FISH IS ALWAYS IN SEASON

Aquaculture is a unique industry in Wisconsin.

Growing up along the Mississippi, the river offered year-round recreation. In the winter, we would bundle up and head out on the frozen banks of the river for ice fishing. And in the summer, we would do the chores early, then head down to the shores with our fishing poles as the sun set over the river bluffs. Not only was fishing fun, but it was also a source of food.

Aquaculture is a part of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry, too. Fish have always been an important food for residents of Wisconsin, including the Native Americans and our state’s first settlers. Those first Catholic settlers brought with them a tradition of eating fish every Friday night. That tradition was carried over into bars and restaurants across the state.

Good thing we have lots of lakes, rivers, and fish farmers to supply us with that popular Friday night meal that we continue to enjoy – any night of the week.

Wisconsin’s aquaculture industry generates more than $14 million of our state’s economy. I had the opportunity to learn about commercial fish farming when I visited Mike and Barb Kelm at Quiet Springs Fish Farm near Arpin. Quiet Springs Fish Farm is one of more than 150 commercial fish farms in Wisconsin. The owners raise yellow perch, a popular pan fish, sold as food to restaurants. Other commercial farms raise fish like minnows for bait or for stocking waterways with fish like trout or bass. Some of these farms are outdoors and use the natural environment to grow the fish. Quiet Springs uses an intensive growing operation that is mostly indoors. The Kelms purchase yellow perch eggs from another farmer and then raise them until they reach market weight. Yellow perch are just four to five millimeters in size when they hatch in May. The new little fish are kept in a light-colored tank and fed several times a day. The fish are moved outside for the beginning of summer and feed off natural growing plankton. As summer goes on, the fish are moved back indoors and into a dark tank. When I looked into the tank, I didn’t see any fish because the water was so dark; the water is dark, not dirty. Yellow perch like a dark environment, but the water is tested multiple times during the day to ensure its cleanliness.

When the feeder was turned on, the fish jumped to the top. Their diet is full of protein to make sure they are growing to their market weight of one-fourth to one-third of a pound.

Fish is a great addition to your diet because it is full of protein while being low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. That’s important for a healthy heart, and the American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week. Fish is also a good source of potassium and Omega-3 fatty acids that can help keep your heartbeat regular.

And there are so many ways to season and cook the many different kinds of fish available from Wisconsin farms. Check out the “Cook’s Corner” at www.wisconsinaqua culture.com for some delicious new recipes. And while enjoying that fish, you can feel confident it is safe to eat because our state’s regulations on fish are among the strictest in the nation.

I look forward to learning even more about Wisconsin’s fish farms when I attend the Aquaculture Conference later this month. At the conference, I will get a chance to learn about the diversity in our state’s fish farms.

I will also get to announce the winner of the aquaculture poster contest based on this year’s theme “There’s Something Fishy Going on Here – We’re Fresh and Local!”

That’s important to remember. Our state’s fish farmers are providing a great fresh, local product for us. You can find fish farmers in your area by visiting www.wis consinaquaculture.com. Their directory gives you the chance to search by location as well as by the type of fish. Buying locally grown fish – just like buying all Wisconsin grown items – supports our local farmers, producers, communities, economies, and all Wisconsin agriculture.

Alice in Dairyland is Wisconsin’s agricultural ambassador. She travels over 40,000 miles each year to spread the word about our agricultural industry. Alice in Dairyland can be reached by writing to DATCP, 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53718.

You can schedule Alice for an upcoming event by contacting the Alice in Dairyland Program at (608) 224-5080 or by e-mail at DATCPAlice@wisconsin.gov.