Study identifies obstacles to aquaculture expansion

By MATTHEW HALL
Capital News Service
LANSING – Better rules for sustainable fish farms could provide the state with a $1 billion a year industry, according to the Michigan Sea Grant, a coastal conservation research group. The fish farms, collectively known as aquaculture, are few so far, but Michigan’s abundant system of inland lakes, Great Lakes and fresh groundwater means there’s large potential for growth, researchers said. “Michigan probably has the best resources available for this,” said Christopher Weeks, a Michigan State University fisheries and wildlife researcher. “The demand for seafood is projected to rise. The Chinese market alone is expected to increase their consumption by 300 percent by 2030.”
Fish farms work sort of like traditional farms, only fish are raised instead of livestock and crops, and tanks are used instead of fields.