Study Assesses Aquaculture in Tennessee
By:  Rob Holland
September 2000

How is aquaculture faring in Tennessee?

That's the question that a study evaluated this summer. It was a joint project of the Tennessee Aquaculture Task Force and The University of Tennessee's Agricultural Development Center. Funds for the study came from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's "Ag Development Fund." The study was to assess the size, scope, inventory, situation and market capacity of Tennessee's existing aquaculture industry. 

The following are some of the things the study found:

• The study revealed aquaculture operations in 41 counties. So aquaculture is present in at least 43 percent of Tennessee's 95 counties


• Very little regional aquaculture concentration seems to exist, although four counties reported three or more aquaculture operations.


• While 59 percent of the operations considered their aquaculture enterprise a part-time operation, less than 11 percent of Tennessee's aquaculture sales were from the part-time operations.


• Sixty-six percent of the part-time operations reported less than $1,000 in annual gross sales, while 65 percent of the full-time operations reported more than $50,000.


• Catfish, tilapia and fee-fishing operations were more likely to be part-time operations, while trout, baitfish and ornamentals were more likely to be full-time.


• Catfish was reported as one of an operator's top two income-generating enterprises by more operators than any other enterprise (37 percent), followed by tilapia (9 percent), baitfish (8 percent) and trout (8 percent).


• Very little concentration on specific fish was evident across the state. Some concentration may exist for catfish in lower Middle and West Tennessee (around the Tennessee River) and in the Smoky Mountain region.Most tilapia enterprises were north of Interstate 40, but stretched from Gibson County in West Tennessee to Knox County in East Tennessee. Trout operations were mostly in East Tennessee counties, while most fee-fishing operations were in counties along the southern border of the state, stretching from the Mississippi River in the west to Bradley County in the east.


• Ponds are more likely to be the production system for catfish, baitfish, ornamentals and sport and game fish, while raceways are more likely to be the production system for trout. Closed recirculation systems are most likely to be the production system for freshwater shrimp nurseries and tilapia.


• Sales direct to consumers, live haulers or through fee-fishing were the most frequently used market outlets.


• Volume and lack of a processor were mentioned as the most common marketing constraints for aquaculture in Tennessee.


• A majority of Tennessee aquaculture producers described their attitude about the future of aquaculture as optimistic. Fifty-four percent of Tennessee's aquaculture operations indicated plans to expand during the next one to five years, while 35 percent indicated plans to exit the aquaculture industry.  Interestingly, 66 percent of those planning to get out of aquaculture considered the future of aquaculture to be pessimistic.
• Labor and lack of a processing facility were mentioned as the primary constraints to growth for Tennessee's overall aquaculture industry.


• Since most aquaculture operators are part-time enterprises, most aquaculture feed was purchased from local feed stores. The average amount of feed purchased per producer in a year was 23,467 pounds, and the total amount of feed used for Tennessee's aquaculture industry is estimated at 500 tons.


• Those active in aquaculture indicated that the greatest need was for grower education programs, closely followed by a need for consumer awareness programs, technical production support and access to funding. Services receiving the lowest need rating were international marketing assistance, production contracts and feed mills.