Aquaculture is growing in Iowa, reports Iowa State University, home of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center. “Aquaculture in the Midwest has grown and matured in recent years,” said Joseph Morris, professor of natural resource ecology and management and the director of the center. “At the same time, people are eating more fish, and there’s a growing acceptance of fish as a source of healthy protein.” A U.S. Department of Agriculture report on the aquaculture industry released last year showed that the number of fish farms in Iowa jumped from 21 in 2005 to 31 in 2013. Sales generated by Iowa fish farms totaled around $1.5 million in 2005 and grew to $2.8 million in 2013.