Growing Fish in Michigan
Aquaculture Could be Boon for the State
By Stephanie Ariganello
Watching someone or something struggle to reach its potential can often be a maddening, but optimistic experience. For Russ Allen and other aquaculture supporters, that’s what it has been like watching the fledgling Michigan aquaculture industry attempt to get its legs – frustrating, but hopeful.
“It’s right there,” said Allen, president of the Michigan Aquaculture Association. “Michigan has the capability, the resources, the need. But so far, we haven’t moved quickly; we haven’t had the political or public will. The state as a whole has not had the big picture vision that’s necessary.”
Potential is the word that comes up repeatedly when looking at aquaculture in Michigan, particularly as the state shops for new industry to court.
“It has the potential to be a great source of production for the state, a great way of turning around some of the concerns about overfishing and for boosting local economies,” said Sea Grant Director and Aquatic Specialist Jim Diana.
Fish as a Source of Food and Economy
Aquaculture specialists and industry leaders often refer to one particular type of aquaculture when they discuss potential: food sources.
The term aquaculture encompasses most flora or fauna intentionally raised or grown in water. That includes a wide spectrum of pond plants, bait fish, stocking fish (those used to stock private and public waterways), oysters in tanks or along waterways, trout farms where people pay to fish, large-scale net cages in the middle of a body of water or fish contained in a natural body of water that has been separated from the overall water system, like damming off part of a river.
In other parts of the world – Asia for example – aquaculture in its many forms is a way of life. In the United States, some elements of aquaculture have been accepted, like catfish farming in the south. However, the U.S. aquaculture industry as a whole has not yet developed to meet the demands of American appetites.
In Michigan, Allen runs a salt-water shrimp facility. Most of the other aquaculture operations in Michigan focus on stocking fish, aquatic plants or trout. But, said Allen, this is far from what the state could be doing. Given the current attitude toward locally grown and sustainably procured food and the need to stimulate the state’s economy, he said the time is ripe.
“There’s a guy who brings whitefish from Lake Superior down to our farmers market each week and you can’t touch him,” he said. “There’s a line-up. There’s the desire to eat local (fish), but we don’t have much to give them.”
The economic arm of the aquaculture equation could take a few different forms, ranging from large-scale operations on thousands of acres to smaller operations that could be an economic boost to some small towns in Michigan. In areas, such as the Upper Peninsula or the northern Lower Peninsula where a town’s economy is based around a vanishing fishery, aquaculture could be a viable replacement.
“The fishery in a small town may never have been all that huge, but it generated enough income to keep that town going,” said Jim Diana, Michigan Sea Grant Director. “Keeping money in the local economy by growing fish, processing those fish nearby and selling them could replace a dying or dead industry.”
Weighing the Risks
Aquaculture in general and specifically in Michigan has its detractors.
Practitioners and researchers recognize that there definitely have been negative aspects to operations in the past. For instance, in South America, large corporations developed operations, used the natural resources and left environmental damages and local economic damages behind.
The concerns in Michigan are focused on nutrient build-up and pollution in waters where concentrated fish populations are raised, the escape of non-native species into local waterways, the increase in disease outbreaks and the quality of the final product.
“There are very real risks sometimes, depending on the operation,” said Diana. “But you can’t just look at that. You have to look at the overall picture. How does raising fish via aquaculture compare to overfishing our waters? What does a large agricultural farm do that the public accepts as part of creating our food? I’m not knocking agriculture, understand. It’s just that the outcome and the benefit we gain from it is tremendous, but it does come with tradeoffs.”
Allen said the damages caused by aquaculture in the past, are just that – in the past.
“Our industry has, for the most part, straightened itself out and will continue to look at best practices. No industry is 100 percent clean; but we can do this within acceptable limits.”
What’s Next?
Research is part of the answer to keeping risks minimal.
“If we had a model, a working operation to show people what we know works, it would be easier to develop the industry,” said Diana, who has contributed through research and analysis. “We need to figure out what will work for us and my hope is that, through the strategic plan currently in development, as well as current, past and future research, Michigan Sea Grant can help shape where this industry goes.”
The strategic plan mentioned by Diana is an undertaking of the Michigan Aquaculture Association. The idea is to form the vision that includes the long-term and short-term development needed to get the state’s aquaculture program optimized.
Allen said they hope to finish the strategic plan within the year, with enough time to vet it through all variety of organizations and other stakeholders, including those traditionally opposed to raising food fish.
“In reality, we have to bring together all of the parties, whether they agree with us or not,” said Allen. “That’s the only way this is going to work. We need everyone on board, we need money lined up and we need to create public awareness.”
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