A White Paper on the status and needs of sunfish aquaculture in the North Central Region

Sunfish have been identified as potential aquaculture taxa in the North Central Region (NCR). The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) has funded projects to address the research needs of developing sunfish as a viable aquaculture commodity in the NCR. Because the NCRAC Board of Directors (Board) and the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) memberships change over time, the Board directed that white papers be developed on the NCR potential aquaculture species. These white papers are designed to outline the current status of aquaculture technology, the critical factors limiting economical and sustainable commercial production, and the recommendations for research and extension that should be considered in future work plans for each species considered. In addition, the white papers are considered as “living documents” that can be updated based on advancements and new developments within the industry.