marine finfish aquaculture. Additionally, he is investigating the effects of crude oil and chemical dispersants on economically important finfish species of the Gulf of Mexico, using aquaculture to gain insight into acute toxicity and sub-lethal physiological effects of these toxins on the early life stages of marine fish.

Juan Sierra-De la Rosa

Research Assistant / PhD Student
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Juan Sierra-De la Rosa is in his second year at UM-RSMAS, studying for a PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries. He completed a bachelor of science in Marine Biology at University Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Colombia) becoming involved in aquaculture since the second year in commercial operations of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and red tilapia (Oreochromis sp). After completing his B.S., he worked during 2002 with artisanal fishermen and indigenous communities in the culture of the mullet (Mugil Liza) in coastal lagoons of La Guajira (Colombian Caribbean). His B.S. thesis described two techniques for the controlled reproduction of fish species: i) Sperm cryopreservation for the endangered fresh water Barred sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) with Methanol and DMSO, which included an electron microscopy description of the cells (2003), and ii) hormonal induction (HCG) and larval rearing of the Spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus). Since 2003 he functioned as an investigator for the Colombian Aquaculture Research Center (CENIACUA), and from January 2005 to June 2010 he worked as the director of the CENIACUA’s Fish Program, which developed research projects for snappers culture (Lutjanus guttatus, L. analis), poly-culture of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) in low salinity ponds, super-intensive culture of red tilapia in a saline Bio-floc system, and overseen the development of a commercial Cobia project (currently producing at commercial level in Cartagena, Colombia) with the support of University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UM-RSMAS) during 2007-2010. In 2010 he was awarded a scholarship from the Colombian government for PhD studies, which focuses in pelagic marine fish aquaculture under the direction of Dr. Daniel Benetti.

Sasa Miralao

Research Assistant / Masters Student
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Sasa Miralao is a student at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) pursuing a Master of Science in Marine affairs and Policy. His research thesis will focus on constructing an energy budget for cobia (Rachycentron canadum) eggs and larvae. This will involve the use of respirometry chambers, ammonia and urea assays, and monitoring the growth of cobia from eggs to post flexion larvae (~ 14dph). He also hopes to carry out similar studies for the other species in the hatchery. As a member of the Aquaculture Program, he has been involved in the development of new technologies for broodstock capture, husbandry and larval rearing of marine finfish species including blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), google-eye (Selar crumenophthalmus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) and mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). However, his main area of responsibility has been Broodstock Management.

Zack Daugherty

Research Assistant / Masters Student
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Zack Daugherty is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Marine Affairs and Policy at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). His academic background includes a Bachelors of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Missouri completed in 2008. In 2000 he has worked 3 years in freshwater aquaculture for the Missouri Department of Conservation assisting in stock enhancement projects for regional recreational fisheries. His freshwater aquaculture experience includes broodstock management and larval rearing of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). At the University of Miami’s Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) Zack has been assisting in the development of new technologies for broodstock capture, husbandry and larval rearing of marine finfish species including blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), google-eye (Selar crumenophthalmus), Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) and mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). His research focus is the investigation and validation of larval rearing technologies including the substitution of live algae with inorganic clay particles.

L to R: Daniel Benetti, Ron Hoenig, John Stieglitz