Sales of trout 12 inches or larger -- typically those to be eaten -- totaled 296,000 pounds in 2008, 63,000 pounds more than the previous year, wrote Ben Beversluis, in a report for mlive.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the value at $864,000, and total trout sales of just more than $1 million when adding in the smaller fish used for stocking or sold to growers.
But the fish market could be larger -- much larger, says Russ Allen , president of the Michigan Aquaculture Association. However, national water shortages meant that trout production actually fell 20 per cent in the 2007-2008 year. But the same year saw trout production in Michigan increased about 25 percent, because it is one of the few places that doesn't have a water shortage.
Michigan Thirsty for Aquaculture Boom
MICHIGAN, US - Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food industry worldwide, proponents say, and Michigan, surrounded by one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water, could join the boom with appropriate investment and state support.
