Growing Momentum for Kentucky Aquaculture

By Angela Caporelli, Aquaculture Coordinator, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Aquaculture in Kentucky has been progressing for decades. The initial push for developing the industry in Kentucky was to use the waste products of the bourbon industry with distiller’s grains. In the 1990s, aquaculture was touted during the Blue Revolution as the “future to feed the world” and there was – and continues to be – a national push to develop aquaculture in the U.S.

Aquaculture in Kentucky has many advantages, including soil that is suitable for fish pond construction; limestone water that is excellent for fish production; and our state is a prime location because we are within a day’s drive to half of the U.S. metropolitan areas.

In addition to these logistical advantages, one of the strongest is Kentucky aquaculture is developed within feed ingredient production areas. Over the past 20 years, fish farming, like all agriculture production, has been forced to find better, more efficient and cost effective practices. In fish farming this comes through the most expensive input, feed. The research that has been undertaken mainly focuses on fish meal replacement in fish feed. Soybeans, being rich in many needed nutrients was determined to be a very appropriate alternative. Soy has great protein value and palatability profiles for fish feed. Plenty of research in soy replacement is still needed, but it is much easier when the grower is the farm next door. Today, most fish feeds contain a significant amount of soymeal, as fish meal replacement, and has created a significant market for soymeal into fish feed that will only grow as the industry and demand grow.

As Kentucky expands its aquaculture industry, the demand for local soymeal into local fish feed to grow local fish is poised for explosion. Kentucky is a prime area for development; farmers are well versed in farming of livestock; and the research and extension, through Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky, is in place to assist farmers to include aquaculture into their farm portfolio, help market their products and grow and support the local farming economy. Aquaculture is a win-win for Kentucky agriculture.