Waddell Mariculture Center


Back to Biology Home Page
The Waddell Center is located in Bluffton, South Carolina approximately 3 hours from the main campus in Columbia. This facility is dedicated to research on the large scale culture of marine and fresh water species. Operated by the South Carolina Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources, the facility has a cooperative education and research program with the University of South Carolina. Developmental, genetic and ecological studies have utilized organisms reared at the Center. The physical resources are located on a 1,200 acre tract, that includes, a 10,000 sq. ft. building with bivalve hatchery, a 2,600 sq. ft. outdoor pad for tank and raceway cultures and two dozen ponds ranging between 0.25 and 1.25 acres. The facility has the capacity to deliver high volumes of either seawater or freshwater to any portion of the facility. Also there is a 265 ft. pier with floating docks used for experimental cage culture. Including living quarters and conference facilities for visiting scientists, the Waddell Center is one of the most advanced mariculture facilities in the world.