A LITTLE CRUSTACEAN is making big waves in the world of Ohio aquaculture.

Ohio producers, with assistance from researchers at Ohio State University's South Centers at Piketon, are diving into freshwater shrimp production — and realizing the market and economic potential of another high-value crop.

"When I moved to Ohio two years ago from Oregon, I was interested in getting into some type of agriculture, but because of the poor soil on my land, I really couldn't grow anything," said Nate Hogue, a Portsmouth, Ohio, resident who is raising shrimp to add another product to his bait shop. "Then I found out about the shrimp research going on at Ohio State and realized that it was something I could easily get into."

Favorable regional temperatures, small production space requirements, a short growing season and a promising profit generator are just some of the driving forces behind the interest in shrimp, said Laura Tiu, an Ohio State University Extension aquaculture specialist.

"More and more farms are getting into diversification. Farmers are beginning to realize that they have to grow multiple crops to be successful," said Tiu. "Shrimp is one of those high-value crops that doesn't tie a farmer down 365 days a year."

Tiu and South Centers aquaculture facility coordinator Geoff Wallat are in their first year of raising freshwater Malaysian prawns in several one-acre and one-quarter-acre ponds. The purpose of the project, funded through OARDC and Ohio State Sea Grant, is to determine the feasibility of raising and marketing shrimp and shrimp products in Ohio.