Who knew that fish farming was such big business in Ohio?

According to this article in the Columbus Dispatch, annual aquaculture sales in Ohio stand at $6.6 million, up from $1.9 million in 1997.

"In 1998, there were about 35 fish farms in Ohio," OSU's Laura Tiu says in the article. "Today, we have 150 licensed farms and about 50 more farms that are in pilot-scale or experimental-scale operations."

Factor in associated businesses like equipment suppliers, feed mills, and seafood shops and the industry's economic impact jumps to $50 million a year.

Ohio's "aquapreneurs" are raising everything from rainbow trout and catfish to goldfish and walleye. Markets include baitfish, ornamentals and those for human consumption.

Insiders only expect the industry to grow.

Read the rest of the fish tale here.