Dive Into Aquaculture at Purdue Workshops

The workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. and are hosted by Purdue University Extension and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

The July 14 workshop at the Farmstead Inn and Conference Center in Shipshewanna will focus on various types of indoor aquaculture facilities, while the July 17 workshop at the Birdseye Masonic Lodge in Birdseye will highlight information on pond aquaculture.

Both workshops will cover the importance of regulations and necessary permits needed for aquaculture in the state of Indiana in a presentation given by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said Kwamena Quagrainie, Extension aquaculture specialist.

Purdue experts also will talk about which fish species work best in Indiana and the economics and marketing involved in producing these species throughout the state. One particular species of fish that will be discussed is the hybrid stripe bass.

"The hybrid stripe bass is mainly sold to live and ethnic markets in areas like Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis and Columbus," Quagrainie said. "It is important to sell it to live markets since Indiana does not have proper processing facilities to sell anything other than live fish."

Another important fish to Indiana's markets sold live is the largemouth bass, he said.

The Farmstead Inn and Conference Center is located at 370 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana, and the Birdseye Masonic Lodge is at 10 State Road 64 in Birdseye.