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Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner    -    Leslie Palmer, Director

Production/Technical Assistance

The University of Florida, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, provides aquaculture production/technical information for current and potential aquafarmers. Please contact the following offices for information appropriate to your interests.

Sources


Finfish: food and bait

Dr. Frank Chapman
Department of Fisheries
and Aquatic Sciences
7922 Northwest 71st Street
Gainesville, Florida 32653-3071
Telephone: 352/392-9617 ext. 247
Fax: 352/392-3672

Information available for marine and freshwater food and bait fish. The Department provides graduate level education in fisheries and aquaculture and has a demonstration facility consisting of ponds and tanks. On-going research and the equipment necessary to grow fish can be observed. Call for an appointment when considering a visit.

Ornamental and aquarium species:
tropical fish and aquatic plants:

Carlos Martinez
Roy Yanong, DVM
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
1408 24th Street, Southeast
Ruskin, Florida 33570
Telephone: 813/671-5230
ext. 109 (Carlos), ext. 104 (Roy)
Fax: 813/671-5234

Information available for tropical marine and freshwater ornamental fish, invertebrates and plants. The laboratory is an education and demonstration facility operated like a commercial farm. On-going production research can be observed and the equipment necessary to grow fish and plants in ponds and tanks is in operation. Frequent demonstration and workshops are held through out the year. Disease diagnosis and treatment is available through a state-of-the-art clinical laboratory. Call for an appointment when considering a visit.

Shellfish: clams and oysters

Leslie Sturmer
Cedar Key Field Station
Post Office Box 89
Cedar Key, Florida 32625
Telephone: 352/543-5057
Fax: 352/543-6958

Information available on hard clams, bay scallops, oysters, mussels and other molluscs. Ms. Sturmer is a statewide aquaculture extension specialist for mollusc culture. Contact her for production and technical information. On-going research, demonstration and education of mollusc hatchery and nursery techniques can be observed. Ms. Sturmer produces a free newsletter, The Bivalve Bulletin, contact her for a subscription. Call for an appointment when considering a visit.

Marine Species: Fish and Crustaceans

Dr. Cortney L. Ohs
Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 South Rock Road
Fort Pierce , FL 34945-3138
Telephone: 772-468-3922 ext. 130
Cell: 772-519-6435
Fax: 772-468-3973

Information available for the nursery culture and pond production of marine shrimp grown in freshwater. The Indian River Research and Education Center has established a pilot-scale pond-based shrimp aquaculture facility which includes greenhouse recirculating systems for transfer and acclimation of postlarval shrimp. Frequent demonstration and workshops are held through out the year. Call for an appointment when considering a visit.
Leroy Creswell
St. Lucie County Cooperative Extension
8400 Picos Road, Suite 101
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34945
Telephone: 772/462-1660
Fax: 772/462-1510

Information is available on marine and freshwater food and bait fish culture, marine shrimp culture at low salinity, freshwater shrimp and crayfish culture, and larval fish and crustacean production and nutrition.  The Indian River Research and Education Center has research ponds and greenhouses containing recirculating systems.  On-going research and demonstration can be observed.  Call for an appointment when considering a visit.

Please Note
  • Florida coastal county residents can access marine aquaculture information through the Florida Sea Grant Extension Program.  Consult the county government section of your local phone book for an agent listing or call their main office (352/392-1837) to identify a local agent.
  • Each of Florida's 67 counties has a Florida Cooperative Extension Service Office with an extension agent to answer aquaculture questions.  Consult the county government section of your phone book and call your local office to locate an agent familiar with aquaculture.

  • The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, produces a newsletter, Florida Aquaculture that contains timely regulatory, scientific and service related information. To request a free subscription, contact the Division, call 850/488-5471, visit the Division's website: http://www.FloridaAquaculture.com or e-mail [email protected]

  • Excellent public web sites exist to download species, production, technical and enterprise budget information. Visit http://fishweb.ifas.ufl.edu/, http://www.srac.msstate.edu/ or http://www.extension.org/freshwater_aquaculture.

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