FARM SCALE COMMERCIAL WALLEYE PRODUCTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE

AQUACULTURE IS THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR IN OUR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY. THE UPPER MIDWEST HAS HAD LIMITED SUCCESS WITH THE TRADITIONAL AQUACULTURE FISH. COOLWATER FISH THAT COMMAND A HIGH MARKET PRICE AND ARE NATIVE TO THE AREA, SUCH AS WALLEYE, MAY REPRESENT THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESSFUL FISH FARMING IN THE AREAS. FURTHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED ON THE INTENSIVE REARING OF WALLEYE ON COMMERCIAL FEED AND REDUCING FEED COSTS FOR LARGER WALLEYE TO DETERMINE IF WALLEYE FISH FARMING IS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. IN PHASE I THE FEASIBILITY AND COST OF TRANSFERRING THIS TECHNOLOGY FROM THE LABORATORY TO THE FISH FARM WILL BE DETERMINED. USING THIS DATA THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A WALLEYE FISH FARMING OPERATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE FOR FAMILY FARMS IN THE NORTHERN MIDWEST WILL BE DETERMINED.