The future of a sustainable aquaculture industry depends on the cultivation of an aquaculture literate public and informed decision-makers who can make educated decisions that respond to the needs and challenges of the industry. More and better-informed decision-makers have the potential to increase the viability and profitability of aquaculture businesses by:
While relatively small, aquaculture in U.S. Great Lakes states raises several dozen species of finfish and shellfish in land-based systems for a diversity of markets including food, stocking/recreation, ornamentals, and bait. Here, the aquaculture industry has traditionally been left out of conversations about agriculture, potentially hampering conditions or policies that could support the advancement and growth of aquaculture businesses and markets for aquaculture products.
In 2023, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin Sea Grant programs proposed piloting Great Lakes Aquaculture Decision-Maker Days as a strategy to open a seat at the table for aquaculture in the region. Each state was charged with organizing their own single-day event, visiting at least one fish farm and inviting a combination of legislators, regulators, non-regulatory agencies and support organizations, educators (including Extension), and aquaculture producers as participants. While Sea Grant programs acted as conveners and hosts, these events provided a forum for producers to talk about what aquaculture is, why they farm aquatic plants and animals, the impacts of their businesses, and open discussions about the opportunities and challenges of the industry.
We will share details and lessons learned about the planning process, examples of program materials provided to participants, similarities and differences between these state-based events, short-term outcomes, and plans for continuing to facilitate the building and sustaining of relationships for longer-term impacts.