Overview
The distribution of the golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) includes virtually all of the United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Additionally, it occurs west to the Dakotas and Texas. The preferred habitat of golden shiners includes shallow, weedy, quiet regions of lakes and ponds where they move in large schools. Wherever they occur, they are a primary food source for black bass, pike and other game fish. They consume a wide variety of plant and animal matter including filamentous algae, and aquatic and terrestrial insects.

Golden shiners currently are the most important species to the nation’s bait fish industry. Culture of golden shiners consists of importation of a variety of sizes (mainly from Arkansas) or maintenance of breeding stock by vendors for resale as bait fish. A single female may produce up to 200,000 eggs and may spawn more than once during the breeding season.  February 2008  . . . Golden Shiner

Other Links

• Alaska Mariculture, Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Alaska state mariculture site includes razor clam restoration information, permit information, overviews of state production and related information.
• Aquaculture Certification Council - A nongovernmental body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world. This Missouri nonprofit, nonmember public benefit corporation builds on elements of the voluntary Global Aquaculture Alliance Responsible Aquaculture Program system that combines site inspections and effluent sampling with sanitary controls, therapeutic controls and product traceability.
• Aquaculture (Domestic Production and International Trade Information), FSAonline, USDA.
• Aquaculture in Hawaii, State Aquaculture Development Program State Department of Agriculture - Hawaii Aquaculture web page, an information source and guide to getting started in aquaculture in Hawaii.
• The Aquaculture Network Information Center - A gateway to the world's electronic aquaculture resources.
• Aquaculture Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Fisheries market news and statistic summaries (aquaculture results by catch), available grants, new marine product food safety guidelines, endangered natural stocks, export guidelines for shipments to the European Union, links and addresses of many National Marine Fisheries Support Offices, and other information. Site includes information on Department of Commerce Aquaculture Policy, the National Aquaculture Act of 1980, recent NOAA Aquaculture Policy and breaking research and legislative news.
• Aquatic Network - Aquaculture topics, educational information, publications and products and services listing.
• Baitfish Production in the United States, G. Burtle, University of Georgia, and L. Dorman and L. Gray, University of Arkansas, undated - History of the industry, overview of production systems and marketing strategies.
• Census of Aquaculture (2005), USDA, 2006.  
• Aquaculture, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA.
• FishLink.com - An Internet information and resource for aquaculture and fisheries. Contains directories, news, statistics and other related information.
• Golden Shiner Culture: A Reference Profile, A.M. Lazur and F.A. Chapman, University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Gainesville, 2002. 
• Great Lakes Aquaculture (Sea Grant): Aquaculture and Sea Food Safety- Overview of various programs and initiatives of the Great Lakes Sea Grant Program. Sea Grant researchers are studying several fish species suitable for aquaculture in the Midwest, including walleye, sturgeon, hybrid striped bass, sunfish, bait fish, yellow perch, tilapia, bluegill, crappie, bullhead, crayfish and a variety of salmonids. A variety of techniques are being examined, including pond culture, cage culture and indoor contained systems. The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network also has developed a regional resource list of aquaculture publications and audiovisuals for current and potential aquaculturists.
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Commercial Services: Aquaculture and Seafood - Contains leads, current and historical trade statistics, import requirements, news and regulatory information. This mission of the Trade and Commercial Service staff is to promote and facilitate trade for the U.S. seafood and aquaculture industries by expanding existing markets and opening new ones for the U.S. producers and processors.
• Permaculture: Aquaculture - Huge bibliography of written resources and links from CrescentMeadow.com., Crescent Meadow Systems, a pemaculture reference site.
• Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture - The Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program (PD/A CRSP) represents an international, multi-disciplinary effort to improve human nutrition through pond aquaculture research. The work of the PD/A CRSP benefits both domestic and international aquaculture.
• World Aquaculture Society - International society of aquaculturalists working to improve education and communication within the industry.

Links checked January 2008.