New York Sea Grant - Marine Heritage Trail
The History of Finfish Aquaculture In New York
Jump to...
1800s
Curriculum and Research in Aquaculture Begins in New York State
Cornell University started an undergraduate curriculum in aquaculture. Ichthyologists studied ways to propagate important freshwater finfish species.
1864
America’s First Fish Hatchery is Established in Upstate New York
Seth Green, the founder of Caledonia Hatchery, studied and taught methods used to culture brook trout. By 1868, he sold over 800,000 trout eggs a year to other hatcheries.
1871-1930s
University Research Programs Pop Up Across the Country
Fishery and aquaculture programs continued to develop in universities to promote and support research in the field. Cornell University established a research and training program in Cortland, NY. Hatcheries throughout NY State cultured different species of trout.
1983
Governor Mario Cuomo Signs the Aquaculture Planning Act
The aquaculture planning act requested the Sea Grant Institute at SUNY and Cornell University to develop a plan to understand aquaculture’s potential for the state. Recommendations were published in 1985, and 60,000 pounds of trout and 20,000 pounds of baitfish were cultured that year.
1831
The Common Carp Becomes the First Freshwater Aquaculture
The common carp was cultured in a pond near Newburgh, New York. The findings were publicized, and only one year later the common carp was being reared in regions as far as Sonoma, California.
1869
The Rise of Hatcheries and Cultured Species
A price imbalance at the Fulton Fish market drove other culturists to expand to other species (e.g. Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, lake trout, lake white fish). Cultured fish was used for stocking and human consumption.
1959
Standardized Rearing Protocols Are Established
D.C. Haskell of NYSDEC demonstrated that trout grow well under controlled hatchery. Later in 1979, multiple national laboratories were reorganized as National Fisheries Centers by UFWS, such as the Tunison Lab in Cortland, NY.
1990s
Long Island's First Attempt to Culture Flounder
A permit was given to culture flounder in two near-shore net pens on the North Fork of Long Island, around Plum Island. Between 15,000 to 20,000 fish were stocked into two net pens. No forward progress was made.
2012
Efforts to Culture Striped Bass Continue
One of the two 20 ft. net pens was stocked with striped bass. After a vessel strike and Hurricane Sandy, both pens were permanently removed from the water. Despite community, industry, and regulatory hurdles, efforts for an offshore fish farm in New York’s waters are currently still ongoing.
2015
Waning of the Freshwater Aquaculture Industry
Since 1985, aquaculture has waned because of troubles acquiring permits, expensive fish health testing, and a lack of a clear path forward from state agencies. The industry is still ongoing, but at similar levels as to the rest of the world. Operations are primarily family-owned and sell to local markets.
Present-Day
Commercial Rebirth
Two commercial scale recirculating aquaculture facilities (salmon, trout), and one medium sized facility (trout), have been established in New York to culture fish exclusively for human consumption.
Picture Citations:
1. "Cornell university." by matt.hintsa is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
2. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)" by AussieBotanist is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
3. Photo Credit: Kelly Lucero - NYHistoric - 7/2013
4. Trout sold as early as 1877. This etching courtesy of the New York Public Library.
5. "Rainbow trout at fish hatchery" by docoverachiever is marked with CC BY 2.0
6. USGS Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science. Photo Credit: Marisa Lubeck. Public Domain.
7. Official logo of the National Sea Grant College Program
8. Aquaculture" by NOAA's National Ocean Service is marked with CC BY 2.0
9. Striped Bass" by USFWS/Southeast is marked with CC BY 2.0
10. Map of New York state fish hatcheries (source:https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7742.html)
11. NYSG