Fish Sales Are Rising
Although fewer farmers produced tropical fish in Florida
in 2003, they increased net sales 11 percent, according to
a biennial report by the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
(Orlando). A total of 136 producers had net sales of $47.2
million in 2003. By comparison, 160 producers had net sales
of $42.4 million in 2001.
Thirty-seven producers of aquatic plants had net sales of
$20.4 million, down 4 percent from $21.3 million in 2001.
Fourteen producers of aquatic species such as eels, snails,
turtles, frogs, crabs and crawfish generated net sales of
$895,000 in 2003, up 114 percent from $417,000 in 2001.
Net sales of other fish, including koi, from 23 producers
totaled $2.82 million in 2003, down 12 percent from $3.2 million
in 2001.
Six producers sold more than 200,000 pounds of live rock
for net sales of approximately $660,000, up approximately
14 percent from $577,000 in 2001.
According to the report, 62 percent of the state’s
tropical fish farms are located in the West Central counties
of Hillsborough and Polk. Another 22 percent of farms are
in the East Coast counties of Brevard down to Dade. [January
2005 PET AGE]
| FLORIDA FISH
SALES |
| |
Sales
(in millions) |
| |
2003 |
2001 |
| Tropical fish |
$47.2 |
$42.4 |
 Egg layers and marine ornamentals |
$35.8 |
$29.2 |
| Live bearers |
$11.7 |
$13.2 |
| Aquatic plants |
$20.4 |
$21.3 |
| Live rock |
$0.7 |
$0.6 |
| Other fish |
$0.9 |
$0.8 |
Source: Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.
|
