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CLEMVILLE -- Texas
Aquaculture Cooperative has broken ground on a new
fish processing plant at Clemville, west of Bay City.
The 24 members of the
farmer-owned co-op raise fish on approximately 2,000
acres. They primarily raise catfish, but some produce
hybrid stripped bass, redfish, shrimp and crawfish.
Co-op member farms – in
Matagorda, Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Calhoun, and
Brazoria counties – form a grassroots organization
that has received technical assistance from the Lower
Colorado River Authority's economic development
department, Texas Cooperative Extension, Wharton
County Electric Co-op, and the Texas Department of
Agriculture.
"This project is just
the kind that LCRA looks to be a part of because it
diversifies the area's economy and creates new
business and wealth for the region," said Frank
Morgan, manager of LCRA's economic development
department.
Brent Batchelor,
Matagorda County Extension agent, noted the importance
of helping the cooperative venture get started.
"Aquaculture is a
growing industry and Extension is proud to have been a
part of the formation of the co-op which is fostering
a whole new industry for this region of Texas," he
said.
Until the co-op was
formed, there was only one steady buyer of live fish
for the farms' products.
"This new processing
plant is just what we need to grow the aquaculture
industry, because now we farmers can control our
marketing destiny" said Mark Shimek, co-op president.
Co-op members expect
additional producers because of the plant.
"These new farms will
add tremendously to the area's economies," said Loy
Sneary, consultant to LCRA's community and economic
development department. "This new processing plant
will contribute nearly $17 million to the area's
economy and add 35 new jobs.
"The existing farms are
already generating nearly $16 million in economic
impact, and our goal is to add another 10,000
aquaculture acres within the next 10 years," he said.
Until 1 1/2 years ago,
the 24 members individually farmed and marketed their
product with no organized effort.
"The fact that these 24
farmers, who started only a little over a year ago,
have come this far in so short a time is a real
tribute to the tenacity, ingenuity and hard work of
our farmers," said Jeff Boswell, co-op general
manager.
The new location will
allow the co-op to process up to 150,000 pounds of
catfish per week.
"Our marketing efforts
have been extremely successful," said Boswell. "Our
customers are quickly learning that the co-op provides
a quality product at a competitive price. Our fish are
much fresher than fish raised in other states. In fact
we can harvest in the morning and have those fish on
the dinner plate in Houston, Austin or San Antonio the
same day."
The Texas Aquaculture
Co-op can be contacted at (361) 972-0327.
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