The Ohio State University Aquaculture Program (OSUAP) has been providing information to Ohio aquaculture producers since 1990. Primary goals of the program were to increase the number of aquaculture producers and volume of aquaculture production and enhance the economic viability of the aquaculture industry in Ohio. In order to address impact, accountability, and guide future programming efforts, a mail census survey was conducted to describe Ohio aquaculture producers and their businesses and assess the impact of the OSUAP on producers and the industry.
A profile of the typical Ohio aquaculture producer reflects a white, male in his fifties. Farming was not his primary occupation and he was usually employed in a full-time job off the farm. More than half of Ohio aquaculture producers do not belong to an aquaculture association. Ohio aquaculture producers occasionally use the Internet to obtain aquaculture production information, although over three-fourths report having access to the Internet. Two-thirds of Ohio Aquaculture producers report annual aquaculture sales of less than $10,000 while five percent reported sales in excess of $500,000.
Ohio aquaculture producers obtain information from a variety of sources. The top five sources ranked in terms of value are books, other producers, the Internet, the Ohio State University Aquaculture Program, and neighbors and friends. The majority of Ohio aquaculture producers were aware of the OSUAP and had used or benefited from the products and services it had provided in the past. These data indicate that the OSUAP has contributed to the economic efficiency of Ohio aquaculture producers by providing information sources that increase knowledge, are applicable to their aquaculture businesses, and have some economic value. Ohio aquaculture producers ranked water quality, fish nutrition, aeration, fingerling production, marketing, fish genetics, and regulations as topics of greatest importance for future OSUAP research and Extension programming. Aquaculture producers preferred to get their information via newsletters and mail.
The utility of this research is to provide direction for the future of the OSUAP. The OSUAP had an impact on Ohio aquaculture producers that appears to have contributed to the growth and economic efficiency of the aquaculture industry in Ohio. A multiple-output strategy, concentrating on high-touch and therefore high impact activities, should be continued. However, an opportunity exists to reach those not currently utilizing the OSUAP. Findings from this study can be used in developing new programs designed to address needs identified by Ohio aquaculture producers.