Far from oceans, some US farmers turn to indoor fish farming to sate growing global demand

Global consumption of seafood is outpacing wild fish populations, so farmers are turning from roving the world's waters to aquaculture.

Increasingly, that includes growing fish in large indoor tanks in the Midwest — hundreds of miles from any ocean, bringing the surf to America's turf.

Experts say fish farming in tanks — or closed containment systems — nearly eliminates fish manure runoff and waste through use of water recirculating and treatment systems. It also eliminates the chance of spreading disease or genetic mutation to wild populations.

And such tank systems can be placed almost anywhere — from Minnesota to Florida — because temperature and water quality can be controlled in an indoor environment.

Recently such operations have popped up in Nebraska and Iowa — typically cattle and corn country.