Michael Habtetsion

Michael Habte-Tsion is the Assistant Extension Professor and Finfish Nutrition Specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Aquaculture Research Institute. He has extensive knowledge and 20 years experiences in aquaculture research, extension, development, education and in the industry. Michael does research in aquatic animal nutrition, immuno-nutrition, and nutrigenomics. His research focuses are fundamental in developing nutritionally balanced, cost effective and environment friendly sustainable aquafeeds. He has 72 publications, cited more than 1480 times. Michael’s twenty years in aquaculture research (including at UMaine, Florida Atlantic University, Kentucky State University, and Seawater Farms Eritrea) brings extensive experience in project design and implementation, finfish culture in RAS and the feed production industry to the UMaine CE and ARI for serving the State of Maine and beyond. He has research collaborations with Maine’s aquaculture industry and stakeholders (USDA – ARS), as well as national industry partners and universities on leading issues for a sustainable aquaculture industry. Dr. Habte-Tsion is the lead PI for the newly established Fish Nutrition and Nutrigenomics Laboratory (FNNL) at UMaine, that is used for industry contract and grant research. FNNL run full-services of fish feed formulation, nutrients requirement and evaluation of alternative feedstuffs using digestibility and growth trials, analytical, physio biochemical, immunological, and molecular approaches. FNNL plays a key role in research and education for the development of complete feed for sustainable aquaculture production for Maine’s growing finfish industry, as well as for the United States and international aquaculture industry.