The KSU Aquaculture Program started in 1983 with Extension work to support Kentucky (KY) fish farmers producing catfish and trout. Early research activities focused on topics that included catfish, paddlefish, nutrition, and feed development. The Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) included 33 research ponds, a fish hatchery, histology lab, and a green house. In 1991, the first Aquaculture course was taught and the next year a B.S. minor in Aquaculture was established. In 1998, the Master of Science Degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences was approved, and online courses were offered beginning in 2000.
Facilities at the ARC now include a dedicated nutrition building with aquaria for experiments, feed preparation, and chemical analysis. There is also a 13,000 square foot building housing various recirculating and aquaponics systems. Within that building is a well-equipped genetics lab with biochemical and molecular analysis capabilities. There is another building dedicated to saltwater research, a hatchery building with holding and lab facilities, 14 mesocosm tanks, and an aquaponics demonstration greenhouse. The ARC also has a disease diagnostic lab used to assess fish disease cases from around the region, and a processing lab used for food science work and to process harvested animals. In addition, there are two remote assets: a greenhouse complex with four greenhouses, and a floating raceway research and demonstration system. Research has expanded to include both freshwater and marine species, studies of alternative feed ingredients, genetics, aquatic animal health, in-pond raceways, and aquaponics. Twelve courses, are each offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, plus an additional undergraduate course (8 of those are online). A Certificate in Aquaculture is offered at both the graduate and undergraduate levels (12 credit hours required). Our online courses have been taken by students all over the U.S. and in over 30 countries. Students earning a B.S. in Agriculture, Food, and the Environment can now choose Aquaculture as an Emphasis Area.
The robust Aquaculture Extension (AE) program at KSU is primarily dedicated to serving small, limited resource, and minority farmers. In the past 10 years, KY has seen growth in the industry, particularly aquaponics and saltwater shrimp. AE staff support KY farmers through development of factsheets, farm visits, applied research, workshops, seminars, the diagnostic lab, and sharing relevant information via a stakeholder listserv and a quarterly Aquatic Farming Newsletter.
We continue working on innovative solutions to the problems facing the aquaculture industry. We are planning to hire new faculty, develop new courses, and construct new office and laboratory spaces. As aquaculture continues to grow and new technologies are developed, KSU Aquaculture stands ready to explore diverse topics while continuing to guide traditional pond aquaculture. We have world-class research facilities, a strong record of funds acquisition, and a diverse and committed group of students, staff, and faculty.