Aquaculture Extension Capacity in the USDA North-Central Region: Results from a Survey

We surveyed Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension staff across the USDA North-Central Region about aquaculture programming. Overall, 47%, 35%, and 15% of respondents indicated that stakeholders had contacted them about aquaponics, finfish aquaculture, and shrimp aquaculture, respectively. Approximately 8% of respondents indicated that they offered aquaculture or aquaponics programming; 45% and 55% indicated that they did not offer aquaculture and aquaponics programming, respectively, but were interested in offering it. These results indicate that there is interest in increasing Extension capacity in fish farming either by hiring new staff or through train-the-trainer models.