Aquaculture Industry in Highlands County

Florida is the center of the ornamental fish production that occurs in the United States, and we are lucky enough to have a couple of tropical fish farms right here in Highlands County.  Here are some basic facts about the aquaculture industry in Florida, and a few links to other relevant web sites:

The Florida aquaculture industry is focused primarily on the ornamental fish and plant markets.

On-farm ornamental and food fish production is increasing in importance for a number of reasons:

• Environmental concerns
• Fish health
• City/apartment living
• Health benefits for people – psychological and physical
• Fish consumption is increasing as fisheries decline

• There are currently over 200 ornamental fish farms in Florida
• 95% of the ornamental fish production occurring in the U.S. is within a hour’s drive of the Tampa airport
• A few Florida fish farms are located on the east coast from Miami north to Melbourne
• Two farms are located in Highlands County
• Most fish production occurs in ponds dug into the water table
• In north Florida, spring water is used for aquacultural production
• Some production occurs in indoor tanks with recirculating water systems
• Flow-through "raceways" are also used for production, generally in other areas of the country where flowing streams predominate
• Food fish farming is generally not profitable in Florida – Alabama and Mississippi produce food fish more cost efficiently
• Bait fish and stocking fish production can be profitable in Florida – esp. golden shiners
• Tropical fish are well suited to high summer temperatures and mild spring temperatures induce early spawning, allowing Florida farmers to get ahead of producers in other states
• Hot summer temperatures limit food fish production due to reduced oxygen availability
• The Florida aquatic plant industry generates about $5 million/year in sales which the ornamental fish industry retail value is about $75 million
• Mariculture is also practiced off the Florida coasts
• Farm sizes range from a few acres (most are less than 10 acres) to over 100 acres, compared to farm sizes in AL and MS, where farms are often several hundred acres in size
• There are about 20,000 ponds in Florida
• Ponds are usually about 25’X75’X7’
• Water quality varies by soil type and will determine the type of fish that can be successfully cultured
• Ornamental fish are the first or second largest air freight item in Florida
• Aquatic plant markets include wetland mitigations, water gardens and food industry
• The Florida aquaculture industry includes alligator production, a $4 million/yr industry
• Hard clams are farmed in Florida by more than 300 growers and represented a $12.7 million industry in 1997 and was expected to be as much as $50 million in 2000.

Hybrid striped bass are another large aquaculture product in Florida.  There is some food fish production in Florida, bust the majority of food fish farms in the Southeast are located in Alabama and Mississippi.

Related Links:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Aquaculture

Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association

Florida Aquaculture Association

Happy Trails Aquatics Fish Farm