FloridaFlorida’’s Aquacultures Aquaculture

Craig A. WatsonCraig A. WatsonTropical Aquaculture LaboratoryTropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesDepartment of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesUniversity of Florida/IFASUniversity of Florida/IFAS

Tropical Fish48%

Clams14%

Aquatic Plants21%

Shrimp5%

Alligators3%

Catfish2%

Tilapia2%

Other Fish3%

Other Aquatics1%

Live Rock1%

2003 Sales of Florida Aquaculture2003 Sales of Florida Aquaculture

$0.00$5.00

$10.00$15.00$20.00$25.00$30.00$35.00$40.00$45.00$50.00

Tropical FishAquatic PlantsClamsShrimpAlligatorsCatfishTilapiaOther AquaticsLive Rock

(Millions)

2003 Farm Gate Sales of Florida Aquaculture2003 Farm Gate Sales of Florida Aquaculture

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

Live bearersEgg LayersTotal

Farm Gate Sales: OrnamentalsFarm Gate Sales: Ornamentals

Millions of DollarsMillions of Dollars

TampaTampa

MiamiMiami

OrlandoOrlandoFreezeFreeze--lineline

Location of FarmsLocation of Farms

Freshwater Production

Freshwater Collection

Marine Collection

Sources of OrnamentalsSources of Ornamentals

MarketsMarkets

CollectorCollector “Consolidator”“Consolidator” Regional WholesalerRegional Wholesaler

Wholesaler/ExporterWholesaler/ExporterImporter/TranshipperImporter/TranshipperImporter/Transhipper

Wholesaler/DistributorWholesaler/DistributorWholesaler/Distributor

RetailerRetailerRetailer HobbyistHobbyistHobbyist

Market Flow Chart for Wild-Caught FishMarket Flow Chart for WildMarket Flow Chart for Wild--Caught FishCaught Fish

Market Flow Chart for Farm-Raised FishMarket Flow Chart for FarmMarket Flow Chart for Farm--Raised FishRaised Fish

FarmerFarmerFarmer WholesalerWholesalerWholesaler

RetailerRetailerRetailer HobbyistHobbyistHobbyist

Exporter/WholesalerExporter/WholesalerExporter/Wholesaler Importer/TranshipperImporter/TranshipperImporter/Transhipper

= Domestic-Produced

= Foreign-Produced

= Domestic= Domestic--ProducedProduced

= Foreign= Foreign--ProducedProduced

Freshwater ProductionFreshwater Production

Involves both tanks and ponds

Over 800 varieties in production in Florida

Divided into livebearers and egg-layers

Many compete with wild-caught equivalents

Involves both tanks and ponds

Over 800 varieties in production in Florida

Divided into livebearers and egg-layers

Many compete with wild-caught equivalents

Aquatic Plant ProductionAquatic Plant Production

Began with collection from rivers and streams of the State.Began with collection from rivers and streams of the State.

Today some 200 species/varieties are in production, using state-of-the-art plant production techniques, including tissue culture and hydroponics.

Today some 200 species/varieties are in production, using state-of-the-art plant production techniques, including tissue culture and hydroponics.

Marine Ornamental ProductionMarine Ornamental Production

Requires controlled, indoor facilities except for live rockRequires controlled, indoor facilities except for live rock

Limited to ~ 2 Dozen Species, all with strong parental care, and small spawn size.

Limited to ~ 2 Dozen Species, all with strong parental care, and small spawn size.

Must compete head-on with wild caught specimens

Must compete head-on with wild caught specimens

Live Rock and Open Water SitesLive Rock and Open Water Sites

Expanded significantly since ban on wild Expanded significantly since ban on wild harvest harvest

Gulf of Mexico and Florida KeysGulf of Mexico and Florida Keys

State and Federal LeasesState and Federal Leases

FishFish

•• ~ 2 dozen species~ 2 dozen species•• Still mostly substrateStill mostly substrate--spawnersspawners•• Direct to retailer/hobbyist Direct to retailer/hobbyist

marketingmarketing•• Public Aquaria market openingPublic Aquaria market opening

New ItemsNew Items

InvertebratesInvertebrates•• Live Rock still dominatesLive Rock still dominates•• ““Value AddedValue Added”” Live Rock Live Rock •• TankTank--raised corals (mostly raised corals (mostly

““softsoft””))•• TridacnaTridacna ClamsClams

Changing MarketChanging Market““Big BoxBig Box”” wholesale/retail conceptwholesale/retail concept

Vertical integration of market from Vertical integration of market from producer all the way to retail. producer all the way to retail.

Contract Growing.Contract Growing.

2793410 579

==

Clams

Sturgeon

• 3 main producers in the state, all concentrating on non-native species.

• Long term investment for caviar, but meat from males in one to two year.

• First sales of caviar expected this year.

Shrimp

• One LARGE farm located in south Florida (OceanboyFarms, Inc.). Raising P. vannemi in low salinity ponds.

• Several failures since 1970’s to present day.• Stiff foreign competition, and fluctuating commodity price.

Channel Catfish

• Primarily limited to the western panhandle region (Escambia County). ~1,000 acres total.

• Facing pressure from Asian imports, but holding their own.• Other specialty producers for stocking ponds (these producers typically

produce numerous species of native fish such as bass, bluegill, etc.)

Marine Finfish

• R&D at present. No commercial activity other than fingerling production.

• Sexy segment of industry due to high retail value, but too high in production costs for Florida producers today.

• Cobia, Amberjack, Snapper, Grouper, Flounder, Black Seabass, etc.

• Regulatory, land, and economic constraints.

Research NeedsResearch Needs

•• Design criteria for reduction of Design criteria for reduction of production costsproduction costs

•• Larval rearingLarval rearing•• BroodstockBroodstock maturationmaturation•• Health and Medicine (especially Health and Medicine (especially

with invertebrates)with invertebrates)•• New SpeciesNew Species•• Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

Extension PrioritiesExtension Priorities

•• Chemical and Pesticide Usage Chemical and Pesticide Usage •• Water Quality ManagementWater Quality Management•• Health ManagementHealth Management•• System DesignSystem Design•• Reproductive TechnologiesReproductive Technologies•• Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues