<b>By SUSAN BLOWER<br>
Indiana Correspondent</b></p><p>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Whether the fishing hole is a hobby or a source of income, the spring meeting of the Indiana Aquaculture Assoc., Inc. (IAAI) will address many issues dear to the hearts of fishermen this Saturday at the Marion County extension office in Indianapolis.<br>

“Strategies on Growing Trophy Bluegill” and “Turning Your Pond into an Asset” are the topics hosted by Robert Lyons, an IAAI leader for 20 years and aquaculture research developer at Purdue University.<br>

“Robert Lyons has an 18-acre lake and has operated a private membership club (on the lake). He will be talking about how to do that,” said Martha Render, IAAI president and event organizer.
Forrest Wynne, Western Kentucky University extension aquaculture specialist, will speak on “Managing Your Pond for Optimum Growth and Production.” His speech will address the use of fertilizer, stocking balances, weeds and other water quality concerns, Render said.<br>

Dr. Randy Lang and Dr. Jennifer Strasser from the Indiana Board of Animal Health will update IAAI members on the latest laws governing VHS, a disease found in fish in the Great Lakes. This talk will likely most concern those who haul fish to stock ponds.
Many other speakers are lined up for the program, which will start at 9:45 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and costs $30. A lunch will be served on-site for $5. Membership in IAAI can be purchased for the $30 fee, and a guest is free.<br>

Render said aquaculture was first recognized as a part of agriculture under former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan. IAAI has been around for about 20 years and is intended to promote the industry, she said. Although Render said aquaculture is not widely recognized statewide, a recent workshop by the Indiana Soybean Assoc. and Purdue on aquaculture financing drew 100 people from across the state.<br>

Render said though IAAI membership is small, its members are quite diverse. Some members own pay ponds, in which people pay to fish, and others have recreational ponds.<br>

Some businesses raise bait such as minnows and crawfish, while others grow food fish. Some use cages and others have pond recirculation systems. Some haul fish to stock ponds. In addition, southern Indiana is home to freshwater shrimp producers, Render said.<br>

IAAI has two to three meetings per year.<br>

“It’s a fascinating organization with lots of information. We present programs that will appeal to all of our members. We have good speakers who are well qualified,” Render said.<br>

For more information, contact Render at 219-275-8851 or by e-mail at 1hoosiers@ffni.com<br>

Or, call the Marion County extension office at 317-275-9305. The office is located in the Intech building at 6640 Intech Blvd. in Indianapolis.