June 16, 2022

A Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station aquaculture economist and associate research professor is receiving the prestigious Distinguished Early Career Award from the US Aquaculture Society (USAS), a chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS).

Award recipient Ganesh Karunakaran is based at Mississippi State University's (MSU) Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Centre.

The Distinguished Early Career Award is presented to an individual who has been involved with US aquaculture for 10 years or less. The award recognises outstanding leadership or innovation in research, education, extension or industry development in the field. Specifically, it emphasises significant personal contributions made to further advance US aquaculture.

"Aquaculture is not just my job – it's my passion – and it's a big honour to receive this award," said Karunakaran. "I feel humbled and surprised, but I'm also encouraged that I'm on the right path in my career."

Karunakaran's research focuses on economics and marketing in the US catfish industry, working on behalf of farmers and stakeholders.

Last year, he and his research team received a three-year, US$1 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant College Programme to establish national economic metrics for the US aquaculture industry.

Karunakaran is also part of several extramural grants to study issues faced by the US catfish industry.

"Producers are an important component of WAS and USAS. I'm lucky to be a part of a land-grant university with a mission to enhance the welfare of stakeholders," he said. "Working to find practical solutions for producers gives me immense gratitude. Farming problems are complex, multifaceted, and often difficult to formulate under a research framework."

- The Fish Site