COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mention agriculture in Ohio, and corn, soybeans and wheat are usually the first words uttered. But aquaculture is a growing sector in the state, with annual sales of $6.6 million.

Aquaculture (farming in water) includes the breeding, raising and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae and other aquatic organisms.

The industry in Ohio involves around 150 licensed farms, and an additional 50 pilot-scale or experimental operations. These farms utilize both indoor and outdoor systems and are primarily small- to mid-sized businesses. In addition, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources operates six state fish hatcheries.

In recent years, Ohio Sea Grant has played a significant role in helping grow aquaculture’s presence statewide, thanks to the efforts of Nicole Wright, the program’s aquaculture extension educator.

In her role, Wright connects researchers, Ohio State University Extension specialists and industry professionals while assisting in building Sea Grant’s Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC).

“Ohio Sea Grant has been working to tell the story of aquaculture as it happens in Ohio,” said Wright, who joined the program in 2020. “This means helping people make the connection that the fish stocked in their friend’s pond were growing on a fish farm and are now adding value as a tool in pond management and by creating recreational opportunities. It also means making the public aware of fish as a local food, whether wild-caught or farmed.”

Wright listens and responds to the needs of aquaculture producers and those interested in learning more about the field. Ohio Sea Grant’s efforts bring together farmers, researchers, industry leaders and state agencies while identifying research, education and outreach needs.

“We can fund and conduct research that addresses key questions about fish feeds, fish health, production and profitability, and we can continue to raise awareness about why, how, who and what fish farms are in Ohio,” Wright said.

According to Global Trade, there are 3,456 fish farms in the United States.

“Aquaculture is a very challenging industry to be a part of and to enter into as a new producer,” Wright said. “There’s a lot of risk involved in what they’re doing. It can also be that people just don’t even realize it’s something you can get into.”

Despite a lack of awareness, aquaculture remains an important industry in Ohio that has impacts beyond production at farms. State hatcheries run by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources raise fish that people rely on for recreational fishing. On the culinary side, fish farms contribute to the domestic production of seafood in the U.S., which has a tremendous import-export disparity, Wright said.

“Aquaculture contributes to Ohio’s agriculture by producing dozens of aquatic species with multiple uses,” Wright said. “Many grow fish for food such as tilapia, yellow perch, sports fish such as bass and bluegills, and saltwater shrimp. These greatly add to local economies.”

In Ohio, sustainable freshwater farms supply fish for different purposes: pond stocking, recreational fishing, pond management, ornamental water gardens, food for restaurants and food for grocery stores.

These aquatic operations often face unique challenges compared to traditional farms, including higher regulatory costs, greater barriers to access capital, and/or a need for more specialized expertise.

Moving forward, Wright saids she hopes to expose more students, including culinary students and students in 4-H and FFA, to the aquaculture industry as a potential career.

“Aquaculture can be a lucrative successful venture,” Wright said.

Bill Lynch, of Union County, Ohio, is one of those aquaculture success stories. He started his yellow perch pond culture facility in 2001 and to this day sells all sizes of perch to pond and lake management companies.

Lynch attended Ohio State University and received his master’s degree in fisheries management in the early 1980s.

“While at OSU I had a lot of research experience with yellow perch, so in 2001 I started building ponds and began growing yellow perch,” Lynch said.

His venture got started on his farm, Millcreek Perch Farm, near Marysville.

“We got a call from a pond and lake management company one day and they wanted to buy some of the perch to stock private ponds,” he said. “Well, it didn’t take long to realize we would be better off to continue selling to private companies for pond stocking, so today we are a wholesaler selling to those types of companies. At full production we’re capable of producing between 300,000 and 350,000 perch a year.”

The most popular farm species of fish in the state include yellow perch, tilapia, bluegill and largemouth bass. The last census from OSU Extension found there were 36 species being raised in aquaculture settings, including many fish species, fresh and saltwater shrimp, plants, crawfish, and even saltwater coral.

Before diving headfirst into aquaculture, Lynch suggests having a business plan on hand.

“A good, well thought out business plan would include research on inputs, on marketing options, and overall goals,” he said. “It’s important to think critically. In Ohio, our market is holding steady.”