The Aquaculture extension program at the Ohio State University has been in place for over twenty-five years, with the goals of increasing the number of aquaculture producers, aquaculture production, and enhancing the sustainability of the aquaculture industry in Ohio.
As a newcomer to Ohio, I have been tasked to strengthen this program . One of the first features from the Ohio’s aquaculture industry is the divers ity of species used, which range from freshwater shrimp to marine shrimp, from baitfish to tilapia, rainbow trout, yellow perch, and walleye, among others. The extension program requires to have the input of fish farmers, the Ohio Aquaculture Association, Faculty, Staff, and the community in general, to be able to have a foreseeable impact. This presentation will focus on challenges and opportunities that have been identified during the first six months of extension field work with aquaculture producers in Ohio.