A Visit to Danaher Fishery: Showcasing Vermont’s Aquaculture Potential
On a cold and snowy day in Shrewsbury, Vermont, I joined Matt Danaher, owner of Danaher Fishery, as he welcomed Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, Anson Tebbitts, for a firsthand look at fish farming in Vermont. Danaher Fishery raises rainbow, brown, and brook trout, primarily for stocking private ponds. Occasionally, Matt grows fish to market size for restaurants in the region, supplying fresh, locally raised trout making him one of five aquaculturists in Vermont. Four of these being land-based trout farms and one land-based aquaponics farm (integrated fish and vegetable farming). There are currently no open water (fish pens) farms in Vermont. This visit provided an opportunity for us to discuss challenges to industry growth and the importance of aquaculture with a key leader in Vermont agriculture.
Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of food production in the United States, driven by increasing demand for sustainable seafood and the need to supplement wild fish stocks. In New England, this growth is particularly relevant as traditional fisheries face challenges from extreme weather, nutrient export, and overfishing. Expanding regional aquaculture provides economic opportunities for farmers while contributing to local food security and reducing reliance on imported seafood.
We started the visit in the warmth of the Danaher home, gathered around the kitchen table with coffee in hand. Matt, a self-described Fred Flintstone—outspoken and passionate—led our discussion on key industry challenges. The difficulties that the aquaculture industry faces include high energy costs, obtaining a consistent supply of fish eggs, waste and wastewater management, and feed costs among others.
After our discussion, we embarked on a tour of the farm. The layout is impressive: a network of flowing water feeds outdoor ponds and a series of six greenhouses terraced down a hill. Our first stop was the hatchery, where Matt incubates and hatches trout eggs. The stacked tray system holds tens of thousands of fish and is fed by a constant flow of well water. Matt described the system and explained how newly hatched fish rely on their yolk sacs for sustenance before they develop the ability to eat formulated feed.
Just down the hill stands a new hatchery, still under construction. A work crew was busy installing the final polycarbonate panels on the roof. Matt was excited about this expansion, which he hopes to complete by spring to increase the farm's production.
We stepped into one of the greenhouses, which is fitted with a newly implemented recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). This system features eight tanks that hold thousands of 4- to 6-inch trout, the optimal size for the private pond stocking market. The tanks are all connected to the RAS, in which water cycles through a drum filter to remove solids before moving to a biofilter. The biofilter contains naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria that convert toxic ammonia—produced by fish metabolism—into the harmless compound nitrate. This continuous filtration process maintains water quality and ensures a healthy environment for the fish.
The farm’s other greenhouses continue in a line down the hill, allowing gravity to move water through each one. At the last greenhouse, an additional biofiltration system further processes the farm's water. Half of the treated water is recirculated back to an upper greenhouse, while the remainder flows into a series of constructed ponds that provide additional purification and create a habitat for native species like minnows and crawfish. The farm’s integration with the surrounding ecosystem is a testament to its sustainable aquaculture practices.
After the tour, we returned to the kitchen to recap the visit. Secretary Tebbitts acknowledged the opportunities and challenges facing Vermont’s aquaculture industry. We discussed a list of follow-up actions before he departed for Middlebury, where he had plans to look at a tractor—an appropriate reminder that agriculture is typically perceived as only land-based farming. While aquaculture has been recognized as a form of agriculture for some time, recent efforts have strengthened this alignment. The USDA supports aquaculture through research funding, loans, and relief programs, while NOAA oversees marine aquaculture and collaborates on policy and development. This growing recognition helps integrate aquaculture into broader agricultural support systems, ensuring access to resources and funding.
As Vermont’s aquaculture industry continues to grow, increased awareness and support from state officials will be critical. Visits like this help bridge the gap between policymakers and producers, ensuring that fish farming becomes a recognized and supported part of Vermont’s agricultural future.