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Ohio Aquaculture Association History

     The Ohio Aquaculture Association (OAA) was organized on Thursday, July 12, 1990.  In weather fit only for fish, 97 people met at The Ohio State University Molly Caren Agriculture Center near London, Ohio.  At this initial meeting, the group adopted a set of guidelines, elected officers, established a dues structure, and voted to become a part of the National Aquaculture Association (NAA).  The first president was Dr. David Smith, owner of Freshwater Farms of Ohio, in Urbana.  The original mission of the OAA was to promote the exchange of ideas and aquaculture technology and help develop interest in aquaculture in Ohio.

     In 1991, interest was booming.  Much of the effort of the OAA focused on developing aquaculture in Ohio by compiling and distributing publications with aquaculture information.  Workshops were held annually with technical support from OSU Sea Grant, OSU School of Natural Resources, OSU Centers at Piketon and other departments on campus.  Political issues were coming to light and the organization moved to act.  in 1991, the OAA expressed concern and responded to the recent action by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) involving confiscation of farm-raised catfish products from grocery shelved because of wildlife regulations protecting wild-caught catfish.  The political battles of the OAA had just begun.

     By 1992, membership was lagging with only 26 members.  The leaders were expressing frustration at the lack of participation by the membership at large.  On the business side, in an effort to address some of the political issues facing aquaculture, members were attempting to set up a task force meeting consisting of state legislators, ODNR and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) officials.

     In 1993, the Ohio Farm Bureau contacted the OAA to invite them to participate in a Task Force meeting.  There were also representatives invited from the ODA, Ohio Department of Development, ODNR, Extension, sportsmen associations, legislators, and other interested parties.  Several issues regarding aquaculture were addressed.  The most vital issue was the designation of aquaculture as an agricultural activity.  The association rallied around this issue and was finally successful when in 1995 the Ohio Legislature passed a bill designating fish farming as an agricultural activity.

     After the success of their legislative efforts, the OAA entered a stage of inactivity.  Then in 1996, a new aquaculture Extension Associate came on board and partnered with the OAA on developing a series of workshops to educate individuals interested in fish farming.  The revival was short-lived and the OAA soon became inactive again with the departure of the extension associate.

     In 1998, a new aquaculture extension associate was hired at Ohio State University.  One of her goals was to assist in the development of a strong state aquaculture association.  After several consultations with the inactive OAA Board members and many other individuals that shared the same vision, a meeting was held to reactivate the Ohio Aquaculture Association.  An annual meeting was planned in November of 1999.  At this meeting, Mr. George Hood was elected President, and he has not looked back.

     The year 2000 was a banner year for the OAA.  Funded only by membership dues and with no paid staff, the association struggles to accomplish a lot with little resources.  The board consists of fish farmers, university personnel, and suppliers to the industry.  The membership, approximately 75 people, is varied, but consists mostly of people who derive income from the aquaculture industry.  The association has tackled some hefty issues in the past.  They have made significant headway in working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to reassess the permitted species list.  The have partnered with the Department of Agriculture to form an Ohio Aquaculture Taskforce which has been charged with drafting a State Plan for Aquaculture, they have supported numerous workshops and participated in efforts to increase awareness of farm raised products.  They have also created new mission and vision statements.

The current vision state is "The Ohio Aquaculture Association envisions a future aquaculture industry that contributes significantly to Ohio's demand for aquatic products, is based on a diversity of aquatic species and culture systems, and is conducted in a manner that protects and sustains our valuable natural resources."

     The current mission Statement is "The Ohio Aquaculture Association actively supports and promotes the culture of aquatic species by participation of individuals, partnerships, and corporations who have an interest in aquaculture, by interacting with state and federal agencies/legislatures charged with regulating aquatic culture, and by education the public on the culture of aquatic species.

     The Ohio Aquculture Association currently has 92 members.

The first board of directors were:

The first OAA Board of Directors.

This page was last updated on June 28, 2005.