Dr. Ganesh Kumar Karunakaran
Title
- Associate Research Professor
Contact Information
gkk27@msstate.edu
Office: 662-686-3586
Delta Research and Extension Center
Overview
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
Research Interests
Production economics, financial management, risk analysis, technology adoption, whole-farm modeling, seafood marketing.
Teaching Interests
Aquaculture economics, farm management, risk management
Websites
Publications
Year | Publications |
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2025 | 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 Download |
2025 | Brugere, C., Kumar, 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 |
2025 | Kumar, 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 |
2025 | 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 |
2025 | Aarattuthodi, S., Bosworth, B., Kumar, 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 |
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 Download |
2025 | Sun, L., Kumar, G., Engle, C. R. 2025. Factors influencing seafood sales in US retail markets. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 56(1):http--dx. Download |
2025 | Engle, C. R., van Senten, J., Hegde, S., Kumar, 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):70005. |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
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 |
2024 | 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 |
2024 | 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 |
2023 | Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., van Senten, J. 2023. Cost of regulations on US catfish farms. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society |
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 |
2023 | Karunakaran, G., Engle, C. 2023. Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). CABI Compendium 79127(1):1-31. Download |
2023 | Engle, C., van Senten, J., Karunakaran, G., Dey, M. 2023. Pre-and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the US. Aquaculture 571:739491. |
2023 | Cheatham, M., Karunakaran, G., Tucker, C., Rutland, B. 2023. Research verification of four commercial scale split-pond designs. Aquacultural Engineering 103:102349. |
2023 | 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. |
2023 | 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 |
2023 | 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. |
2023 | 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 |
2023 | Sun, L., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., van Senten, J. 2023. Trends for US catfish and swai products in retail markets. Aquaculture Economics \& Management |
2022 | 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. |
2022 | 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. |
2022 | 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. |
2022 | 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. |
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. |
2022 | 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. |
2022 | 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 | 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. |
2021 | 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 |
2021 | 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. |
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 |
2021 | Avery, J. L., Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G. 2021. U.S. Catfish Production is Becoming More Efficient. World Aquaculture 52(3):52-54. |
2021 | 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 |
2020 | 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. |
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 |
2020 | 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. |
2020 | 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 |
2020 | Karunakaran, G., Gaunt, P. S. 2020. Medicated-feed intervention in catfish farming: An economic perspective. North American Journal of Aquaculture 82(2):190--199. |
2020 | 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. |
2020 | 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. |
2020 | 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 |
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. |
2019 | 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. |
2018 | Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Tucker, C. 2018. Factors driving aquaculture technology adoption. Journal of the world aquaculture society 49(3):447--476. |
2018 | 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. |
2017 | 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. |
2016 | 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 | 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. |
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. |
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. |
2011 | 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 | 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. |
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. |
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 |
2008 | 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. |
Extension Publications
Year | Publications |
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2023 | Cheatham, M., Karunakaran, G., Johnson, J., Avery, J. L., Aarattuthodi, S. 2023. Relative Economic Risks of Commercial Catfish Farming Strategies. MSU Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center 18(1):6 - 7. Download |
2023 | Hegde, S., Karunakaran, G., Engle, C., Avery, J. L., van Senten, J., Aarattuthodi, S. 2023. Economic Impact Generated by the U.S. Catfish Industry. MSU Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center 18(1):8 - 9. Download |
2022 | Avery, J. L., Karunakaran, G. 2022. Government Support of the U.S. Catfish Industry during the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020. NWAC News 17(1) 17(1):16-17. Download |
2016 | Karunakaran, G., 2016. Adoption of alternate catfish production technologies. 2016 Annual report prepared by Delta Regional Extension Center |
2008 | Kumar, G., Engle, C. R., Quagrainie, K., others, . 2008. Household preferences and consumption patterns for farm-raised catfish in the US. Cooperative Extension Program, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, US Dept. of Agriculture and county governments cooperating |
Graduate Students
- Morgan Cheatham
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
Society Memberships
- American Fisheries Society
- Catfish Farmers of America
- International Association for Aquaculture Economics and Management
- National Aquaculture Association
- World Aquaculture Society