U.S. per capita fish consumption is up some 50 percent since the 1980s – now worth nearly $1 billion. An aging population and increasing ethnic diversification should increase consumption another 25.2 percent by 2020, according to USDA. With declining natural fisheries worldwide, aquaculture production has grown rapidly. Interest in capturing more of the industry in Ohio is up, based on inquiries to the aquaculture program at OSU South Centers at Piketon. Production budgets for yellow perch – a species aquaculture specialists believe has great potential – are available online at http://aede.osu.edu/people/moore.301/aqua/perch-1000-pond.htm, but a number of marketing questions remain. Most Ohio producers don’t have the volume to enter mass markets and consumer preferences for yellow perch aren’t well documented. Research due out this fall from AED Economics and OSU South Centers should help us better understand both Ohio’s production potential for this species and consumers’ fish preferences, purchase and consumption patterns, product attributes that guide purchases, and the role of price in purchase decisions. For information on the market study team, contact Stan Ernst. For aquaculture production, e-mail Laura Tiu at South Centers.
Note: “Market Alternatives?” will be a regular feature of this newsletter focusing on new or emerging market opportunities and related farm enterprises.