Dr. Ganesh Kumar Karunakaran

Bio

I take pride in meeting producers and discussing their production problems using scientific, yet practical means. In addition to working with catfish producers, I had opportunities to work in the shrimp, baitfish, sportfish, and largemouth bass industry. My area of specialization is in aquaculture economics and marketing.

Areas of Specialization

production economics; financial management; risk analysis; technology adoption; whole-farm economic modeling; mathematical programming;

Awards & Honors

Best paper award
Aquaculture Economics and Management

Distinguished Early Career Award
World Aquaculture Society

Best paper award
World Aquaculture Society

International Travel award
International Association of Aquaculture Economics and Management

MAFES Grantsmanship Award
Mississippi state University

Best PhD Dissertation award
International Association of Aquaculture Economics and Management

PhD dissertation International Travel award
International Association of Aquaculture Economics and Management

Chancellor Award
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

William M. Willingham award
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

2007 William M. Willingham award
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

MS Travel Award
International Association of Aquaculture Economics and Management

Gold Medal MS program
Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Junior Research Fellowship
Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Third Rank in national level entrance exam for post graduation
Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Education

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Fisheries/Aquaculture Science

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Master of Science (M.S.)
Fisheries/Aquaculture Science

Central Institute of Fisheries Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Aquaculture

Kerala Agricultural University
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Aquaculture

Publications

2025

Aarattuthodi, S., Bosworth, B., Karunakaran, G., Nalamalapu, A. 2025. Efficacy determination of a disinfectant against channel catfish virus by in vitro and in vivo methods. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal 61(5):582-590. Download

Brugere, C., Karunakaran, G., Bondad-Reantaso, M. G. 2025. Bridging aquatic organism health and economics in the analysis of disease impacts and biosecurity strategies in aquaculture: A conceptual framework. Critical Insights in Aquaculture 2025(1):2441506. Download

Engle, C. R., van Senten, J., Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Clark, C., Boldt, N., Fornshell, G., Hudson, B., Cassiano, E. J., DiMaggio, M. A. 2025. The National Regulatory Cost Burden on US aquaculture farms. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 56(2):e70005. Download

Garlock, T., Anderson, J. L., Anderson, T. M \&, Karunakaran, G. 2025. Aquaculture in the United States: An analysis of seven aquaculture sectors from the aquaculture performance indicators perspective. Aquaculture Economics & Management 29(2):304–322. Download

Karunakaran, G., Hegde, S., Aarattuthodi, S., Bosworth, B., Sun, L., Steensma, N. 2025. Effect of carryover biomass of channel catfish on production and profitability in intensively aerated multiple-batch system. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 56(1):13123. Download

Kumar, G., Hegde, S., Aarattuthodi, S., Bosworth,, Karunakaran, G. 2025. Effect of carryover biomass of channel catfish on production and profitability in intensively aerated multiple-batch system. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 56(1):e13123. Download

Sun, L., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. R. 2025. Factors influencing seafood sales in US retail markets. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 56(1):56(1), e70000. Download

2024

Selcuk , M., Hegde , U., Engle, C., Karunakaran, G., van Senten, J., Dey, M. 2024. Seafood Purchasing Behavior in the U.S. during the Early Recovery Period from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Fishes 2024(9):348. Download

Bosworth, B., Waldbieser, G., Wise, D., Karunakaran, G., Lourenco, D., Garcia, A., Ott, B., Torrans, L. 2024. Effect of strain and enteric septicemia of catfish vaccine-booster on production and processing traits of the Delta Select and Delta Control strains of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Journal of World Aquaculture Society. Download

Bosworth, B. G., Waldbieser, G. C., Engle, C., Karunakaran, G. 2024. Effects of broodfish sex ratio, broodfish stocking density, and postspawn broodfish holding-pond density on reproductive efficiency in pond-spawned Channel Catfish. North American Journal of Aquaculture 86(1):130--140. Download

Cheatham, M., Karunakaran, G., Tucker, C., Roy, L., Avery, J. L., Johnson, J. 2024. Cost and impact of off-flavor on U.S. catfish farms. North American Journal of Aquaculture Download

Garlock, T. M., Asche, F., Anderson, J. L., Eggert, H., Anderson, T. M., Che, B., Chaavez, C. A., Chu, J., Chukwuone, N., Dey, M. M., Fitzsimmons, K., Flores, J., Guillen, J., Karunakaran, G., Liu, L., Llorente, I., Nguyen, L., Nielsen, R., Pincinato, R. B., Sudhakaran, P. O., Tibesigwa, B., Tveteras, R. 2024. Environmental, economic, and social sustainability in aquaculture: the aquaculture performance indicators. Nature communications 15(1):5274--2024. Download

Karunakaran, G., Hegde, S., Engle, C., Boldt, N., Parker, M., Quagrainie, K., Posadas, B. C., Asche, F., Dey, M., Aarattuthodi, S., Roy, L. A., Grice, R., Fong, Q., Schwarz, M. 2024. Economic Contribution of U.S. Aquaculture Farms. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 55(4):23. Download

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Aarattuthodi, S., van Senten, J., Hegde, S., Khoo, L. H., Hanson, L. A., Peterman, M. A., Dorman, L. 2024. Economic impact of Edwardsiellosis on the US catfish industry. Aquaculture Economics & Management Download

Matuha, M., Fornshell, G., Karunakaran, G., Cain, K. D. 2024. Sensory profiles and market potential of burbot Lota lota maculosa-An emerging aquaculture species. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science Download

Mitra, S., Khan, M. A., Nielsen, R., Karunakaran, G., Rahman, M. T. 2024. Review of environmental challenges in the Bangladesh aquaculture industry. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 31(6):8330--8340. Download

Stone, N. M., Engle, C. R., Karunakaran, G., Li, M. H., Hegde, S., Roy, L. A., Kelly, A. M., Dorman, L., Recsetar, M. S. 2024. Factors affecting feed conversion ratios in US commercial catfish production ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Download

2023

Cheatham, M., Karunakaran, G., Johnson, J., Avery, J. L., Aarattuthodi, S. 2023. Economic risk of commercial catfish production practices. Aquaculture Economics & Management 2023:1--23. Download

Cheatham, M., Karunakaran, G., Tucker, C., Rutland, B. 2023. Research verification of four commercial scale split-pond designs. Aquacultural Engineering 103:102349.

Engle, C., van Senten, J., Karunakaran, G., Dey, M. 2023. Pre-and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the US. Aquaculture 571:739491.

Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., van Senten, J. 2023. Cost of regulations on US catfish farms. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2023. Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). CABI Compendium 79127(1):1-31. Download

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., van Senten, J., Sun, L., Hegde, S., Richardson, B. M. 2023. Resource productivity and costs of aquaculture practices: Economic-sustainability perspectives from US catfish farming. Aquaculture 574:739715.

Prodhan, M. M., Khan, M. A., Palash, M. S., Hossain, M. I., Karunakaran, G. 2023. Supply chain performance of fishing industry in Bangladesh: Emphasizing on information sharing and commitment. Aquaculture Economics & Management

Sun, L., Engle, C., Karunakaran, G., van Senten, J. 2023. Retail market trends for seafood in the United States. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society

Sun, L., Engle, C. R., Karunakaran, G., van Senten, J. 2023. Supermarket trends for rainbow and steelhead trout products: Evidence from scanner data. Aquaculture Reports 30:101579.

Sun, L., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., van Senten, J. 2023. Trends for US catfish and swai products in retail markets. Aquaculture Economics \& Management

2022

Asche, F., Garlock, T., Camp, E., Guillen, J., Karunakaran, G., Llorente, I., Shamshak, G. 2022. Market opportunities for US aquaculture producers: the case of Branzino. Marine Resource Economics 37(2):221--233.

Dharan, V., Khoo, L. H., Phelps, N. B., Karunakaran, G., Steadman, J., Bosworth, B., Aarattuthodi, S. 2022. An investigation into the pathogenesis of blue catfish alloherpesvirus in ictalurid catfish. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 53(2):384--400.

Engle, C. R., Hanson, T., Karunakaran, G. 2022. Economic history of US catfish farming: Lessons for growth and development of aquaculture. Aquaculture Economics & Management 26(1):1--35.

Gosh, K., Hanson, T. R., Drescher, D., Robinson, D., Bugg, W., Chatakondi, N., Karunakaran, G., Jeffers, C., Dunham, R. A. 2022. Economic Effect of Hybrid Catfish (Channel Catfish♀$\times$ Blue Catfish♂) Growth Variability on Traditional and Intensive Production Systems. North American Journal of Aquaculture 84:24--41.

Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Hanson, T., Roy, L. A., van Senten, J., Johnson, J., Avery, J. L., Aarattuthodi, S., Dahl, S., others 2022. Economic contribution of the US catfish industry. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 26(4):384--413.

Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Avery, J. L., Aarattuthodi, S., Johnson, J., van Senten, J. 2022. Production economic relationships in intensive US catfish production systems. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 26(3):314--331.

Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Hanson, T., Roy, L. A., Cheatham, M., Avery, J. L., Aarattuthodi, S., van Senten, J., Johnson, J., Wise, D. J. 2022. Technological progress in the US catfish industry. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 53(2):367--383.

2021

Asche, F., Anderson, J. L., Botta, R., Karunakaran, G., Abrahamsen, E. B., Nguyen, L. T., Valderrama, D. 2021. The Economics of Shrimp Disease. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Avery, J. L., Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G. 2021. U.S. Catfish Production is Becoming More Efficient. World Aquaculture 52(3):52-54.

Engle, C. E., Christie, T. W., Dorr, B. S., Karunakaran, G., Davis, J. B., Roy, L. A., Kelly, A. M. 2021. Principal economic effects of cormorant predation on catfish farms. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 52:41-56. Download

Engle, C., Karunakaran, G., van Senten, J. 2021. Resource-use efficiency in US aquaculture: farm-level comparisons across fish species and production systems. Aquaculture Environment Interactions 13:259--275.

Karunakaran, G., Hegde, S., Wise, D. J., Mischke, C. C., Dorr, B. 2021. Economic Losses of Catfish to Avian Predation- A Case Report . North American Journal of Aquaculture 83(3):127-137. Download

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Avery, J. L., Dorman, L., Whitis, G., Roy, L. A., Xie, L. 2021. Characteristics of early adoption and non-adoption of alternative catfish production technologies in the US. Aquaculture Economics & Management 25(1):70--88.

2020

Carole Engle, Karunakaran, G., van Senten, J. 2020. Cost drivers and profitability of U.S. pond, raceway, and RAS aquaculture. Journal of world aquaculture society.

Engle, c., Karunakaran, G., van senten, J. 2020. Economics of U.S. catfish farming practices: Profitability, economies of size, and liquidity. Journal of World Aquaculture Society.

Garlock, T., Asche, F., Anderson, J., Bj\orndal, Trond, Karunakaran, G., Lorenzen, K., Ropicki, A., Smith, M. D., Tveter\aas, Ragnar 2020. A global blue revolution: aquaculture growth across regions, species, and countries. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture 28(1):107--116.

Griffin, M. J., Greenway, T. E., Byars, T. S., Ware, C., Aarattuthodi, S., Karunakaran, G., Wise, D. J. 2020. Cross-protective potential of a live-attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine against Edwardsiella piscicida in channel (Ictalurus punctatus) and channel$\times$ blue (Ictalurus furcatus) hybrid catfish. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 51(3):740--749.

Karunakaran, G., Wise, D. J., Li, M. H., Aarattuthodi, S., Hegde, S., Rutland, B., Pruitt, S., Griffin, M. J., Khoo, L. H. 2020. Effect of understocking density of channel catfish fingerlings in intensively aerated multiple-batch production. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 52(1):30-40. Download

Karunakaran, G., Gaunt, P. S. 2020. Medicated-feed intervention in catfish farming: An economic perspective. North American Journal of Aquaculture 82(2):190--199.

Li, M. H., Wise, D. J., Mischke, C. C., Karunakaran, G., Greenway, T. E., Tiwari, A., Lucas, P. M. 2020. Reducing dietary protein concentrations and replacing fish meal with porcine meat and bone meal do not affect growth or feed conversion of pond-raised fingerling channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 51(2):364--372.

Wise, D. J., Greenway, T. E., Byars, T. S., Karunakaran, G., Griffin, M. J., Khoo, L. H., Chesser, G. D., Lowe, J. W. 2020. Validation of Edwardsiella ictaluri oral vaccination platform in experimental pond trials. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 51(2):346--363.

2019

Karunakaran, G., Byars, T. S., Greenway, T. E., Aarattuthodi, S., Khoo, L. H., Griffin, M. J., Wise, D. J. 2019. Economic assessment of commercial-scale Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine trials in US catfish industry. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 23(3):254--275.

Karunakaran, G., Li, M. H., Wise, D. J., Mischke, C. C., Rutland, B., Tiwari, A., Aarattuthodiyil, S., Griffin, M. J., Khoo, L. H., Ott, B., others 2019. Performance of channel catfish and hybrid catfish in single-batch, intensively aerated ponds. North American Journal of Aquaculture 81(4):406--416.

2018

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. R., Hanson, T. R., Tucker, C. S., Brown, T. W., Bott, L. B., Roy, L. A., Boyd, C. E., Recsetar, M. S., Park, J. 2018. Economics of alternative catfish production technologies. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 49(6):1039--1057.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Tucker, C. 2018. Factors driving aquaculture technology adoption. Journal of the world aquaculture society 49(3):447--476.

Li, M. H., Wise, D. J., Mischke, C. C., Karunakaran, G., Lucas, P. M. 2018. Response of pond-raised fingerling hybrid catfish,♀ Ictalurus punctatus$\times$♂ Ictalurus furcatus, to dietary protein concentrations and sources. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 49(5):912--918.

2017

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2017. Economics of intensively aerated catfish ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 48(2):320--332.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2017. Optimal investment pathways for splitpond and intensively aerated catfish pond technologies. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 21(1):144--162.

2016

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Tucker, C. 2016. Costs and risk of catfish split-pond systems. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 47(3):327--340.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. R. 2016. Technological advances that led to growth of shrimp, salmon, and tilapia farming. Reviews in Fisheries Science \& Aquaculture 24(2):136--152.

2014

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. R. 2014. Optimizing catfish feeding and stocking strategies over a two-year planning horizon. Aquaculture Economics & Management 18(2):169--188.

2013

Engle, C., Karunakaran, G., Lochmann, R., Bosworth, B., Thompson, M. 2013. Effects of 28% protein diets differing in quality on channel catfish performance, processing traits, and production economics in a multi-batch system. Journal of Applied Aquaculture 25(2):102--112.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. R. 2013. Costs of winter feeding of Channel-Blue (♀ Ictalurus punctatus$\times$♂ Ictalurus furcatus) hybrid catfish. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 44(4):511--519.

2012

Lochmann, R., Engle, C., Karunakaran, G., Li, M. H., Avery, J. L., Bosworth, B. G., Tucker, C. S. 2012. Multi-batch catfish production and economic analysis using alternative (low-cost) diets with corn gluten feed and traditional diets with meat and bone meal. Aquaculture 366:34–39. Download

2011

Engle, C. R., Karunakaran, G. 2011. Biological feasibility and costs of production of large Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, for a specialty product market. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 42(5):667--675.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2011. The effect of hybrid catfish fingerling prices on the relative profitability of hybrid channel catfish. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 42(4):469--483.

2010

Engle, C. R., Karunakaran, G., Bouras, D. 2010. The economic trade-offs between stocking fingerlings and stockers: A mixed integer multi-stage programming approach. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 14(4):315--331.

Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2010. Relative production performance and cost of food fish production from fingerlings of channel-blue F1 hybrids, Ictalurus punctatus--Ictalurus furcatus, and NWAC-103 channel catfish, I. punctatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 41(4):545--554.

2008

Karunakaran, G., Quagrainie, K., Singh, K., Dey, M., Engle, C. 2008. Factors Influencing the Probability of Catfish Purchase in Selected US Cities. Aquaculture Economics & Management.

Karunakaran, G., Quagrainie, K., Engle, C. 2008. Factors that influence frequency of purchase of catfish by US households in selected cities. Aquaculture Economics \& Management 12(4):252--267.

2001

Karunakaran, G., Sharma, R. 2001. Probiotics-the mainstay in aquaculture health management. INFOFISH International 2001(5):42--47.