How inland fish farmers cultivate a sustainable future for the Great Lakes

['Donte Smith', 'Great Lakes Echo', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] Great Lakes Echo 2025-09-14 00:00:00

A young angler reels in a trout at Spring Valley Trout Farm. As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are building a more sustainable, local supply. One of Michigan’s most prominent inland fish farms is Spring Valley Trout Farm in Dexter, where three generations of the Kaercher family have raised rainbow trout and catfish since 1970. While wild fisheries are more strictly regulated today, experts say inland aquaculture offers a way to sustainably meet consumer demand without putting further pressure on native populations. Net-pens vs. inland systemsPatrick Kaercher prepares a trout for a guest on-site at Spring Valley Trout Farm.