By Carol McIntire
Editor
August 31, 2010
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| The large pond on the Ward Sheckler property on Bellflower Rd., Minerva (shown above), is home to a fish farm, that Marty Domer, the founder of the Fish Farmers of Ohio, says is one of the best in the county. The pond is stocked with fish that are harvested every 18 months. |
Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in Carroll County is its suitability for fish farming and the potential to turn a profit in the business.
What does Carroll County offer that makes it special?
Marty Domer, owner of Blue Ribbon Farm Fish and Domer’s Fish Hatchery located along Atwood Lake near Mineral City, says it’s a combination of factors.
“It’s simple,” he says. “This part of Ohio is perfect because the growing season is the right length. If you go to Lake Erie and the northern part of the state, the growing season is too short, if you go too far south, it’s too hot. Besides that, the lay of the land is just right. We have the difference in elevations needed to build ponds, have a good clay content in the soil and we have an adequate water supply of hard water, which makes a firmer fish,” he explained.
He said fish farming could be the answer for many farmers struggling in the business to turn their farms around. “Those farmers could put ponds on their unused land and make money from it,” he stated, noting several in the county have taken advantage of the opportunity.
“Ohio is the number one Yellow Perch and Blue Gill producing state in the country,” he said. “Ohio is also the number four producer of Large Mouth Bass and the number six producer of Hybrid Striped Bass in the country.”
Perhaps even more eye opening was his statement that fish is the second largest import for American, behind only oil. “Isn’t that amazing?” he asked. “Right now fish is the only commodity that is wide open.”
Domer has 30 years experience in fish farming. He started in earnest in the 1980’s after he was injured on the job while working for a pipe contractor. Over those years, he has become a standout in the industry. He has been the nucleus for farmers to gather and learn more about the business and has provided services and advice for thousands. He is known as the founder of the Fish Farmers of Ohio organization. He is best known in aquiculture circles for his work with the yellow perch.
Normally, yellow perch grow only between 10 and 11 inches long and have a high mortality rate when raised commercially. Since 1980, he has been domesticating a strain of yellow perch through selective breeding that grow faster, larger and adapt easily to fish farming. His yellow perch have grown up to 19 inches long. One of his proudest statements is that “Ohio fish farmers have put the state on map without help from any department of university which makes this a true grass roots industry.”
In fact, in January 2009, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) learned what fish are farmers and doing and asked to become involved. He has been working closely with ODA officials to improve fish farming in Ohio, initiate research and form funding streams for fish farmers. Another area he is working on in earnest is research, which he says has been difficult since fish farmers can’t seem to attract the attention of any university in Ohio.
GETTING INVOLVED
Domer says it’s relatively easy to become involved in the industry.
First, a site evaluation is completed. This will determine how many ponds can be located on the property and what size pond can be constructed. He said ponds one acre or more will be the most cost effective to operate, but some people do will with ponds as small as a half acre. Some farmers prefer a smaller pond and a larger pond so the small pond can be stocked with fingerlings (small fish) which are then moved to the larger pond for the second growing season.
Domer says the next step is to complete a rough draft of a business plan to estimate the basic costs and projected income.
If the farmer moves ahead, the pond is constructed and stocked with fingerlings. It takes 18 months for the fish to reach market size. Domer recommends feeding the fish twice per day to reach optimum growth.
When they reach maturity, the fish are harvested. Domer said through the Ohio Fish Harvest and Marketing Organization, farmers pay only for the labor and cost of the harvest. Nets are used to harvest the fish and they are transferred to a holding facility and the marketing process begins. Domer provides the marketing service that markets the fish to various customers across the U.S.
“Our largest customers are primarily the oriental markets, but with the idea of locally-produced food taking hold across the country, there is an increasing demand for our product,” Domer said.
He said there are well over 150 fish farmers in Ohio, including several in Carroll County. One of the most successful fish farms in the county is operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ward Sheckler in Brown Twp.
“Fish farming is one of the last commodities in Ohio farmers can take full advantage of,” Domer said. “There is a lot of room for growth in this industry. Fish farming can be very, very rewarding and very profitable, but at the same time it can also be high risk. Fish farming is by far more of an art than a science. It is very important to have a high degree of common sense if you are to be successful.”
He suggested people who might be interested in the industry contact the Ohio Fish Harvesting and Marketing Organization as it is made up almost entirely of fish farmers. Interested persons can also contact Domer at 330-364-9239. |
