With almost 80% of seafood imported, can KSU turn the tide?

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — At Kentucky State University's 14,000-square-foot Aquaculture Research Center, pioneering research is underway to grow seafood safely and sustainably.

The Division of Aquaculture at KSU began in the 1980s, primarily focused on researching the catfish industry. Today, the program has grown to include an array of courses, undergraduate and master's degrees, cutting-edge shrimp farming technology, and an international influence on aquaculture research.

"Aquaculture is the fastest growing form of agriculture in the world," said Dr. Andrew Ray, chair of the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Science. "But one of the big problems is that we import almost 80% of our seafood in the United States, so that growth, fastest in the world, is happening in other countries and w