Resources forOhio Aquaculture

Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Center for Aquaculture ResearchDevelopment (OCARD). We get many requests from people just like you who are looking for alternative ways to farm. There is a lot of information on aquaculture available on the Internet to help jump-start your research. We recommend spending a generous portion of time researching the industry, going to workshops and producer association meetings, visiting fish farms, and developing a business plan before getting fish. We hope this information will help get you started.

OCARD Website:

Phone: 1-800-297-2072 x.121 (in Ohio only), 1-740-289-2071 x 121

Facebook page:

Listserve:We have three email listserves to quickly disseminate information. It is free to subscribe. Just email and identify which lists you would like to be on.

1)Aqua-Ohio: This listserve is the most general and provides information from other producers and researchers, plus job openings, people selling fish and more.

2)Yellow Perch: This listserve shares information relative to yellow perch.

3)Shrimp-talk: This list-serve shares information on freshwater shrimp.

Staff:

Dr. Laura Tiu, Aquaculture Specialist, Extension. Contact for aquaculture industry and development information as well as general aquaculture information.

Dr. Hanping Wang, Aquaculture Researcher, Contact for information on our federally funded research projects, yellow perch genetics, hybrid bluegill research.

Dean Rapp, Research Assistant, Contact for facility and systems information.

Paul O’Bryant, Research Assistant, Contact for water quality information.

Suggested Resources

Websites:

USDA eXtension website

OSU South Centers at Piketon’s website

Producer Organizations:

  1. Ohio Aquaculture Association: Bob Calala, President. 419-929-8052
  2. Fish Farmers of Ohio: Tom Machamer, President. 330-466-4942

Regional AquacultureCenters (fact sheets, videos and publications):

  • North Central Regional Aquaculture Center
  • Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture
  • Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center
  • Southern Regional Aquaculture Center
  • Western Regional Aquaculture Center

Equipment and Supplies (contact companies for catalogs):

  • Aquatic Eco-Systems
  • Argent Chemical
  • Crescent Research Chemicals
  • Dynamic Aqua-Supply Ltd.
  • Inventive Marine Products Ltd. (processing equipment)
  • Keeton Industries, Inc.
  • Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.
  • Stoney Creek Equipment Co.

Fact sheets:

What is aquaculture?

A basic overview of aquaculture

Determining if aquaculture is for you:

Making Plans for Aquaculture in the North Central Region

Aquaculture: Realities and Potential When Getting Started

Factors to consider in establishing a successful aquaculture business

Is aquatic farming for you?

Business planning for aquaculture:

Developing Business Proposals for Aquaculture Loans

Fish Farm Business Plan Workbook

Planning for success in your aquaculture business

AgPlan University of Minnesota Free Business Plan template

Aquaculture production systems:

Aquaculture systems for the Northeast

Ponds:

Construction of levee ponds

Site Selection of levee ponds

Cages:

What is cage culture

Cage culture in the north central region

Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS):

Overview of RAS

Constructing a small RAS

Species Selection:

Baitfish

Baitfish in the North Central Region

Common Baitfish

Economics of Golden Shiner Production

Hybrid Striped Bass

Pond culture of hybrid striped bass in the North Central Region

Hybrid striped bass culture manual

Hybrid striped bass biology

Hybrid striped bass enterprise budget

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass in the North Central Region

Largemouth Bass species profile

Trout

Trout production in the North Central Region

Sunfish

Sunfish Culture Guide

Species profile

Tilapia

Tilapia in the North Central Region

Species profile

Walleye

Walleye culture manual

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch culture manual

Status of yellow perch in the North Central Region

Pond Production costs of yellow perch

Species profile

Freshwater Prawn

Freshwater Prawn Species profile

Kentucky State University Freshwater Shrimp Manual

Crayfish

Culture potential of crayfish in the North Central Region

Species profile

Catfish

Cost of small scale catfish production

Species profile

Water quality:

Fish farmers guide to water quality

Fish nutrition:

Principles of fish nutrition

Fish Health:

General fish health management

Biosecurity for aquaculture facilities in the North Central Region

Aquaculture marketing:

Niche marketing your aquaculture products