Back to Division of Aquaculture
Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner    -    Leslie Palmer, Director

Florida Aquaculture

Division of Aquaculture
Tallahassee Office:
850-488-5471
Fax:
850-410-0893

Office of Agricultural
Law Enforcement
800-342-5869

Past Newsletters

Protect Our Environment: Do not release fish and aquatic plants

Florida Aquaculture is an extraordinarily diverse farming sector across the species, production systems and geographic locations found in the state. There are an estimated 1,500 species or varieties of fish, plants, molluscs, crustaceans, and reptiles grown. Florida aquafarms culture products for food and non-food markets that include seafood (fish and shellfish), freshwater and marine aquarium hobbyists, high fashion leather, water gardening, bait, biological control, biofuels, or as “seed” for national and international aquaculturists.

ARC request for Statements of Interest to perform aquaculture research and development projects for 2013-2014

The Florida Aquaculture Review Council announces a request for Statements of Interest to perform aquaculture research and development projects during fiscal year 2013-2014. Statements of Interest will be reviewed by the Council and selected investigators invited to submit full proposals. The source of funding for projects will be a State of Florida Legislative appropriation. more... [PDF]

State officials learn art of oyster tonging

Recently, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, U.S. Representative Steve Southerland and State Senator Bill Montford participated in an oyster relay in waters off Wakulla County.
The oyster relay is the relocation of adult oyster from waters that are classified as Restricted or Conditionally Restricted to waters classified as Conditionally Approved or Approved.  more... [PDF]

Florida’s Aquaculture Lease Program

The Governor and Cabinet, including the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Legislature, and many local governments have supported aquaculture as a practicable alternative to commercial fishing and conventional agriculture to foster economic development in rural and coastal communities. The legislature has also declared that it is in the state's economic, resource management, and food production interests to promote aquaculture production by facilitating the review and approval processes for leasing sovereignty submerged lands and water columns.   more... [PDF]

Getting Started in Hard Clam Aquaculture

So You Are Thinking of Growing Shellfish?

Find an area you may be interested in more....
This presentation given at a conference session for beginning aquaculturists provides a national overview of shellfish aquaculture.  Things to be considered:

  • What shellfish to grow?
  • Where to locate your farm?
  • How to grow your shellfish?
  • Where to get your seed?
  • How to sell your product?
more...   (You will be directed to outside site.)

Florida Aquaculture Plan

As established in the Florida Aquaculture Policy Act (Chapter 597, Florida Statutes), aquaculture is agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the lead aquaculture agency (visit http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/ for current Florida laws). The Act directs the Department to coordinate and assist in the development of aquaculture and to regulate aquafarms with the objectives of protecting or conserving Florida’s natural resources. The Act also directs the Department to annually revise the Florida Aquaculture Plan.    more... [PDF]