Until 1998, the Pennsylvania aquaculture industry was regulated primarily by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Act 1998-94 recognized aquaculture as a farming activity and transferred registration and regulation of aquaculture activities to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), which remains the lead agency promoting and regulating the aquaculture industry. The PDA Aquaculture Production Development Program is located within the Bureau of Market Development. The program provides links to information regarding regulations affecting aquaculture, species production, research, sales and marketing. It provides many educational opportunities for aquaculturalists as well as guidance on business development, access to local sources for food fish, ornamental fish, sports fish and baitfish, and marketing initiatives designed to help fish farmers penetrate new markets and expand sales.

As Pennsylvania's aquaculture industry continues to develop, the need for research is being addressed through private, governmental, feed manufacturing and university-based research programs. This research provides a broad base of support for Pennsylvania and for the aquaculture industry throughout the Northeast. The bulk of the state's research, as with its industry, concerns salmonoid aquaculture, but significant resources are also devoted to other species including tilapia, striped and hybrid striped bass, ornamentals and freshwater shellfish.

Pennsylvania has two federal facilities devoted to aquaculture. The Northeast Fishery Center Complex of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, based in Lamar, specializes in culture and management techniques for threatened and endangered species as well as providing fish health services and research for both natural and aquaculture populations. Their expertise in research on the culture of river herrings, Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass, Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, has made their staff a critical resource to many aquaculturists in the region. Their latest initiative, to create an Aquaculture Research Consortium within the Commonwealth, could lead to significant advances among private and public groups within Pennsylvania's aquaculture community.

Likewise, the U.S. Geological Survey's Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory in Wellsboro has significant resources and expertise invested in all aspects of salmonoid culture. Research conducted at this facility has led to the development of culture methodologies for American eels (Anguilla rostrata) and various freshwater mussels. The central location of this laboratory has aided researchers in providing outreach to all regions of the state from the Great Lakes to the Delaware River Basin.

Pennsylvania is the only northeastern state with two aquaculture feed producers, both of which are PennAg members. Melick Aquafeeds in Catawissa produces a wide variety of aquatic animal feeds. Zeigler Brothers in Gardners not only produces aquatic animal feeds, but also produces pet and zoo animal feeds. Along with its feed production, Zeigler also provides equipment and consulting services to the aquaculture industry. 

Five universities in the state have significant investments in aquaculture research and education. The University Park campus of Penn State and the New Bolton Center Campus of the University of Pennsylvania both provide aquatic animal health research and diagnostic support to the state's industry as component laboratories in the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). There is also some fish culture research carried out at the New Bolton Center which has been centered primarily on fish nutrition research. Drexel and Cheyney Universities have begun to develop a program to culture freshwater mussels native to the region.

Proposed collaborations with several federal and state agencies promise to expand this program significantly in the future. Mansfield University has had a strong program in aquaculture education and research for more than 20 years, attracting students from throughout the country. Research into the culture of native and endangered species accomplished by Mansfield aquaculture program graduates has been well received by both government agencies and professional organizations. In 2004, Cheyney University began an aquaculture program whose main educational and research focus is on urban aquaculture, acapnia, fish nutrition, and aquarium, bivalve and fish culture.

(References: Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report 2009: Pennsylvania; Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center)

For additional information regarding the PennAg Aquaculture Council or aquaculture industry in Pennsylvania, please contact Jennifer Reed-Harry at jrharry@pennag.com or 717-651-5920.