Minnesota has a huge sport fishing industry. It is also an important agricultural state. But when it comes to fish farming or aquaculture? Not so much. The industry reached its peak twenty years ago, with sales of around $8 million.

But many believe the industry has untapped potential in Minnesota.

And now the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is seeking public input on its new proposed state aquaculture plan – the first update to the plan in more than 35 years.

“What we’re trying to do in the planning process is make people understand what aquaculture is, what it can bring to the state and how we can create an aquaculture industry economically and environmentally sustainable,” explained Don Schreiner. a fisheries specialist with the Minnesota Sea Grant Program at the University of Minnesota.

Most aquaculture in the state is currently for baitfish and stocking programs. The state’s latest plan doesn’t even mention farming fish for food.

Minnesota Sea Grant is completing a market study on aquaculture. Preliminary results suggest that there is a market for aquaculture for food production.

“Minnesotans are willing to pay a little more for local aquaculture,” Schreiner said. “People who produce fish in Minnesota have no problem selling that fish to market and, in fact, right now we’re hoping more people will get into it because there’s certainly a demand for this product.”

The draft plan assesses the current state of the aquaculture industry in Minnesota. It also presents recommendations in marketing, research, policy and other areas.

The plan can be found here. Comments are being accepted until Wednesday, December 18. Officials plan to present the final plan to the state Legislature in February.