Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/28/2024 04:38 About us
www.mybaycity.com November 28, 2013
(Prior Story)   Outdoors ArTicle 8623   (Next Story)


Led by Sea Grant officials Christopher Weeks and Joe Colyn, volunteers tour aquaculture ponds.

MICHIGAN AQUACULTURE: Sea Grant Study Underway on Lagging Industry

November 28, 2013       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

A Michigan industry with great potential is the subject of a $250,000 study to figure out how to move it ahead.

The industry? Aquaculture -- growing fish for food.

Aquaculture has grown tremendously on a global scale in recent decades and now meets nearly half the world's seafood demand, according to the Michigan Sea Grant program.

"Projections indicate that demand will continue to grow," the project summary states. "Michigan has the potential to support a vibrant aquaculture industry -- with abundant freshwater, affordable real estate, a need for new economic opportunities, and existing valuable expertise in fisheries, agriculture and food processing. However, commercial aquaculture development in the state has been stagnant for decades."

Michigan Sea Grant supports research, outreach and education to enhance sustainable use of Great Lakes resources, benefiting the environment, the quality of life, and the Michigan, Great Lakes and national economy.

Michigan Sea Grant College Program is a cooperative program of the University of Michigan (UM) and Michigan State University (MSU) and is part of the National Sea Grant College Program. Michigan Sea Grant receives core funding from National Sea Grant within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Worldwide, aquaculture now provides more than 50 percent of the fish we consume and the United States currently imports 85 percent of its seafood, contributing to a national seafood trade deficit of over $10 billion annually, according to the Michigan Aquaculture Association.

Michigan is well positioned to expand aquaculture production, according to Sea Grant officials. With an ample water supply and close proximity to the population centers of the U.S. and Canada, aquaculture can be expanded to provide revenue and jobs throughout the state. With a targeted, systematic, and sustainable growth plan, aquaculture can become a major agricultural contributor to the state and add to the strength of our 'locally grown' markets.

Aquaculture in Michigan and the U.S. has been challenged by concerns over water pollution, fish disease, unintended introduction of non-native species, effects on wild species and food safety. Industry expansion has been restrained by real and perceived regulations designed to address these challenges.

The study will be funded by $149,301 from Sea Grant and matching funds of $98,476 from partnership agencies.

This project will address the causes and consequences of the current underdeveloped aquaculture industry in Michigan, specifically production of seafood for human consumption.

A comprehensive assessment of Michigan aquaculture will help the project team --along with potential and existing aquaculture practitioners, policy makers, the general public and other interested stakeholders.

Goal of the project is understanding the complex interactions between aquaculture industry growth, regulatory control, economics and stakeholder risks and benefits.

The project will be carried out in four phases over the course of two years:

  • Phase I--Perform Needs Assessment. The assessment will be designed to determine the overall scope of the aquaculture issue. Status, attributes and barriers facing Michigan's aquaculture industry will be identified, as will current and potential stakeholders.

  • Phase II--Evaluate the Problem. The research team will analyze and categorize the information gathered in Phase I. They will evaluate the issues that were identified and assess what kind of impact they may have on the industry.

  • Phase III -- Develop Resolution Strategies. Using the evaluation generated in Phase II, develop and vet strategies for expanding Michigan's aquaculture activities into a sustainable seafood production industry.

  • Phase IV -- Develop and Initiate Strategic Plan. The information that has thus far been gathered, assessed and evaluated will be incorporated into a written strategic action plan designed to expand Michigan's current aquaculture activities.

    By the end of the two-year research period, the team intends to have identified what critical elements are restricting Michigan's current commercial aquaculture activities, what actions must be taken to address the situation and what benefits aquaculture could contribute to Michigan.

    The project will provide:

  • A written strategic plan for expanding Michigan's aquaculture activities into a sustainable seafood production industry, which can be used as a guide for future planning and implementation.

  • A better understanding of sustainable aquaculture and benefits associated with seafood in general by stakeholders.

  • A better understanding by stakeholders for planned development of sustainable aquaculture in Michigan and how this will be beneficial to the state.

    Project collaborators and partnerships are expected to involve a wide range of people and organizations including Michigan Sea Grant, Farm Bureau, seafood processors and distributors, seafood retailers and national, state and local aquaculture and agricultural groups, among others.

    Stakeholder meetings and workshops will be held during the second year of the project. For more information about the project and upcoming public meetings, email Joe Colyn with Originz or call (616) 581-1360.

    ###

    Printer Friendly Story View
    Prior Article

    February 10, 2020
    by: Rachel Reh
    Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
    Next Article

    February 2, 2020
    by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
    MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should
    Agree? or Disagree?


    Dave Rogers

    Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
    respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
    (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

    More from Dave Rogers

    Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
    Printer-Friendly Story View


    --- Advertisments ---
         


    0200 Nd: 03-24-2024 d 4 cpr 0






    12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

    SPONSORED LINKS



    12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


    Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
    Bay City, Michigan USA
    All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
    P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:NewspaperID
      pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-24   ax:2024-03-28   Site:5   ArticleID:8623   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
    claudebot