Whirling disease hurts Utah aquaculture industry

Utah's aquaculture sales plummeted 70 percent in the seven-year period ending in 2005, largely due to the spread of whirling disease, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In a statement released this week, the USDA reported that "the bulk of all aquaculture sales (in Utah) are for trout, and trout production has taken a tremendous hit due to the spread of whirling disease across the state."

Results of the 2005 Census of Aquaculture revealed that Utah's aquaculture sales declined from $1.9 million in 1998 to $559,000 in 2005. "Food-size trout" accounted for $463,000, or 83 percent, of all aquaculture sales in the state in 2005, according to the study.

Last year, there were 11 aquaculture operations reporting sales in Utah, compared to 18 in operation in 1998.

Nationally, the aquaculture industry — which includes sales of fish, shellfish and related products — grew by 11.7 percent over the seven-year period, the USDA reported. Food fish, including catfish, perch, salmon and trout, accounted for most, at 62 percent, of the industry sales in 2005, followed by sales of mollusks, crustaceans, ornamental fish, bait fish and sport fish.

Mississippi led all states in the sale of aquaculture products, nearing $250 million in 2005.