The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) is one of the five Regional Aquaculture Centers established by Congress. A network of aquaculture extension specialists has been established among states served by NCRAC. These individuals coordinate development and distribution of educational materials on all phases of aquaculture ventures and conduct training workshops for extension colleagues and members of the industry. Regional networks of each center in the U.S. are also linked to facilitate the flow of aquaculture information nationwide.
The proximity of Illinois and Indiana to many major markets and the abundance of natural and agricultural resources provide tremendous long-term opportunities for aquaculture farms and businesses in these states. Whether you are an aquaculture producer or you are thinking of getting into an aquaculture business, resources listed here will provide you with science-based information and education to ensure a productive, innovative and profitable aquaculture business.
Small-scale aquaculture producers have income opportunities if they plan their production processes—and plan them
well. One of the fundamental principles in marketing is to make it part of the overall planning process. Consider marketing decisions as important as production decisions. No matter how small your aquaculture operation, developing a marketing plan for what you will produce is the best strategy because the fish have to be sold once they reach marketable sizes.
Indiana Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program has information on the “most unwanted” invasive plants. The Aquatics page includes information on Brazilian Elodea, Common Reed/Phragmites, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Watermilfoil, European Frogbit, Flowering Rush, Giant Salvinia, Hydrilla, Purple Loosestrife, Reed Canary Grass, Water Chestnut, Water Hyacinth(s) and Yellow Floating Heart.
Aquaponics combines the soil-less growing technique of hydroponics with fish farming. Fish farming is gaining popularity in the state of Indiana and this concept of plant growth along with the fish farming technique is a topic many are wanting to learn more about.
Eat Midwest Fish is an online resource hub that educates consumers about sustainable aquaculture in the Midwest. Consumers have a lot of questions about water farming and farm-raised fish products. Eat Midwest Fish provides resources to inform and inspire consumers to eat more fish and shellfish, including resources focused on where to find locally grown products, what types of products are available, how to source and cook these products, and how farmers are growing both freshwater and marine animals in the Midwest. Information is provided on aquaculture and farm-raised products from the twelve states in the North Central Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.