FRANKFORT, Ky - Kentucky might be overlooked when it comes to seafood, but the caviar from a native paddlefish rivals the finest in the world... while a local university is at the forefront of studying multiple species of fish, and helping farmers become success stories.

The aquaculture program at Kentucky State University is home to research ponds where paddlefish, among other species, are studied and cared for. The unique-looking fish dates back 300-million-years, and a full-grown female with eggs can fetch up to 1,000-dollars. But, they don't start producing eggs for 10 years, making it a long-term investment. KSU faculty say their research can help everyone from conservationists to farmers benefit.

"They built a very fine program for educating students, particularly with a masters degree," said Dr. Ken Semmens, assistant aquaculture professor at the school. "I’d put it up against any program in the country."

Semmens says they have about 360 paddlefish on campus, along with hundreds more catfish and other species. They say a paddlefish can grow to more than 200 pounds living in the Mississippi and Kentucky Rivers.