Overview of funded research in Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant in 2016

The hybrid striped bass (HSB) industry is the 4th largest aquaculture industry in the United States in terms of sales value, behind catfish, salmon, and trout. HSB is a cross between a female white bass (Morone chrysops) and a male striped bass (Morone saxatilis). HSB is also known as “”sunshine bass.”” The hybridization of the white bass and the striped bass makes HSB more tolerant to extreme temperatures and dissolved oxygen than either of its parents. There is potential for growth in production in Indiana and the Midwest because of the abundance of farm ponds and private lakes. 

Structural changes in Midwest agriculture over the past two decades have resulted in a number of empty and unused farm buildings. Farmers therefore have been exploring alternative uses of livestock farm buildings for the production of other cash crops, including aquaculture products. In Indiana, Pacific White shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production has attracted interest, and a number of small producers are investing in shrimp produc- tion in their farm buildings and other farm facilities. The producers are motivated by the fact that they could produce and market fresh (never frozen) high-quality shrimp products in these systems to compete with imported frozen shrimp.

Feature Headlines

• Indiana Seafood: Coming to a Restaurant Near You
• Cook County Critical Facilities have New Tool to Reduce Flood Impacts
• The Grand Cal Keeps Getting Better
• Medicines in Lake Michigan Impact Minnow Embryos
• New Research Projects Address Pollutants and Other Key Issues
• The Medicine Chest has a New Look and New Lessons

Feature Headlines

• Asian Carp Jumps into New Markets
• New Tour App Explores Chicago Lakefront Stories
• Calling All Experts to Join Phragnet
• Great Lakes Data Collection Get Smarter
• Knowing Nutrient Patterns Helps Predict Pollution

Produced in conjunction with Purdue University Extention, this instructional video provides information advice for aquaculture in Indiana. The program covers the recommended practices and guidelines for starting a successful cage culture operation.

See video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVuutSlWmQQ&t=65s

View all of IISG’s video at: https://www.youtube.com/user/iiseagrant/videos

Just as a gardener hopes that their scattered seeds will eventually bloom into a lush garden, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant awards Discovery Grants, or ‘seed’ grants, to a number of projects in the hopes that the initiatives will grow into something larger. This publication highlights research on stream water contamination, Asian carp, fish consumption safety, and more.

Indiana’s aquaculture industry ranges from small-scale producers growing fish in their back yards to large-scale producers growing fish to sell in national and international markets and includes the production of ornamental fish, fish for human consumption (food fish), and recreational fish that are stocked in private and public ponds and lakes. The types of fish produced include yellow perch, tilapia, baitfish, hybrid striped bass, marine shrimp, freshwater prawns, ornamentals, and trophy fish. 

Feature Headlines

• Indiana Bans 28 Invasive Aquatic Plants
• 500 New Aquaculture Businesses Grow in Africa
• Doing Real Science Inspires Great Lakes Students
• Consumers Would Pay More for U.S. Seafood
• Large Sprawling Yards can Lean to More Runoff