Lexington, KY - By definition, aquaculture is the production of aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions, and its practice can be traced back to ancient times. Still, it is a relatively new way of farming in Kentucky, with the advancement of research and production barely more than a generation old.
Fortunately for farmers and enthusiasts in this state, one of the most noted research universities for aquatic farming in the country is located here, and it probably isn't the one most people think about.
Kentucky State University (KSU) has emerged as one of the most well-known and respected facilities for aquaculture research and extension in the country, with a program dating back to the early 1980s.
The center is headed up by a team of experts in the field, and as a land grant program, it concentrates on research, teaching and extension, said Dr. Bob Durborow, KSU professor and state specialist for aquaculture.
"The research is self explanatory with our ponds and tanks," Durborow said. "We do things like determining which feed works best for fish like large-mouth bass, for example. We take the information to students that are working on their master's (the department includes a master's degree program), and that is the teaching component. Then we have extension, which takes the information out to the farmers and producers that grow fish for a profit."
Durborow has seen the program evolve since coming to KSU nearly 20 years ago.
"In the early days, (aquaculture) was mostly a food-fish endeavor. People were raising channel catfish and fresh-water prawn for food," he said. "It's slightly different now because there is very stiff competition from developing countries for processed fish such as frozen fillets."
Durborow said that the main way to make money from fish today is through the sale of live fish for food and recreational uses.
Dr. Jim Tidwell is a professor and chair of the division of aquaculture at KSU and is responsible for oversight of all aquaculture programs. He said one of the significant benefits to the program there is the rapport they have with other agencies, including the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"We have a really good relationship with (the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife). They have helped us in many ways and many areas, and vice versa. Our very first large-mouth bass work was at the request of the department. They came to us and said we were losing a lot of fish in the winter and could (we help) figure out what was going on," he said.
The research being done at KSU is proving to be invaluable to other sectors, as genetics becomes more and more important to the industry, according to Tidwell.
"Genetics is our next great frontier. Early research was developing guidance but most of the real advancements in recent years have come from breeding of (a) better beast," he said.
Tidwell used a comparison to chicken producers as a way to show where genetic research in aquaculture is headed.
"They grow a faster chicken using less feed with more meat on it, and that is exactly where we're going with aquaculture - only we're 25 years behind. We basically have been working with wild animals. Aquaculture is new enough that only 2 to 3 percent of the animals we use are domesticated, much less genetically improved or selected," he said.
Their work in genetics is just one of the reasons KSU's program is so well recognized.
"People don't realize that KSU is one of the top five aquaculture programs in the United States," said Tidwell. "It's a team here. Everybody has worked hard to move the program ahead and move the industry ahead. One of the great things about this program is that almost everyone here is doing this because they want to make a difference for people in the business world and ag community. They want to do something that will help somebody."
The USDA estimates the value of the industry has grown to nearly $1 billion in the last two decades, and Tidwell said aquaculture is set to pass one of the country's signature agriculture industries soon.
"Aquaculture is going to pass beef production in both poundage and dollars next year on an international scale," he said. "We are trying to develop it here in Kentucky. Internationally, it's the fastest growing food producing activity in the world."
KSU has been working to get more people involved and to educate the public by bringing them to the KSU facility to see firsthand what is happening in the world of aquaculture. The staff recently hosted a field day/open house that included tours and discussions of topics ranging from marketing to fish disease diagnostics.
"Our objectives with the field days are to share with the public what we do here, and in a lot of cases, they have ideas that are valuable to us," said Durborow.
Those in attendance ranged from experienced producers to beginners. Jerry Pellman owns a farm in Floyds Knobs, Ind., where he has grown fresh water prawns and tilapia for about five years.
"On the weekends we harvest; we open the farm for people to come and watch and hopefully buy something on the way out," he said. "If I need help, I have connections here at KSU and I can just call someone on the phone."
Pellman also said that he started in the business as a way to add to his existing farming operations, and upon initial research on the subject, found that KSU was the place to go for help and information.
Gene Jacobsen from Richmond also attended the latest field day, but his aquaculture experience is on the other end of the spectrum.
"I've been considering something for the future in aquaculture or hydroponics over the last three or four years," he said. "I'm nowhere nearly as versed as others here, but I have grand plans and big ideas and this is a beginning for me."
Jacobsen added that it was great to have a resource like KSU nearby, and he is excited about his endeavor.
For more information about the aquaculture program at KSU, visit the Web site at www.ksuaquaculture.org.