A study funded by the USDA North Central Regional Aquaculture Center analyzed public sentiment regarding five fishes to offer valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and conservation organizations with vested interests in the management and preservation of these fishes. From July 2020 to June 2024, over 732,200 social media mentions referenced bluegill, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye and yellow perch.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s annual magazine.

This issue highlights:

• Educators engage with Great Lakes scientists aboard the Lake Guardian 
• Scientists and educators investigate Lake Michigan biological hotspots
• IISG looks back on 30 years of AIS outreach
• Coastal communities face challenges in managing beach sand and structures
• Stuart Carlton is the new IISG director
• Tomas Höök reflects on his Sea Grant legacy

This overview introduces a novel method for producing high-quality protein for larval fish diets, targeting feed and ingredient manufacturers. It outlines the challenges of indoor fish rearing using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), particularly the difficulty larvae have digesting traditional dry feeds. The proposed solution uses protein hydrolysates—pre-digested proteins made more accessible through hydrolysis with species-specific digestive enzymes. This approach improves nutrient absorption and growth performance. Notably, the method uses invasive fish species as a sustainable protein source and applies enzymes from the target species for precise, efficient hydrolysis.

Small- to medium-scale aquaculture businesses in the USDA North Central region face marketing challenges. In this publication, Purdue and Illinois researchers use a step-by-step approach to advise farmers how direct marketing can shorten the supply chain and help them find new customers willing to pay premium prices.

This publication is available for download from the Purdue University Extension Education Store at: https://edustore.purdue.edu/fnr-642-w.html

Aquaponics: Farming Fish, Growing Greens teaches STEM through aquaponics, a water-based agricultural system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. This 9-12 grade curriculum was designed to be used along with an onsite aquaponics system. Curriculum topics include an Introduction to aquaculture, fundamental parts of an aquaponics system, the nitrogen cycle, water quality, population dynamics, our modern food system and more. Lessons were developed to build on each other and be delivered in sequence but can also be used individually.

If you would like to access to all the Aquaponics: Farming Fish, Growing Greens curriculum resources such as slide decks, submit your requests to iisg@purdue.edu.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s annual magazine.

This issue highlights:

• Swimming Safer: Sharing knowledge, data, and resources
• IISG interns can have invaluable real world experience
• Spelling out nature’s benefits helps inform land use decisions
• Largemouth bass in the busy Chicago River are seeking out natural areas
• Educators explore water quality along the Wild Mile
• We’re funding new research to address emerging coastal issues

This quick reference guide is a supplement resource for the Know Your H2O water quality testing kit. The guide takes you step-by-step through basic procedures for measuring dissolved oxygen and temperature using the YSI Pro 20i dissolved oxygen meter and pH using an EcoSense pH pen. It also provides testing procedures for La Motte chemical tests to measure alkalinity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, iron, and phosphate levels in water.

This is the twelfth in a series of consumer guides that describe fish and shellfish farmed in the Midwest region of the United States. (See Hybrid Striped Bass Farmed Fish Fact Sheet,  Freshwater Prawn Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Largemouth Bass Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Atlantic Salmon Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Yellow Perch Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Tilapia Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Rainbow Trout Farmed Fished Fact Sheet, Pacific White Shrimp Farmed Fish Fact Sheet,  American Paddlefish Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, and Channel Catfish Farmed Fish Fact Sheet). The fact sheet also includes culinary characteristics, cooking tips and a recipe for Bluegill Chowder.

References:

1. Pam Fuller, and Matt Cannister, 2023, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=385, Revision Date: 6/27/2019, Peer Review Date: 4/12/2013, Access Date: 6/17/2023. 
2. National Audubon Society. 2002. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes. Chanticleer
   Press, Inc.
3. Wang, D.H., Jackson, J.R., Twining, C., Rudstam, L.G., Zollweg-Horan, E., Kraft, C., Lawrence, P., Kothapalli, K., Wang, Z., Brenna. J.T. Saturated Branched Chain, Normal Odd-Carbon-Numbered, and n-3 (Omega-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Freshwater Fish in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2016; 64 (40): 7512-7519. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03491.
4. Williams, M.C.W., Murphy, E.W., McCarty, H.B., Snyder, B.D., Schrank, C., McCann, P.J., Crimmins, B.S. Variation in the essential fatty acid EPA and DHA in fillets of fish from the Great Lakes region. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 2017; 43(3): 150-160. DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2017.03.001.
5. Sackett, D. K., Cope, W. G., Rice, J. A., & Aday, D. D. The Influence of Fish Length on Tissue Mercury Dynamics: Implications for Natural Resource Management and Human Health Risk. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013. 10(2), 638-659. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10020638.
6. Stevens, A.L., Baird, I,G., McIntryre, P.B. Differences in Mercury Exposure among Wisconsin Anglers Arising from Fish Consumption Preferences and Advisory Awareness. Fisheries Magazine. 2017. DOI: 10.1002/fsh.10013.
7. Ikem, A., Egilla, J. Trace element content of fish feed and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) from aquaculture and wild source in Missouri. Food Chemistry. 2008. 110(2): 301-309. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.02.003.
8. Health advisory and guidelines for eating fish from Silverwood Lake (San Bernardino County). 2013. California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

This toolkit is a curated collection of information and resources focused on seafood for educators interested in supplementing existing programs. Topics covered in this publication include the health benefits of eating seafood, recommendations for including seafood as part of healthy eating patterns, sourcing, and seafood safety. In addition to information about nutrition and safety, there are sections on cooking methods, recipes, and social media that can be used for planning your next cooking demonstration and educating and inspiring clients.