Michigan Could Be Home To First Commercial Eel Farm In America

Michigan could be the home to the first commercial eel farm in the United States.  Florida based company, Aqua Vida Agriculture proposed the farm almost 3 years ago and is currently awaiting funding and an aquaculture research permit.

Aqua Vida is hoping to build a $30 million facility that will span 2 acres that will employ about 25 people.  The farm would raise African longfin eel and American eel for commercial use.

One of the big hurdles for the company is to assure that the farm will be self-contained and that the eel will not be able to escape into Michigan's rivers, lakes, or streams.

The facility would be located just north of Lansing in St. Johns.

FOX 17 reports that Aqua Vida has not set a timeline for when this project is expected to be completed.