Aquafarm Program
Facts and Figures
Aquaculture, simply defined as the cultivation of aquatic organisms, is Florida's most diverse agribusiness. Over 900 aquaculturists produce the greatest variety of aquatic species of any state in the nation that include aquarium and food fish, molluscs, reptiles, crustaceans, corals, and aquatic plants. Aquaculture sales for the United States reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2007 Census of Agriculture, were over $1.4 billion. Florida ranked 7th out of the 47 states with 530 Florida farms reporting $70.9 million in sales.
Support
Industry growth has been driven by public programs offering: 1) production and technical support, 2) product promotion and advertising, 3) state owned submerged lands for the culture of shellfish and live rock, and 4) financial assistance.
Policies
To support and plan for continued industry growth, the Florida Aquaculture Policy Act directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to carry out a variety of responsibilities. An important component of the Act is a farmer advisory committee, the Aquaculture Review Council. The Council provides guidance to the Commissioner of Agriculture and critical input on the annual development of the Florida Aquaculture Plan [PDF]. The Act also requires all Florida aquaculturists to acquire a Certificate of Registration [PDF] and abide by a set of Best Management Practices(BMPs) [PDF], formulated to ensure that aquaculture remains environmentally friendly. The Department is responsible for compliance with these BMPs. In the event of a farmer and agency conflict, the Act directs the Department to provide assistance in the form of an Aquaculture Ombudsman to intercede on their behalf.
