“In May, 2008 Hatchery International reported on a new 40 t/year development for the culture of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Albany, Indiana. Since then, the company has completed the first phase of a major expansion, with yet more to come. It is already the largest producer of perch in the United States.  Yellow perch has been a traditional fresh water species harvested in the Great Lakes,but over-fishing and other problems have reduced the availability of wild-caught fish to something like 80% of historical landings, thus opening the door for their culture on a commercial scale. Bell Aquaculture has seized that opportunity with a new 450 tonne recirculating grow-out facility located at Albany.

In January of this year, Norman McCowan, President of Bell Aquaculture, teamed with Indiana Soybean Alliance, Virginia Cobia Farms, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and the Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to present the ‘Future of Fish’ at Bell Aquaculture’s facilities in Albany and Redkey. McCowan described the completion of their recent construction, which has added an additional 500 tonne expansion planned for 2012.”

Link to the article pdf – posted with Hatchery International’s permission

“‘It’s good for the environment. It’s good for the economy. It’s good for jobs,’ Summerfelt said, adding the system is already beginning to create domestic investment and jobs. He says $50 million has already been invested in new commercial fish production facilities in North America, and he suspects that number might rise to as high as $100 million by the end of the year.

The Bell Aquaculture facility in Albany, Ind., constructed using Freshwater Institute technology, will produce 1,000 metric tons of yellow perch each year, Summerfelt said. The facility already employs 40 people and plans to expand to 160 by the end of the year. Summerfelt said similar facilities are opening in Virginia and Washington.

He hopes the system will also pave the way for reducing the $10 billion American trade deficit in seafood.”

Link to the Spirit of Jefferson – article fee required

“Bell Aquaculture, the nation’s largest yellow perch farm, names FLM (Farmer, Lumpe + McClelland) as strategic marketing and communications partner for its Fish Rich™ organic fertilizer and Fish Rich+ natural base fertilizer. Bell is a pioneer in sustainable fish farming operations and has its state-of-the-art recirculating aquaculture facility in Albany, IN.

‘As we at Bell Aquaculture look to launch this exciting line of fertilizer products for vibrant growth of plants, flowers and vegetables, we are excited to partner with the team at FLM. We welcome FLM’s experience in reaching similar target markets via innovative marketing programs and sales generating tactics. We have high goals for this new Bell venture and look forward to increasing our marketplace presence in this important category,’ says Norman McCowan, Bell [Aquaculture] President.”

Link to AgriMarketing

Link to the Bell Aquaculture/Fish Rich Exhibitor Page

“Delaware County Commissioners did their part for the growing enterprise that began in Redkey in 2005 with just a few thousand fish by approving a $16.6 million economic development revenue bond for infrastructure and wastewater work on Monday. That bond is no obligation on county government and is repaid by investors purchasing the issue. An EDC bond is a tool used by local government to promote development and jobs.

Commissioners President Todd Donati called the project more good news on the economic development front at a time the community had thousands out of work and few good paying jobs outside of higher education and health care…

Bell has an impressive list of food distributors like Cisco, Piazza and Indianapolis Fruit, adding many restaurants also use the trade mark Bell Perch that is a higher quality with a controlled water supply and no contamination with in house production. And its partners include the Indiana Soybean Alliance and The Conservation Fund.

The fish farms are driven by water wells and all wastewater is treated at the site, Much of the money will be spent on wastewater treatment and facilities and the entire project should be finished by 2016.”

Link to the Muncie Free Press article

Pictured above is Bell’s recently complete Row 3 expansion – to learn more details, read:

(from June 5, 2011): Bell Aquaculture Breaks Ground On $5 Million Expansion At Nation’s Largest Yellow Perch Fish Farm In Indiana

(from January 25, 2012) Bell Aquaculture Teams with Indiana Soybean Alliance, Virginia Cobia Farms and The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute

“Also Monday, the commissioners approved economic development revenue bonds for Bell Aquaculture, which has an Albany-area fish growing operation.

Terry Murphy of the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance said Bell, which also has a facility in Redkey, will expand to increase its production of yellow perch for the food industry from 3 million to 6 million a year.

The $16.6 million in revenue bonds — backed by a letter of credit — carry no risk to the county, Murphy said.”

Link to thestarpress.com article (see page 2 of posting)

“Representing ARS were Jeff Silverstein, ARS National Program Leader for Aquaculture, Beltsville, MD; Area Director Larry Chandler, ARS Midwest Area, Peoria, IL; Center Director Neal Martin, ARS U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, WI; Research Physiologist Rick Barrows, ARS Fish Technology Center, Bozeman, MT; and Research Physiologist Brian Shepherd, ARS Dairy Forage and Aquaculture Research Unit, Madison, WI…

The new facility pumps thousands of gallons of water a minute, and has the capacity to produce 1,000 tons (2 million pounds) of yellow perch each year. Only 30 gallons of “new” water per minute is required to run the entire operation, thanks to the water reuse technology developed by the Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute.”

Link to the USDA’s ARS & You Newsletter – go to Page 3