PD/A CRSP Database: A Great Resource for Aquaculture The Central Database homepage, <biosys.bre.orst.edu/crspdb>, features a map of research sites around the globe, availability of datasets, and links to the publications and project sections and to user manuals. by Jeff Burright hat aquaculture instructor wouldn’t like to provide students the opportunity to learn by conducting research? However, with most aquaculture grow-out experiments requiring six months or more to complete, few classes can afford that luxury. With the help of the PD/A CRSP Central Database, an instructor can allow students to design "virtual experiments" and test the hypotheses using results extracted from the Database. Through creative experimental design, results can be used in ways the original investigator never imagined. This "hypothetical" is only one of many practical uses for the Database in aquaculture. The Database was originally established to support analysis of variance among research sites from all over the globe and the development of predictive models for aquaculture processes. It is a centralized storage and retrieval system for data and information stemming from CRSP research, and it currently contains results from over 100 aquaculture production studies conducted at sites in Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, Thailand, and the US. The majority of data derives from studies on the production of Nile tilapia in sub-tropical and tropical regions, in solar algae ponds receiving inputs of plant materials, inorganic/organic fertilizers, and prepared feeds. Studies of other pond fishes and penaeid shrimp under monoculture and polyculture management are also available. Specifically, the Database includes: • descriptions and specifications of CRSP research studies; • physical descriptions of research sites and facilities; • standard analytical methods; • comprehensive results of fish production studies; and • CRSP publications. The entire Database is available on CD by request, but the typical user interface to the Database is via its website <biosys.bre.orst.edu/crspdb>. A Database user can find measurements of site weather, pond soils, water quality and biological productivity, fish culture management, and fish growth and productivity. Together, these linked materials, methods, results, and publications provide integrated packages of site-specific information that the user can access to aid in aquaculture research or planning. The global scope of the Database offers a wide range of conditions so that users can find a region with climate and soil conditions similar to their own. The Database is organized by information type. Each category is further arranged by geographical location, period of study, and additional criteria. The structure of the search engine is currently evolving to a new interface, so prospective users should periodically consult the Database website’s feature, "How to Use the Database," at <biosys.bre.orst.edu/crspDB/TechSupport/usermanual.htm>, for updated instructions. All searches produce listings or tables of results that appear on screen and can be easily saved to a local computer. Datasets may be viewed in raw or summary form and in graphical or tabular format, or the user can download them as delimited files for spreadsheet applications.