Most people think farmers raise cows and grow corn, but some people connect farming with fish production instead.

About 25 people from across the state will visit Iowa State today for the annual Iowa Aquaculture Association meeting.

The association deals with items of aquaculture interest, including fish diseases, designs of aquaculture systems, current regulations and other topics relating to the industry as a whole.

Iowa farm ponds support fishing valued at $7.5 million, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

There are nearly 80,000 ponds in Iowa with an additional 1,000 ponds being added yearly. The larger farms produce fish for stocking farm ponds.

Aquaculture is growing rapidly in the United States, said Robert Summerfelt, professor of fisheries and aquaculture. He said the number of fish farms has doubled in the last 10 years.

Summerfelt teaches and researches projects involving aquaculture.

His current project evaluates using animal by-products, soybean meal and corn meal as ingredients in fish feeds.

He also works to create the environmental conditions to increase the survival of walleye larva and produce walleye in tanks as a food fish.

Developed two years ago, aquaculture is an option within the animal ecology department.

Alan Johnson, a graduate student in animal ecology, studies aquaculture.

He grew up raising cattle, but chose to study fish because it was new to him.

“I like the outdoors and I always enjoyed fishing when I grew up on the farm,” Johnson said.

Johnson said his goal is to complete a master’s and doctorate degree to help him find a job formulating fish diets for the aquaculture industry.

The annual meeting will involve a variety of speakers throughout the day from ISU and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Participants will receive sources for additional information and contacts to help them with individual questions.

Joseph Morris, state fisheries and aquaculture extension specialist, said the five-year-old association gives members a voice and the visibility that comes with being part of an association.

The Iowa Aquaculture Association is affiliated with the National Aquaculture Association, which works to represent the interests of fish producers.