Food and Resource Economics Department

Spotlight on FL Aquaculture

From Clams to Clownfish

Operations involved in the farm raising and production of aquatic animals or plants in controlled aquatic environments such as constructed ponds or landbased tanks or in permitted areas of natural aquatic environments.

What makes Florida Aquaculture so important?

Florida ranks 9th overall in the United States for total sales of aquaculture products.

Aquaculture products have a variety of uses including but not limited to food consumption, stocking of sport and baitfish, and ornamental plants and animals for aquariums and aquatic landscaping.

Florida had over 6,000 acres of land-based area as well as nearly 1,600 acres of coastal-zone area producing aquaculture products in 2018.

United States Ranking

Harvested Acres for Select Crops (2023)

Economic contributions of shellfish aquaculture (2018)

When considering multiplier effects, Florida’s shellfish aquaculture sector supports $29.4 billion in sales revenue and 434 jobs throughout the state’s economy.

Sources

"USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2019) 2018 Census of Aquaculture. USDA- NASS. nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/Aquaculture/index.php"

“Economic Contributions of Agriculture, Natural Resource, and Food Industries in Florida in 2022.” Economic Impact Analysis Program, University of Florida-IFAS, Food & Resource Economics Department, Gainesville, FL, 2024. Available at: fred.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/economic-impact-analysis-program/florida-ag-food-and-resources

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